Iringalakkuda
Irinjalakuda is a municipal town in Thrissur district, Kerala, India. Irinjalakuda is a revenue division and the headquarters of Mukundapuram Taluk. It is known for the Koodalmanikyam Temple and the Thachudaya Kaimals who had princely status until 1971.
Etymology
The name Irinjalakuda has been derived from "Iru" and "Chaal", meaning two streams. According to another legend, the origin of the name Irinjalakuda came from 'Irinjalikoodal'. 'Koodal' simply means merge, merging of two rivers. So it shows that Irinjalakuda may have gradually developed, from 'Irinjalikoodal', that derived from 'Inangikoodal', means merge. At present there is no river in Irinjalakuda, only the myth of river. Irinjalakuda can be derived from 'iru njyaala koda' i.e., donation of two worlds, which is what Mahabali is said to have done in the story of the Vaamanaavataaram.
Source - Wikipedia [ Mar 2021]
Members of Kerala Legislative Assembly from Iringalakkuda Assembly Constituency
| Year | Member | Party | ||
| 1957 | C. Achutha Menon | CPI | ||
| 1960 | C. Achutha Menon | CPI | ||
| 1967 | C. K. Rajan | CPI | ||
| 1970 | C. S. Gangadharan | KSP | ||
| 1977 | Siddarthan Kattungal | INC | ||
| 1980 | Jose Thanickal | INC(U) | ||
| 1982 | Lonappan Nambadan | Ind. | ||
| 1987 | Lonappan Nambadan | Ind. | ||
| 1991 | Lonappan Nambadan | Ind. | ||
| 1996 | Lonappan Nambadan | Ind. | ||
| 2001 | Thomas Unniyadan | KC(M) | ||
| 2006 | Thomas Unniyadan | KC(M) | ||
| 2011 | Thomas Unniyadan | KC(M) | ||
| 2016 | K. U. Arunan | CPI(M) | ||
| 2021 | R. Bindu | CPI(M) |
Local self governed segments in Iringalakkuda Assembly Constituency
| Sl.No. | Name | Status | Taluk |
| 1 | Irinjalakuda | Municipality | Mukundapuram |
| 2 | Karalam | Grama panchayat | Mukundapuram |
| 3 | Kattoor | Grama panchayat | Mukundapuram |
| 4 | Muriyad | Grama panchayat | Mukundapuram |
| 5 | Padiyur | Grama panchayat | Mukundapuram |
| 6 | Poomangalam | Grama panchayat | Mukundapuram |
| 7 | Vellookkara | Grama panchayat | Mukundapuram |
| 8 | Aloor | Grama panchayat | Chalakudy |
In 1762 Maharaja Kingdom of Cochin formed Mukundapuram taluk by adding Mapranam nadu and parts of Nandilathu nadu to Mukundapuram nadu (Muriyanadu). In the last decade of the 18th Century the last Naduvazhi Nambiar of Mukundapuram nadu (Murija nadu) died and Sakthan Thampuran confiscated all the powers and properties of Mukundapuram Nambiar and Mapranam Nambiar. Sakthan Thampuran divided old Mukundapuram Taluk into six Proverties[what language is this?] viz. 1) Thazhekkad 2) Areepalam, 3) Mukundapuram (Nadavarambu) 4) Mapranam 5) Palathungal (Nandikkara) 6) Pudukkad for administrative and revenue purposes. Five more proverties were added to Mukundapuram Taluk afterwards: Kodassery (Chalakudy), Thirumukkulam (Kuzhur)), Koratty (Adur), Pathinettarayalam (Edavilangu) and Malayattur. Tipu Sultan's Army was based at Thazhekkad Proverty of Mukundapuram Taluk on 24 December 1789 to attack the Nedumkotta which is situated in the middle of Kochi Kingdom and was known as Travancore lines and attacked KonurKottavathil in January 1790.
According to Hindu mythology, Irinjalakuda was created by sage Parasurama. According to Keralolpatthi, out of the 64 gramas (villages) established in Kerala (Out of these 32 Malayala Gramas & half Thulu grama viz. Manjeswaram are in the present Kerala and 31 1/2 Thulu gramas in the coastal Karnataka.), Irinjalakuda was the head of some of them. Irinjalakuda was one of the most prominent among these Gramas (village societies). Boundaries of this grama extends up to Aloor in the east and Kakkathuruthi in the west and later extended to Koodapuzha in the east. Like the other Gramas this 'Grama' also followed Sankara Smruthi (a modified form of the 'Chathurvarnia' system of society with some Kerala model variations which lay upon caste system based on the 'Manusmruthi').
Another legend suggests that the origin of the name Irinjalakuda were traditionally associated as, "Irunnu Salayil Koodai", and "Virinja Alu Kuda". There is a huge Banyan tree still standing in the centre of the Irinjalakuda spreading the branches to the sky like an umbrella.
The Thachudaya Kaimal is a spiritual dignitary of Kerala Hindus and the temporal ruler of the Koodalmanikyam Temple and its Estates. The line goes back into antiquity and is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. The Arms of the Kaimal and that of the temple bear the insignia of a coiled conch-shell with the words 'Manikkam Keralar'. With the 26th amendment of the Indian constitution in 1971, the Princely order in India was abolished and the Thachudaya Kaimals lost their position in the temple and its estates. It is now managed by a Trust managed by the District Collector although a vestige of former power lies in his being the chief trustee of the temple. The Devaswom was allotted land to accommodate institutions such as the Christ College, and for public use to facilitate development activities in the region. Much land that belonged to Koodalmanikyam was subjected to encroachment.
