Petals of the Self-Formed: Antecedents of Travancore Kingdom [Hardcover]

ABOUT THE BOOK:-This book is about the socio-political entity that existed prior to the existence of the kingdom of Thiruvithamkur/Travancore situated at the southernmost part of peninsular India. These entities were known as Swaroopams; several of them coexisted along with another entity known as naadu. The chief of Swaroopams were not known as kings but muppu (the senior most). They were not chiefs, but their function was 'to be with distinction' or vaazhcha in Malayalam language. One muppu could occupy this position in more than one Swaroopams at the same time or at different points in time. This pattern can be called as multiple muppu vaazhcha. The dathetukkal practice (adoption) was prevalent in the Swaroopams, but it is not identical to adoption. The customary practices (aachaaram) were extremely important in deciding the matters of Swaroopam administration. There was a system of 'archaivalisation of aachaaram'. Instead of a single methodology, the enquiry employs a 'conceptual constellation'