Kalyatanda Ponnappa was a 17th-century warrior of Kodagu (Coorg).[1] Since he was deified after his death, the people of Kodagu consider him to be a god. He is also known as Kaliat-Achchappa or Kaliat Ajjappa.[2][3]
Ponnappa was born in the Kalyatanda (aka Kaliatanda) family as the son of Kuttayya of Naalnaad (Nalknad). Ponnappa's parents were ardent devotees of Igguthappa. [1]
G Richter calls him ‘a Malayalam man who came to Coorg many generations ago, (and) got naturalized.’[2] A Malayali-Kodava by birth, Ponnappa was also associated with the Malayalam land (Kerala). His forefathers had lived in Kerala and Ponnappa himself had studied tantric magic in Kerala. Kalyatanda Ponnappa had both Kodava and Malayalam origins, but was considered a Kodava warrior and is now revered as a deity by the Kodava people, but not particularly so by Malayali people.
His agrarian father was upset that Ponnappa didn't look after the fields. So Kuttayya told his wife not to feed Ponnappa and broke Ponnappa's bow. Upset with this, Ponnappa left home. Ponnappa was betrothed to his aunt's daughter. He also had a friend and assistant called Katala Boltu.[4][3]
Careeredit
Skirmishesedit
Ponnappa became the most powerful man in Naalnaad (Nalknad) and its chosen leader as well. He led the region in battles against neighbouring lords. He fought with many powerful men and killed several of them.[1] Ponnappa was a contemporary of Vira Raja, the first king of Kodagu. Ponnappa acknowledged Vira Raja's overlordship. But, the neighbouring lord, Karnayya Bavu of Bhagamandala did not acknowledge Vira Raja as the king. Karnayya raised a stealth army against the Raja.[5]
The Raja gave Ponnappa his gun, sword and a privy army of 500 guards. Karnayya wanted to befriend Ponnappa and make him an ally. Karnayya himself had an army of men carrying matchlocks, swords, bows and arrows. However, Ponnappa refused his friendship (not wishing to betray the Raja) thus insulting Karnayya and making him an enemy.[4]
Practiseedit
Ponnappa was a practitioner of ritual magic, divination and occult. He was considered to be a sort of warlock or magician, since he was believed to be an expert at wizardry and to be able to perform many miracles. People held him in great awe and claimed that he was to manipulate supernatural beings. He held a practise where devotees came to him with their problems and he solved them. This way he was feared by some and respected in Kodagu.[2][1][3]
Deathedit
Ponnappa was once poisoned by an old woman, but he managed to survive.[1][4] Afterwards, he visited his fiancée at her home, the Kuttanjetira house in Beth village.[4] However, his enemies surrounded the place at night and attacked him. The army of body-guards the Raja had provided him were resting at another distant village at that time. Single-handedly he fought and killed a number of the enemies, until he was fatally shot near what would later become the Kacheri (office) of Nalknad taluk.[2] Badly wounded, Ponnappa dragged himself to the Makki temple where he died.[4] It was Karnayya's men who had surrounded Ponnappa and killed him in the darkness. Later, Vira Raja captured Karnayya Bavu and executed him. [5][3]
Legacyedit
After his death, his spirit was believed to possess many men who displayed the magic arts that he practised.[2] Ponnappa is a legendary figure in Kodagu where folk ballads are sung about him. Festival performances are held in his honour in the Makki temple near Napoka (Napoklu) and in other temples.[1][3][6][7]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefMuthanna, Dr. I. M. (1971). The Coorg Memoirs (the story of the Kodavas). Mysore: Dr I M Muthanna. p. 233.
^ abcdeRichter, Rev G (1870). Manual of Coorg. Mangalore: C. Stolz, Basel Mission. p. 165.
^ abcdeMuthanna, I M (1987). Kodavas and their gala 'lela': Kodava folklores and songs. p. 74.
^ abKushalappa, Mookonda (9 January 2017). "The set-up of Kodagu's royal cemetery". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
^"Kalyatanḍa okka". Kodagu Heritage. KodavaClan. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
^"ainmanes.com". www.ainmanes.com. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
January 01, 1970
kalyatanda, ponnappa, this, article, surname, kalyatanda, 17th, century, warrior, kodagu, coorg, since, deified, after, death, people, kodagu, consider, also, known, kaliat, achchappa, kaliat, ajjappa, contents, early, life, career, skirmishes, practise, death. In this article the surname is Kalyatanda Kalyatanda Ponnappa was a 17th century warrior of Kodagu Coorg 1 Since he was deified after his death the people of Kodagu consider him to be a god He is also known as Kaliat Achchappa or Kaliat Ajjappa 2 3 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Skirmishes 2 2 Practise 3 Death 4 Legacy 5 ReferencesEarly life editPonnappa was born in the Kalyatanda aka Kaliatanda family as the son of Kuttayya of Naalnaad Nalknad Ponnappa s parents were ardent devotees of Igguthappa 1 G Richter calls him a Malayalam man who came to Coorg many generations ago and got naturalized 2 A Malayali Kodava by birth Ponnappa was also associated with the Malayalam land Kerala His forefathers had lived in Kerala and Ponnappa himself had studied tantric magic in Kerala Kalyatanda Ponnappa had both Kodava and Malayalam origins but was considered a Kodava warrior and is now revered as a deity by the Kodava people but not particularly so by Malayali people His agrarian father was upset that Ponnappa didn t look after the fields So Kuttayya told his wife not to feed Ponnappa and broke Ponnappa s bow Upset with this Ponnappa left home Ponnappa was betrothed to his aunt s daughter He also had a friend and assistant called Katala Boltu 4 3 Career editSkirmishes edit Ponnappa became the most powerful man in Naalnaad Nalknad and its chosen leader as well He led the region in battles against neighbouring lords He fought with many powerful men and killed several of them 1 Ponnappa was a contemporary of Vira Raja the first king of Kodagu Ponnappa acknowledged Vira Raja s overlordship But the neighbouring lord Karnayya Bavu of Bhagamandala did not acknowledge Vira Raja as the king Karnayya raised a stealth army against the Raja 5 The Raja gave Ponnappa his gun sword and a privy army of 500 guards Karnayya wanted to befriend Ponnappa and make him an ally Karnayya himself had an army of men carrying matchlocks swords bows and arrows However Ponnappa refused his friendship not wishing to betray the Raja thus insulting Karnayya and making him an enemy 4 Practise edit Ponnappa was a practitioner of ritual magic divination and occult He was considered to be a sort of warlock or magician since he was believed to be an expert at wizardry and to be able to perform many miracles People held him in great awe and claimed that he was to manipulate supernatural beings He held a practise where devotees came to him with their problems and he solved them This way he was feared by some and respected in Kodagu 2 1 3 Death editPonnappa was once poisoned by an old woman but he managed to survive 1 4 Afterwards he visited his fiancee at her home the Kuttanjetira house in Beth village 4 However his enemies surrounded the place at night and attacked him The army of body guards the Raja had provided him were resting at another distant village at that time Single handedly he fought and killed a number of the enemies until he was fatally shot near what would later become the Kacheri office of Nalknad taluk 2 Badly wounded Ponnappa dragged himself to the Makki temple where he died 4 It was Karnayya s men who had surrounded Ponnappa and killed him in the darkness Later Vira Raja captured Karnayya Bavu and executed him 5 3 Legacy editAfter his death his spirit was believed to possess many men who displayed the magic arts that he practised 2 Ponnappa is a legendary figure in Kodagu where folk ballads are sung about him Festival performances are held in his honour in the Makki temple near Napoka Napoklu and in other temples 1 3 6 7 References edit a b c d e f Muthanna Dr I M 1971 The Coorg Memoirs the story of the Kodavas Mysore Dr I M Muthanna p 233 a b c d e Richter Rev G 1870 Manual of Coorg Mangalore C Stolz Basel Mission p 165 a b c d e Muthanna I M 1987 Kodavas and their gala lela Kodava folklores and songs p 74 a b c d e Chinnappa Nadikerianda 1924 Pattole Palame a b Kushalappa Mookonda 9 January 2017 The set up of Kodagu s royal cemetery Deccan Herald Retrieved 30 May 2022 Kalyatanḍa okka Kodagu Heritage KodavaClan 17 October 2019 Retrieved 30 May 2022 ainmanes com www ainmanes com Retrieved 30 May 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kalyatanda Ponnappa amp oldid 1220947700, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
