Thampi(तम्पि) means brother. In ancient times, children born from Princes of Kovilakams of southern Travancore and Illathu Nair women were given the title Thampi and Thankachi. Thampi for sons and Thankachi for daughters. Thankachi(तंकच्चि) means sister. But today this surname is used by some other communities too. There is a sub-caste called Thambinar in the Vellalar community. But they have no relation with Nair Thampis. Today in southern India, there are Nair Thampis, Ezhava Thampis, and Christian Thampis. Illathu Nair Thampis have no relation with other Thampis.
Ammaveedus were the residences of the consorts of the Mahārājas in southern Travancore. There are several Ammaveedus in Thiruvananthpuram such as the Puthumana, Kallada, Mupidakka, Chavara, Pulimoodu Ammaveedus etc. However, from the end of the 18th century, four Ammaveedus gained prominence. These were the Arumana, Vadasseri, Thiruvattar and Nāgarkovil Ammaveedus.
According to the usage of Royal family of Travancore, the consort of Prince should be a lady belonging to or adopted by one of the families known as Ammaveedus. This prevented the kings from marrying princesses (as it was the king's nephew and not his own sons who inherited the throne). So, the kings chose their wives from upper caste Hindus who were adopted into the royal fold and housed in mini-palaces.
Vadassery Ammaveedu was the Ammaveedu of HH Shri.Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (1758-98), HH Shri.Avittom Thirunal Bala Rama Varma (1798-1810), HH Shri.Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1829-1847) and HH Shri.Mulam Thirunal Rama Varma (1886-1924). The Ammaveedu is a complex structure consisting of a temple and a number of buildings. The main building is a double story tiled roof one following Kerala architecture.
Shri.Velu Thampi Dalawa was born as a native of Nagarkovil in Kanyakumari district on 6th of May 1765. His real name was Shri.Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi. He belonged to Thalakulath Valiyaveedu Nair Tharavadu. He became a known figure even before his 25th birthday. He had his education at home in Sanskrit, Tamil, and Malayalam. The military training in Kalari gave him striking personality, physically hardy and well built. He also studied logic, Ayurveda, Astrology, Mathematics etc. Thampi's uncommon intellect and inquisitiveness enabled him to be appointed as a Kariakar in a Taluk of South Travancore. He became the Dewan of Travancore in 1801.
Shri.Iravivarman Thampi popularly known as Shri.Irayamman Thampi was a Carnatic musician as well as a music composer from Travancore, India. He belonged to Puthumana Ammaveedu. His famous compositions include "Karuna cheyvān enthu thāmasam Krishna" and "Omana thinkal kidāvo." During his childhood, he was a scholar in drama, grammar, logic, poetry, and Alankāra.
Shri.Padmanabhan Thampi, Shri.Raman Thampi and Kumari.Ummini Thankachi were the children born to HH Shri.Marthanda Varma of Travancore Royal Family and Suryavanshi Kshatriya Princess HH Smt.Abhirami. She was from Ayodhya Royal Family.
Data were collected from Wikipedia, The South Indian Rebellions: Before and After 1800 by Subramanian Gopalakrishnan, At the Turn of the Tide: The Life and Times of Maharani Setu Lakshmi Bayi by Lakshmi Raghunandan, Heritage of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram - Information & Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala, 2008 - Historic buildings, Stark world Kerala by Theresa Varghese, www.keralasahithyaakademi.org, www.swathithirunal.in
Ammaveedus were the residences of the consorts of the Mahārājas in southern Travancore. There are several Ammaveedus in Thiruvananthpuram such as the Puthumana, Kallada, Mupidakka, Chavara, Pulimoodu Ammaveedus etc. However, from the end of the 18th century, four Ammaveedus gained prominence. These were the Arumana, Vadasseri, Thiruvattar and Nāgarkovil Ammaveedus.
According to the usage of Royal family of Travancore, the consort of Prince should be a lady belonging to or adopted by one of the families known as Ammaveedus. This prevented the kings from marrying princesses (as it was the king's nephew and not his own sons who inherited the throne). So, the kings chose their wives from upper caste Hindus who were adopted into the royal fold and housed in mini-palaces.
Vadassery Ammaveedu was the Ammaveedu of HH Shri.Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma (1758-98), HH Shri.Avittom Thirunal Bala Rama Varma (1798-1810), HH Shri.Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1829-1847) and HH Shri.Mulam Thirunal Rama Varma (1886-1924). The Ammaveedu is a complex structure consisting of a temple and a number of buildings. The main building is a double story tiled roof one following Kerala architecture.
Shri.Velu Thampi Dalawa was born as a native of Nagarkovil in Kanyakumari district on 6th of May 1765. His real name was Shri.Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi. He belonged to Thalakulath Valiyaveedu Nair Tharavadu. He became a known figure even before his 25th birthday. He had his education at home in Sanskrit, Tamil, and Malayalam. The military training in Kalari gave him striking personality, physically hardy and well built. He also studied logic, Ayurveda, Astrology, Mathematics etc. Thampi's uncommon intellect and inquisitiveness enabled him to be appointed as a Kariakar in a Taluk of South Travancore. He became the Dewan of Travancore in 1801.
Shri.Iravivarman Thampi popularly known as Shri.Irayamman Thampi was a Carnatic musician as well as a music composer from Travancore, India. He belonged to Puthumana Ammaveedu. His famous compositions include "Karuna cheyvān enthu thāmasam Krishna" and "Omana thinkal kidāvo." During his childhood, he was a scholar in drama, grammar, logic, poetry, and Alankāra.
Shri.Padmanabhan Thampi, Shri.Raman Thampi and Kumari.Ummini Thankachi were the children born to HH Shri.Marthanda Varma of Travancore Royal Family and Suryavanshi Kshatriya Princess HH Smt.Abhirami. She was from Ayodhya Royal Family.
Data were collected from Wikipedia, The South Indian Rebellions: Before and After 1800 by Subramanian Gopalakrishnan, At the Turn of the Tide: The Life and Times of Maharani Setu Lakshmi Bayi by Lakshmi Raghunandan, Heritage of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram - Information & Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala, 2008 - Historic buildings, Stark world Kerala by Theresa Varghese, www.keralasahithyaakademi.org, www.swathithirunal.in
