Welcome to Mavelikkara Diocese

Mavelikkara

Mavelikkara in Malankara History

1836 - Mavelikkara Synod

There was a meeting of the representatives of Malankara Church in Mavelikkara.This was known as the Mavelikkara synod in 1836. The Anglican cooperation with the Puthenkur community was discussed. Most of the participants were of the opinion that the cooperation would be harmful for Malankara Puthenkur community. So it was resolved there to break all the ties with Anglican missionaries.

The Synod approved the liturgical and doctrinal tenets of the Antiochene Jacobite Syrian Church as the fundamental tenets of Puthenkur community. It was the excessive influence and reformative attempts on the part of the missionaries that drew the Puthenkur community closer to the Jacobites.

In the Synod they resolved that they would accept no other faith, teachings and traditions that those of the Antiochene Jacobite Syrian Church. It was a majority decision, because there were those who also stood for the cause of the missionaries. This resolution is known as Mavelikkara Padiyola

1882 - Birth of Archbishop GeeVarghese Mar Ivanios

Mar Ivanios was born in Mavelikkara in Panikar veettil Family.

2005 - Re-union Platinum Jubilee Celebration

Malankara Catholic Church celebrated its platinum jubilee in Mavelikkara at Punnamoodu. Bairon Singh Shekhavath Vice President of India was the chief guest of the celebration.

Geography

Mavelikara lies at the south of Alappuzha district; on the banks of the river Achankovil. It is located at 9.267° N 76.55° E.

Economy

Some of the industries in and around Mavelikkara are 1) Allind steel near Mannar 2) Travancore Oxygen near Kunnam 3) Sangrose Laboratories, a local company in Mavelikkara, specialises in the manufacture of soft gelatin capsules. It is also one of the only companies in the world to manufacture clofazimine.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Mavelikkara had a population of 28,440. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. Mavelikkara has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 87%, and female literacy is 85%. In Mavelikkara, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transport

Mavelikara lies between the the NH 47 and SH-1, and is also connected by rail.

Politics

Mavelikara is a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency - consisting of Changanaserry, Kuttanad, Chengannur, Mavelikara, Kunnathoor, Kottarakara and Pathanapuram assembly constituencies (2005 Lok Sabha Delimitation).

Ms. C.S.Sujatha (CPI-M) represents the Mavelikara Parliament constituency (from 2004).

Mr. M.Murali (INC) represents the Mavelikara Assembly constituency (from 2006).

Present KPCC President Mr. Ramesh Chennithala hails from Mavelikara.

Nearest towns

East - Pandalam, Chengannur

West - Harippad

South - Kayamkulam

North - Thiruvalla

Famous Personalities

Mavelikara has given birth to many famous personalities

Dr. P.C Alexander (Former Governor of Tamil Nadu & Maharashtra. Former Indian High commissioner for U.K)
Mr. C.M Stephen (Former Union Cabinet Minister)
Professor A.R. Raja Raja Varma (Known as 'Kerala Panini' )
Ravindra Varma (Veteran Gandhian, freedom fighter, student leader, former Union Cabinet Minister and grandson of A.R. Rajaraja Varma)
Padmashri Mavelikkara Krishnankutty Nair (Mridangam maestro)
Mavelikara Ponnamma (Malayalam Stage and Movie Actress)
Late Prof: R. Narendra Prasad (playwright, film actor, teacher and literary critic of eminence)
PGN Unnithan (former Dewan of Travancore State)
Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (Maharani of Travancore)
K.K. Sudhakaran (Writer)
Late Mr.N.Kunjukrishnan Unnithan ( Eminent Lawyer,First Municipal Commissioner of Mavelikkara)
Parappurathu K E Mathai (writter)

Saint Gregorios of Parumala is popularly known as ‘Parumala Thirumeni’. Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of the Malankara Orthodox Church who passed away on November 2^nd 1902 became the first declared saint from Malankara (Kerala, India) naturally to be called, ‘Parumala Thirumeni’. He shines in the cloud of witnesses as a bright luminary giving rays of hope to millions in their suffering and struggles

Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius was born into the Aangalimootil family in Cheppad in 1781. In 1825, Kidangan mar Philexinos consecrated him as Metropolitan Philipose Mar Dionysius at Cheriyapalli, Kottayam. The ruler of Travancore issued a Royal Proclamation acknowledging him as Malankara Metropolitan. He was not on good terms with the English missionaries who worked in Malankara Church under the English Assistance commission. The foreign missionaries suggested to reform the 'Qurbana norms' according to the protestant standards, and to do away with the worship and prayer conducted for the dead, other suggestions included in raising of a fund to increase the salary of the priests, and giving ordination to only those priests who passed out from the Seminary and received the certificate from the Principal; The accounts of the Church every year must be submitted to the Resident for annual auditing the church services were to be conducted in Malayalam. The Metropolitan rejected all these suggestions outright. A meeting of the representatives of the church was convened in Puthiyacavu Church, Mavelikara in 1836 in order to discuss the recommendations of the missionaries. The Mavelikkara Padiola' was formulated in order to strongly resist the new reforms of the foreign missionaries. In 1846, the Patriarch sent Metroplitan Yuyakim Mar Kuriyos of Antioch to Malankara. Later of cheppad Thirumeni gave up the position of Malankara Metropolitan and retired from administrative matters. He passed among in 9th October 1855. He was laid to rest in St. George Church, Cheppad. His Death Anniversary is on 12th October.

Interesting Facts

It is a place in Kerala where one can find THE STATUE OF BUDDHA IN SEATED POSITION, which has its origin many centuries ago. The seated Buddha is in front of famous SRI KRISHNA SWAMI temple. Mavelikara is known as the seat of education due to the presence of many standard educational institutions. Bishop Moore College,Mavelikara-690110, is the major educational institution for higher studies in Mavelikara.

The St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral in Mavelikara and Kadeesha Cathedral in Kayamkulam are over 1,000 years old.

Kattanam St:Thomas Marthoma Church is one of the biggest church in Marthoma Sabha.

Pope pious XI HSS, Kattanam, GovernmentHigh School for Boys, Mavelikkara, Government High School for Girls,Mavelikkara,Malankara Syrian Sabha High School at Thazhakara, St Johns HSS, Mattom, Bishop Moore Vidya Pidth are major school's in Mavelikara.

Chettikulangara

Located about 5 Km south-west of Mavelikkara , Chettikulangara is famous for the well known Bhagavathy temple. The important festival in this temple is the Kumbha Bharani festival conducted during February-March. The important festivity associated with this utsavam is "kettu-Kazhcha' which resembles the Chinese festival celebrated on the birthday of Budha. Kuthiyottam is also another important festivity.

Bharanikavu & Pallickal

Located on the Mavelikkara -Kurathikadu-Kayamkulam road, Bharanikavu is famous for its Devi Temple and its swarna jeevitha and houses one of the four Buddha Statues (Puthrachan)in Alappuzha District.The famous Churches of Kattanam add to the glory of this calm and peaceful panchayat.Government School-Bharanikkavu,Pope Pius XI High School,CMS High School are some of the major educational institutions. Famous personalities include Cartoonist Yesudasan, Bharanikavu Shivakumar.

Kandiyoor

Kandiyoor is place of historical importance. It was there that the Travancore Raja gained the decisive victory over Kayamkulam Raja. There is famous Mahadeva temple which contains the sub-shrines considered to have been made especially sacred by the presence of all Gods of Hindu Pantheon. There are ancient inscriptions of archaeological importance and it is noted for stone sculptures.