The ''Ettara Yogam'' or the King and Council of Eight has been the administrative setup of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvanthapuram,

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, for centuries.

Origin

According to historians, a six member Sabha was constituted to run the Temple in the 1045 AD. This Sabha was later known as Thiruvaananthapurathu Sabha. The Pushpanjali Swamiyar, though not a member of the Sabha, presides over all its meetings. The Secretary to the Sabha is known as the Sabhanjithan. The decision taken by the Sabha can be implemented only if the Ruler of Venad approves of it. This administrative setup consisting of the Arachan (Ruler) of Venad, Pushpanjali Swamiyar, six member Sabha and Sabhanjithan is called Ettara Yogam. Charithram Kuricha Sree Padmanabha Swamy Kshethram by Dr MG Sasibhooshan and Dr RP Raja Popular legend takes the origin of Ettara Yogam way back to ''

Dvapara Yuga ''Dvapara Yuga'' ( Dwapara Yuga), in Hinduism, is the third and third best of the four ''yugas'' (world ages) in a ''Yuga Cycle'', preceded by ''Treta Yuga'' and followed by ''Kali Yuga''. ''Dvapara Yuga'' lasts for 864,000 years (2,400 divine y ...

''. Lord

Parasurama Parashurama (), also referred to as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Veerarama, is the sixth avatar among the Dashavatara of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism. He is believed to be one of the ''Chiranjivi, Chiranjeevis'' (Immortals), who ...

installed the Idol of Sri Padmanabhaswamy and entrusted the administration of the Temple with Koopakkara Potti, Vanchiyoor Athiyara Potti, Kollur Athiyara Potti, Muttavila Potti, Karuva Potti, Neythasseri Potti and Srikaryathu Potti. King Adithya Vikrama of Vanchi (Venad) was directed by Parasurama to protect the Temple. Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple became the Kula Daivam (Tutelary Deity) of the Royal Family of Venad. According to historians, a six member Sabha was constituted to run the Temple in the 225 ME. This Sabha was later known as Thiruvaananthapurathu Sabha. The Pushpanjali Swamiyar, though not a member of the Sabha, presides over all its meetings. The Secretary to the Sabha is known as the Sabhanjithan. The decision taken by the Sabha can be implemented only if the Ruler of Venad approves of it. This administrative setup consisting of the Arachan (Ruler) of Venad, Pushpanjali Swamiyar, six member Sabha and Sabhanjithan is called Ettara Yogam.

Members

7 Bhramins , one Nair family representative and half was Maharaja. A Sannyasin from

Naduvil Madhom Naduvil Madhom is one of the ancient South Indian matha, madhoms that propagate Advaita or Non dualism. It is located at Thrissur in Kerala. The history of the Madhom can be traced to 9th century AD. So the four disciples of Sankara founded four ...

or Munchira Madhom presides over the meetings of the Sabha. He is called Pushpanjali Swamiyar as he performs floral worship to Lord Sri Padmanabha daily. The Swamiyar can hold office during the pleasure of the Crown. The members of Thiruvaananthapurathu Sabha are *1. Koopakkara Potti *2. Athiyara Potti of Vanchiyoor *3. Athiyara Potti of Kollur *4. Muttavila Potti *5. Karuva Potti *6. Neythasseri Potti Only Nair family in the ettara yogam was Azhakathu family. Srikaryathu Potti is the Sabhanjithan or Secretary to the Sabha. Important decisions taken by the Sabha could be implemented only if the Raja of Venad/ Travancore approved of them. Kshetrakaryam Potti also known as Adhikara Padartham represents the Raja of Venad/ Travancore during sessions of Ettara Yogam. Desies, Karanatha Kurup, Karanakkanakku and Pandarakkanakku attend its meetings. It is to be understood that Kshetrakaryam Potti, Desies, Karanatha Kurup of the Palliyadi family, Karanakkanakku and Pandarakkanakku are not members of Ettara Yogam. The Palliyadi Kurup was the security chief of the Temple. According to another version, the Pushpanjali Swamiyar and the six main Potties had one vote each in deciding the matters of the Temple. Besides them, the

Maharajah Mahārāja (; also spelled Maharajah, Maharaj) is a Sanskrit title for a "great ruler", "great king" or " high king". A few ruled states informally called empires, including ruler raja Sri Gupta, founder of the ancient Indian Gupta Empire, an ...

Venad Venad was a medieval kingdom lying between the Western Ghat mountains and the Arabian Sea on the south-western tip of India with its headquarters at the port city of Kollam/Quilon.Noburu Karashmia (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Is ...

Travancore The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...

, the Srikaryathu Potti and the Karanavar of the Palliyadi family (the only Nair representative) had half vote each. The membership of the ''Ettara Yogam'' (other than the Pushpanjali Swamiyar) is passed hereditarily and the member families are represented by the senior most male member therein.

Ettuveetil Pillamar

The Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple possessed vast landed areas over which the ruler of

had no control whatsoever. These lands were divided into eight ''adhikarems'' or districts and over each of these districts as a governor was placed a noble family, all with the title of Pillai.Hence they came to be known as the

Ettuveetil Pillamar The Ettuveetil Pillamar (Lords of the Eight Houses) were nobles from eight ruling Houses in erstwhile Travancore in present-day Kerala state, South India. They were associated with the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram and the Ettara ...

or the Lords of the Eight Houses.The confederacy of these Pillamar was eventually destroyed in the 18th century by Maharajah Anizhom Thirunal

Marthanda Varma Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma (Malayalam: ) was the founding monarch of the southern Indian Kingdom of Travancore (previously Venadu) from 1729 until his death in 1758. He was succeeded by Rama Varma ("Dharma Raja") (1758–98).Subrahmany ...

after they were found guilty of murder and conspiracy against the Royal House. The Pillamar were organised into a confederacy in the 17th century.

Erosion of authority

Owing to the large amount of power vested in their hands, the Ettuveetil Pillamar became highly arrogant. The Pillamar conspired against the royal house and several murders and other acts of atrocity were committed owing to the powerlessness of the Sovereign. Eventually Maharajah Anizhom Thirunal

(1706–1758) decided to put an end to their power and destroyed the Pillamar. The confederacy of the Pillamar was dismissed and the member families were banished from Travancore. From the time of Marthanda Varma the authority of Yogathu Pottimar eroded and the Temple came under the direct control of the

s of Travancore.History of Travancore by Shungunny Menon

Ettara Yogam in modern times

According to the 1998 book, ''Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple'', written by Princess

Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi (born 1945) of the Travancore Royal Family is a noted writer from Kerala. She has ten books to her credit. Aswathy Thirunal is the niece of the last King of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. Birt ...

, the Ettarayogam still exists in principle. For the last few hundred years, seven Ettarayogam Potti families have continued to receive requests from the Padmanabhaswamy Temple authorities for ''anujna'' (permission) to conduct festivals–for example in 2011. When the Karuva Potty family was without an heir (the Karumadom colony land and nearby areas like Kuriathy belonged to the Karuva potty family), the Muttavila Potty got the title of Karuva potty, and also the title: Sarwaswadana Dattu. Neythasseri potti inherited the power after marrying from Koovalasseri (which also perished without an heir) and later settled in Thiruvananthapuram. The request for giving permission to conduct rituals like Arattu to the Karuva Potty is still given to Muttavila Potty in addition to the one due to Muttavila Potty. After the Alpashi and Painkuni festivals every year, the Dakshina is given to Tantri Tharananallur Nambuthiripad by these Potti families. With the passing away of Sri

Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma (22 March 1922 – 16 December 2013) was the titular Maharaja of Travancore. He was the younger brother of the last ruling monarch of the Kingdom of Travancore, Maharajah Chithira Thirun ...

in December 2013, his nephew Sri

Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma (born 1949) is the current titular Maharajah of Travancore. He is the youngest of the four children of the former titular Maharani of Travancore, Sree Padmanabhasevini Maharani Karthika Thir ...

became the titular Maharaja of Travancore in January 2014. Like his predecessors, Sri Moolam Thirunal also got concurrence from the Ettara Yogam before assuming the title 'Maharaja'. In the presence of the Maharaja designate, the Yogathil Pottimar and the Tantri, the Pushpanjali Swamiyar Maravanchery Thekkedathu Neelakanta Bharatikal signed on the Neettu (Order) of the Ettara Yogam giving recognition to Sri Moolam Thirunal as Chirava Mooppan (Maharaja of Travancore) and Thrippappoor Mooppan (Protector of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple). This ceremony took place at Kulasekhara Mandapam in Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

References