Unniyarcha (sometimes spelled "Uñnįarcha") is a legendary warrior and heroine 16th century mentioned in the Vadakkan Pattukal,[1] a set of historical ballads from northern Kerala, a state in southwestern India. She was a member of a Thiyyar Community family of Puthooram Veed in Kadathanad.[1][2][3] Her father's name was Kannappa Chekavar.[4][5] She is believed to have lived in the northern part of Kerala during the 16th century.[6][7][1] She is a popular character in Kerala's folklore, and is remembered for her valour and skills in Kerala's native martial art, Kalaripayattu. According to legend, Unniyarcha was most known for her deadly skill with the whip-like Urumi, a unique type of sword that is native to Kerala. Like most traditional Kalaripayattu practitioners, she began training at the kalari at the age of seven.[8][1]
There are so many such instances in Vatakkan Pattukal, the narrative poems about warrior heroes and heroines prevalent in Kerala , who won or lost in some of the famous duels of Kalarippayattu. Among these songs, the fight of Unniyarcha, the female warrior, who fought against several men with a winding sword called Urumi, specially used for Kalarippayattu, to safeguard herself and her husband from a planned attack of some thieves, is very popular.[9]
Attummanammel Unniyarcha was from the famous Puthooram Veedu of Kadathanad (Vadakara), a region in northern Kerala.[7][6] Unniyarcha was married to Attumanammel Kunjiraman.[10] Many Thiyyar families today trace their roots to this Chekavar lineage, and to mythological fighters such as Unniyarcha and her brother, Aromal Chekavar.[11]Attummanammel Kunjiraman had a kalari known as Puthussery Kalari, which remains in the Kannur district of Kerala to this day. History has it that Unniyarcha won 64 kalari ankam in her youth.[12] She was the sister of Aromal Chekavar and Unnikannan. Unniyarcha rejected the romantic advances of Chandu Chekavar (also known as Chanthu Chekavar), which led to the murder of her brother Aromal. Aromalunni, the son of Unniyarcha, later took revenge against Chanthu to avenge his uncle.[13] Unniyarcha is revered in Kerala, especially among Kalaripayattu practitioners, for her martial skill, courage and beauty.
Unniyarcha is perhaps the most exceptional of all the 'heroines' of North Malabar. Also known as Archa, she became synonymous with empowered independent women in Kerala. Her name became a symbol of beauty, bravery and fierce independence among Keralite women.
Nadapuram Fight
According to historian A Sreedhara Menon, Unniarcha Even in her childhood she mastered the technique of warfare by undergoing a rigorous course of training in the Kalari.[1] She was the very embodiment of female heroism and many are the deeds of gallantry attributed to her in the northern ballads. She had married one Attummanammel Kunhiraman who was literally a coward. One day after her marriage Unniarcha set out from home to see the Kuthu in Allimalarkavu, the Vilakku in Ayyappankavu and the Velapuram in Anjanakavu (the version in the ballads).[1] As the Mappilas (Jonakas) in the bazar on the way were a much dreaded lot, her husband and relatives did not approve of her journey. In spite of this, she was determined to go for these festivals.[1] Her husband Kunhiraman had no other alternative but to accompany her. As was expected, she was waylaid at Nadapuram by the Mappilas. Though Kunhiraman was in jitters, Unniarcha showed her mettle by facing her adversaries almost single-handed. The ballads so goes Nadapuram "Kerala History and Its Makers" mention her caustic comments about the nervous behaviour of her husband. ("Though a woman, I do not shiver. Then why should you, a man, shiforc)The headman of the chanakas (Yavanas) who happened to see her on the way, was enamoured of her beauty and sent his men to carry her away by force. Unniyarcha drew her sword and killed some of them.[14] The rest fled and brought the headman himself to the scene, who soon discovered that she was the sister of his fencing master.[14] He appealed to both the brother and sister to pardon him, but Unniyarcha was inexorable and challenged him and his men to a fight.[14]
The Mappilas soon realised that their opponent was none other than the brave sister of Aromal Chekavar whom their leader (Muppan) had held in great awe and respect.[1] Having realised his mistake the Muppan tried to do his best to pacify her, but she would not pardon him without a categorical assurance that women would be allowed to walk along that way without any fear of molestation. Even the intercession of the wife of the ruling chieftain or of the influential Chetti who was the friend of Chekavar failed to win her over.[1] At last Aromal Chekavar himself appeared on the scene. Only after the Muppan tendered wholesome apology and offered all kinds of gifts did she calm down and make peace with her adversaries.[1] The chief of the place, who was appealed to, persuaded the girl to sheath her sword, which she did on the headman promising that no woman of the place would be molested in future.[14]
In popular culture
The legend of Unniyarcha has been made into films such as:
^ abcdefghijkMenon, A. Sreedhara (4 March 2011). Kerala History and its Makers. D C Books. pp. 82–86. ISBN978-81-264-3782-5. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
^കാവാലം നാരായണ പണിക്കർ (1991). floklore of kerala-India. National books,kollam. p. 108. ISBN9788123725932. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
^Ayyappapanicker, K. (2000). Surveys and selections. Medieval Indian Literature: An Anthology. Vol. One. സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി. p. 316. ISBN81-260-0365-0.
^Kurup, Pushpa (28 November 2017). "What MT did to Unniyarcha". Deccan Chronicle.
^ Jumbos and Jumping Devils: A Social History of Indian Circus - Nisha P.R. - Google Books and Jumping Devils
^ ab"History of Malayalam Literature: Folk literature". Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
^ ab"Meet Padma Shri Meenakshi Gurukkal, the grand old dame of Kalaripayattu - The 75-year-old Padma winner is perhaps the oldest Kalaripayattu exponent in the country".
^"What MT did to Unniyarcha - Deccan Chronicle". Dailyhunt. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
^Arya Madhavan (2010). Kudiyattam Theatre and the Actor's Consciousness. Brill ebook. p. 134. ISBN9789042027992.
^Gangadharan, Dr. Thikkurissi (1984). Puthariyankam. DCBooks. p. 148.
^ Ullekh.N.p, Kannur:inside India's Bloodiest Revenge Politics google books. P.201
^ abcdB.S. Chandrababu, L. Thilagavathi (2009). Woman, Her History and Her Struggle for Emancipation. Bharathi Boothakalayam. p. 156. ISBN9788189909970.
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unniyarcha, 1961, film, same, name, film, sometimes, spelled, uñnįarcha, legendary, warrior, heroine, 16th, century, mentioned, vadakkan, pattukal, historical, ballads, from, northern, kerala, state, southwestern, india, member, thiyyar, community, family, put. For the 1961 film of the same name see Unniyarcha film Unniyarcha sometimes spelled Unnįarcha is a legendary warrior and heroine 16th century mentioned in the Vadakkan Pattukal 1 a set of historical ballads from northern Kerala a state in southwestern India She was a member of a Thiyyar Community family of Puthooram Veed in Kadathanad 1 2 3 Her father s name was Kannappa Chekavar 4 5 She is believed to have lived in the northern part of Kerala during the 16th century 6 7 1 She is a popular character in Kerala s folklore and is remembered for her valour and skills in Kerala s native martial art Kalaripayattu According to legend Unniyarcha was most known for her deadly skill with the whip like Urumi a unique type of sword that is native to Kerala Like most traditional Kalaripayattu practitioners she began training at the kalari at the age of seven 8 1 Puthooram Veetil UnniyarchaBornUnniyarcha16th century 1 KadathanadDied16th Century endkadathanadAgedOther namesAttumanammel UnniyarchaNationalityMalabar IndianStyleKalaripayattuthulu nadanOccupationChieftain of Kadathanad RajaSpouseKunhiraman Chekavar Attumanammel HouseChildrenAromalunniNotable relativesKannappa Chekavar Aromal Chekavar Chandu Chekavar Kunhi Kannan Kannappanunni Kunjunnooli ThumbolarchaThere are so many such instances in Vatakkan Pattukal the narrative poems about warrior heroes and heroines prevalent in Kerala who won or lost in some of the famous duels of Kalarippayattu Among these songs the fight of Unniyarcha the female warrior who fought against several men with a winding sword called Urumi specially used for Kalarippayattu to safeguard herself and her husband from a planned attack of some thieves is very popular 9 Urumi weapon Contents 1 Biography 2 Nadapuram Fight 3 In popular culture 4 See also 5 ReferencesBiography EditAttummanammel Unniyarcha was from the famous Puthooram Veedu of Kadathanad Vadakara a region in northern Kerala 7 6 Unniyarcha was married to Attumanammel Kunjiraman 10 Many Thiyyar families today trace their roots to this Chekavar lineage and to mythological fighters such as Unniyarcha and her brother Aromal Chekavar 11 Attummanammel Kunjiraman had a kalari known as Puthussery Kalari which remains in the Kannur district of Kerala to this day History has it that Unniyarcha won 64 kalari ankam in her youth 12 She was the sister of Aromal Chekavar and Unnikannan Unniyarcha rejected the romantic advances of Chandu Chekavar also known as Chanthu Chekavar which led to the murder of her brother Aromal Aromalunni the son of Unniyarcha later took revenge against Chanthu to avenge his uncle 13 Unniyarcha is revered in Kerala especially among Kalaripayattu practitioners for her martial skill courage and beauty Unniyarcha is perhaps the most exceptional of all the heroines of North Malabar Also known as Archa she became synonymous with empowered independent women in Kerala Her name became a symbol of beauty bravery and fierce independence among Keralite women Nadapuram Fight EditAccording to historian A Sreedhara Menon Unniarcha Even in her childhood she mastered the technique of warfare by undergoing a rigorous course of training in the Kalari 1 She was the very embodiment of female heroism and many are the deeds of gallantry attributed to her in the northern ballads She had married one Attummanammel Kunhiraman who was literally a coward One day after her marriage Unniarcha set out from home to see the Kuthu in Allimalarkavu the Vilakku in Ayyappankavu and the Velapuram in Anjanakavu the version in the ballads 1 As the Mappilas Jonakas in the bazar on the way were a much dreaded lot her husband and relatives did not approve of her journey In spite of this she was determined to go for these festivals 1 Her husband Kunhiraman had no other alternative but to accompany her As was expected she was waylaid at Nadapuram by the Mappilas Though Kunhiraman was in jitters Unniarcha showed her mettle by facing her adversaries almost single handed The ballads so goes Nadapuram Kerala History and Its Makers mention her caustic comments about the nervous behaviour of her husband Though a woman I do not shiver Then why should you a man shiforc The headman of the chanakas Yavanas who happened to see her on the way was enamoured of her beauty and sent his men to carry her away by force Unniyarcha drew her sword and killed some of them 14 The rest fled and brought the headman himself to the scene who soon discovered that she was the sister of his fencing master 14 He appealed to both the brother and sister to pardon him but Unniyarcha was inexorable and challenged him and his men to a fight 14 The Mappilas soon realised that their opponent was none other than the brave sister of Aromal Chekavar whom their leader Muppan had held in great awe and respect 1 Having realised his mistake the Muppan tried to do his best to pacify her but she would not pardon him without a categorical assurance that women would be allowed to walk along that way without any fear of molestation Even the intercession of the wife of the ruling chieftain or of the influential Chetti who was the friend of Chekavar failed to win her over 1 At last Aromal Chekavar himself appeared on the scene Only after the Muppan tendered wholesome apology and offered all kinds of gifts did she calm down and make peace with her adversaries 1 The chief of the place who was appealed to persuaded the girl to sheath her sword which she did on the headman promising that no woman of the place would be molested in future 14 In popular culture EditThe legend of Unniyarcha has been made into films such as Unniyarcha 1961 Aromalunni 1972 Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha 1989 Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha 2002 A television serial titled Unniyarcha was aired on Asianet 2006 Her character was also shown in Veeram 2016 See also EditCalicut Kannur ChekavarReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Menon A Sreedhara 4 March 2011 Kerala History and its Makers D C Books pp 82 86 ISBN 978 81 264 3782 5 Retrieved 10 October 2021 ക വ ല ന ര യണ പണ ക കർ 1991 floklore of kerala India National books kollam p 108 ISBN 9788123725932 Retrieved 8 October 2008 Ayyappapanicker K 2000 Surveys and selections Medieval Indian Literature An Anthology Vol One സ ഹ ത യ അക ക ദമ p 316 ISBN 81 260 0365 0 Kurup Pushpa 28 November 2017 What MT did to Unniyarcha Deccan Chronicle Jumbos and Jumping Devils A Social History of Indian Circus Nisha P R Google Books and Jumping Devils a b History of Malayalam Literature Folk literature Archived from the original on 12 July 2012 Retrieved 9 August 2013 a b Meet Padma Shri Meenakshi Gurukkal the grand old dame of Kalaripayattu The 75 year old Padma winner is perhaps the oldest Kalaripayattu exponent in the country What MT did to Unniyarcha Deccan Chronicle Dailyhunt Retrieved 12 March 2019 Arya Madhavan 2010 Kudiyattam Theatre and the Actor s Consciousness Brill ebook p 134 ISBN 9789042027992 Gangadharan Dr Thikkurissi 1984 Puthariyankam DCBooks p 148 Ullekh N p Kannur inside India s Bloodiest Revenge Politics google books P 201 Denvor Fernandez 2020 Mahabali Notion press ISBN 9781649516503 Ayyappapanicker K 2000 Medieval Indian Literature An Anthology Sahitya Akademi p 316 ISBN 81 260 0365 0 a b c d B S Chandrababu L Thilagavathi 2009 Woman Her History and Her Struggle for Emancipation Bharathi Boothakalayam p 156 ISBN 9788189909970 This article about a literature character is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Unniyarcha amp oldid 1113621322, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
