HISTORY FROM 13TH CENTURY A.D.
The Kolathra Tharavadu (Kudumbam) of Central Kerala, then middle Travancore, has a history and tradition of about 800 years Viz. from 13th century A.D. From the belief handed over from generation to generation, from the available ‘Thaaliolaas’ and documents the history and tradition of the Tharavadu began with ‘Vasudevararu Parameshwararu’ a well learned Brahmin, a scholar in Sanskrit, Thanthrashasthra, Mantrashasthra, Ayurveda and Tharkashasthra, hailed from an ancient and traditional Land Lord (Janmi) ‘Illom’ ‘Chembakamangalam’(Brahmin Tharavadu) of Guruvayoor in the present district of Thrissur. ‘Vasudevararu Parameshwararu’ is our great forefather later known and worshipped as “Kolathra Swami” the “Bhramarakshasu”. From his childhood he had attained overwhelming knowledge from his learned forefathers and from reputed gurukulas and was a great devotee of Durga Devi and Sree Ayyappa (Yogeeshwara) as his Upasanamoorthi’s.

In his younger age of thirty’s Vasudevararu Parameshwararu (Kolathra Swami) married with Kaarthiyayani Amma a ‘Nair’ lady of known “Plavelil Tharavadu” of Guruvayoor. Due to the religious custom prevailed, some feuds occurred in his family compelled or made him to take a vow touching his “Brahmaswam” (Poonool = sacred thread) that “I will never abandon you (wife) and children’s till Sun and Moon exists” and left his Chembakamangalam Illom at Guruvayoor and travelled towards Dakshinadesa (South) with his wife and enormous wealth.

In his travel towards south he reached Chengannoor where Swami was welcomed by the Thazhamon Thanthri family of Mahadeva Temple and extended all possible helps. The Thanthri persuaded Swami to go to Kozhencherry (Kozhakancherry = an area of brave people (Kozhakan – brave, Cherry- area)) (one of the village of 18 villages come under Parthasarathy Maha Temple, Aranmula) where a branch of Thanthri Illom exists known as chengazhaserry Illom. With their help Swami, our Prapitamahan (Great Forefather) founded our Tharavadu Kolathra and lived with his wife in a Nalukettu (Quadrangular building with inner courtyard). Using his enormous wealth, he attained large extents of landed properties and wet land in the village of Kozhencherry. He was very helpful to his dear beloveds and other inhabitants of nearby localities. Thus he became very famous in the area and Kolathra Tharavadu developed as a centre of spiritual, medical and cultural activities.

As a hardened faithful servant of Durga Devi and Yogeeshwara our forefather Kolathra Swami installed the Vigrahas (Idol) of Durga Devi and Yogeeshwara in the Kolathra Nalukettu (Till 1972 up to the demolition of the said Nalukettu a room was kept apart at the south-east part of the Nalukettu where the Vigrahas (Idol) installed and worshipped).

Due to aversion towards worldly life, at the age of 40, Swami slowly turned completely to the spiritual life. With the permission of his wife Karthyayaniamma, at the age of 52, he renounced his family life and took Sanyasa (Penance) and went to Sabarimala hills (forest) where the Sree Ayyappa temple (Upasana Moorthi) situated.

It is learned from the Anugraha (Velipadu) that the rest of his life for about one and a half decades, being a devotee, Kolathra Swami served and worshipped Lord Sree Ayyappa, got Darshana (Lord Ayyappa appeared before him and blessed him) and entered in Samadhi (attained Salvation).

Elapse of a century after his Samadhi, our ancestors due to ignorance about Swami and his Upasana Moorthies installed at Kolathra Tharavadu and refrain from worshipping the Moorthies. By the end of the century some unusual incidents occurred at the Kolathra Tharavadu showing the presence of Super Natural Soul. Those incidents made some disturbances among the members of the Tharavadu and such developments forced then Tharavadu Karanavar (Head of the family) to find out the remedy and approached the famous astrologer of “Suryakaladi Mana” Brahmasree Brahmadathan Namboothiri (now in the district of Kottayam near Kumaranalloor). While conducting Jyothisha Devaprasna (Astrology) he realized the imperceptible presence of our forefather Swami (as Brahmarakshas) and his Upasana Moorthies Durga Devi and Yogeeshwara. According to the Devaprasna, Brahmasree Brahmadattan Namboothiri advised our Karanavar to perform 7 days (seven) Thanthrika Karmas and to install the Idols after Aavahanam (to fetch the powers) of the Devine powers of Swami (Brahmarakshas), Durga Devi and Yogeeshwara into Idols and to install in the Temple in 3 (three) different Sree Kovils built in such a way that Swami and Durga Devi’s Idols must be installed in different rooms under a same roof and the Sree Kovil of Yogeeshwara in a different room adjacent to other Sree Kovil.

The Karmas of Prathishta (idol) was conducted by the then Karanavar of Changazhasserry Illom and started worshipping. Till to date the Poojas and Karmas of the Temple is the responsibility of the family of Changazhasserry Illom.

During the course, till to date the Sree kovils were reconstructed four times. In spite of the attempts of our ancestors the second half of 20th century witnessed a serious setback which paved way for damage of the temple. Sincere effort of our immediate predecessors to rectify the damages and to regularize the adoration induced the spirit of present generation. By 1990, due to some ominous incidents, a sudden decision was taken by the committee to demolish the dilapidated Sree Kovils and to construct the temple in the same measure and style in the same place since the measurements and style were fixed through Velipadu ( Decision of Swami). It is pertinent to note that the decision taken by the committee was a new footing in the history of the Tharavadu. What we see today at Kolathra is the result of the thorough devotion of the members towards the Deities and the unanimous co-ordination among the members of the Tharavadu. The most important need of the time is, to maintain our Temple and Tradition, to associate our generations domiciled far and near to the Temple and its custom and to give correct and better knowledge that are happened and happening in the Tharavadu.