This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 85.65.99.40 (talk) at 10:25, 19 May 2011 (+ section). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 10:25, 19 May 2011 by 85.65.99.40 (talk) (+ section)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Tharisapalli plates or Tarsishapalli sasanangal ( ചേപ്പേടുകള്) are a set of copper-plate grants that were given to the Assyrian Monk Marwan S(abo)r Easho or Iso (Mar Sabor and Mar Proth) by Venad ruler Ayyanadikal Thiruvadikal (a feudatory under the Chera kingdom) in 849 or 825 CE (if was in 825 CE, marking the beginning of the Malayalam Era). The plates document a land grant of "Tarsishapalli", near "Korukenikollam" to the Nestorian (Assyrian) saints who had taken the then famous Red Sea route to Kerala on invitation of king of Kollam.
History
The Nestorians were accomplished merchants and had trade links with Kerala even before 1000 BC (psalms 48) and other countries in Southeast Asia, mainly China. The plates give information about the arrival of Monks from Persia, led by Marwan S(abo)r Easho or Iso iso in AD 825, together with Mar Prodh. The Nestorians had improved religious relation in Kollam, raising it to a major place in South India.
In 800 AD Quilon was part of Venadu. It is believed that around 825 AD, Maruvan Sapir Eso a successful merchant from Persia crossed the seas to reach Quilon. Along with him came Mar Aproth and Mar Sapor, two bishops representing the Persian Catholicos. The then ruling monarch Iyyanadikal Thiruvadikal (849AD) welcomed the Persians and showered them with special privileges and honours and gifted Maruvan Sapir Eso with land to build a church. This is mentioned in ‘Tharisa Pally cheppedu’(QLN, Copper plates, Trav: Arch, Vol, 11, PP 60- 85)
Members of the Muthalaly family are the descendents of Maruvan Sapir Eso and for generations the family members enjoyed the privileges bestowed upon their forefather by the king.
Muthalaly family continued to remain a strong and powerful family. Mention of the family and their business is found in the travel descriptions of John D Marringolli, who visited Kerala in 1348 as an emissary of the Pope. It is mentioned that he stayed with the Pepper merchants of Quilon, the descendents of Maruvan Sapir Eso. (Cathy & the way thither. Vol 111.p.257
The plates
There were two sets of plates as part of this document, and both were incomplete. The first set documented the land while second set documented the conditions. The signatories signed the document in Hebrew, Pahlavi, and Kufic languages. The original Nestorian were eastern Syriac and included present Persia, including Babylon and Israel and complete sway over the Red Sea ports. The plates have been translated into English.
_plates_1_and_4.jpg)
| Chera dynasty |
|---|
| Early Cheras |
|
| - |
|
| - |
|
| Kongu Chera dynasty (Karur) |
|
| Chera Perumals of Makotai (Kerala) |
|
References
- probably near present Kollam.
- leading to a vertical split in the Aryan communities of kerala
- "Five of these plates still exist -- Three of these are still in the Orthodox Old Seminary in Kottayam and two are at the Mar Thoma Church Head Quarters, Tiruvalla."
- M. K. Kuriakose, History of Christianity in India: Source Materials, (Bangalore: United Theological College, 1982), pp.10-12. Kuriakose gives a translation of the related but later copper plate grant to Iravi Kortan on pp.14-15. For earlier translations, see S. G. Pothan, The Syrian Christians of Kerala, (Bombay: Asia Publishing House, 1963), pp.102-105.
Further reading
- Sivasankaran Nair, K ,Venadinte parinamam (വേണാടിന്റെ പരിണാമം), D C Books, 2005.