In ancient times, the local kings used to divide their territories by dividing their borders for administrative convenience. Such small local kingdoms are called Swarups.
The Alladam Swarupam is from the western gopuram of the Payyannur temple to the Chitharipuzha river in the north. Alladam Nadu is also called Makatham Nadu.
The Allada Swarupam, the northernmost Swarupam of Kerala, is divided into four branches. They are Madathil Kulakam, Thekke Kulakam, Vadakke Kulakam and Kinavoor Kulakam in Mathathil. Kulakam is the shortened form of the word Kovilakam. The headquarters of the Alladam Kalari are Atinjal and Karinthalam, which were famous Kalaris in Kerala itself.
The Nediyiruppu Swarup, the Kola Swarup and the Allada Swarup were all important Swarups in northern Kerala in the past. The Nediyiruppu Swarup is the Swarup of the Saamoothiri dynasty. The Kola Swarup is the Swarup that served as the headquarters of the Kolathiri dynasties. The Allada Swarup is the Swarup that served as the headquarters of the Nileswaram palace in the northern part of the Kola kingdom, which was ruled by the Kolathiri king himself.
The Nediyiruppu Swarup, which was ruled by the Saamoothiri, was much stronger than the other two Swarups. Thus, the Saamoothiri’s nephew Kerala Varma married a princess named Panki Pillayathiri from the Saamoothiri’s kindom. The Kolathiri king felt that he should build a palace befitting her dignity for the princess of the Saamoothiri royal family who had come to his kingdom as a bride. Kolathiri summoned his son-in-law and the mistress and asked them which place they liked in the form of a Kola swaroopam.
The mistress said that they liked the northern part of the Kolas swaroopam from Olavara to Chittaripuzha. A king named Allon ruled those areas. The mistress told Kolathiri that her clan goddess had told her in a dream that she should seize that place from Allon. At that time, the area stretching from Korapuzha in the south to Chandragiri River in the north was under Kolathiri’s control. Many of the areas were ruled by Kolathiri’s loyal lords and subordinates. This was done for the convenience of administration. Koothattilarashi, Kunnu Mangalathu Koovil, Kuthiravattharachi, Allon, Mannon, Mathoth Koovil, Kookottu Koovil were the important land lords and rulers.
But Allon was not ready to obey Kolathiri’s order, he not only did not give up his land, but also decided to fight against Kolathiri along with his brother Mannon. So Allon and Mannon formed an army and camped at Nileshwaram. Knowing this, Kolathiri came with a large army and subdued Allon and his brother Mannon and captured the entire area. It was an important battle in the history of northern Kerala. Thus, since it was the place where Allon was subdued and captured, that place came to be known as Alladam in later times.
Kolathiri converted all the captured places into Devaswam properties by enshrining the Kshethrapalakan who was his idol. The temple keeper has a place of worship in Madiyan Kovilakam, Udinur Kovilakam, Mannam Patara Kavu, Nileswaram Padinjarran Kozhuvil, and Madikkai. The administrative posts of all the temples built in this way were entrusted to prominent Nair family members. Mullacherry Nair was entrusted with the administrative post of Madiyan Kovilakam. Even today, the people of Mullacherry family are the important officials of Madiyan Kovilakam.
Later, a beautiful temple befitting the glory of the Thamburatty was built in Nileswaram, which is part of Allada Nadu. Nileswaram Thali was built in Nileswaram, like the Kozhikode Thali for the Zamorin. A great temple was also built in Nileswaram Thali for the eternal protection of the image. Many of the prominent people of the Kolaswaram later moved to the Allada area. Later, the nephew of Kolathiri installed Keralavarma and his wife in the kingdom.
A guard post was also built for the Alladam kingdom. Kalaris were also established to train the soldiers in warfare. 250 soldiers were stationed on the banks of the river south of the Karyancode river, 250 on the banks of the river north of the Nileswaram Kalathera river, 250 on the banks of the river north of the Nileswaram Thali, 250 in the western Kozhju, 100 in the eastern Kunninangad area, and 100 in Cheruvathur.
The Kammanar Kalari in Kanhangattu Atinjal and the Karinthalam Kalari in the east were the main Kalaris thus formed. Over time, the Allada kingdom grew into a major dynasty in North Kerala with its headquarters in Nileswaram.
