History of Grama Panchayat
It is said that when Kottarakkara Thampuran was returning after visiting Mookambika Temple, he came to know Parthisubba, and that encounter became the foundation for his vision of Kathakali. The classical art form of Kathakali, which Malayalis received through Kottarakkara Thampuran and Kottayam Thampuran, is believed to have close links with Yakshagana, a subject worthy of research. Among Yakshagana artists, the late Agalpadi Mahalinga Maniyani is remembered as a distinguished personality. He received the Karnataka State Government Award for Yakshagana costume performance. Other notable personalities in this field include Agalpadi Kunjikrishna Maniyani, Ubrangala Kunjirama Maniyani, Agalpadi Narayanan, Gosada Subbiah Shetty, Mouvvar Kittanna Bhagavathar, and Agalpadi Achutha Maniyani.
Yakshagana training centers existed in the temples of Ubrangala and Agalpadi. In earlier times, Yakshagana performances were also conducted in schools and bhajana mandirs. Among Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities too, several beautiful folk art forms existed in the past. Today, only Attikalanja, Sonajogi, Kannyappu, and Pedan remain. Attikalanja performers visit houses during the Malayalam month of Karkidakam. Sonajogi is performed during Chingam, and Pedan performances also take place in Chingam. During Makaram, after the harvest season, Koppala women visit houses and perform a graceful dance form known as Mathira.
Among the Theyyam artists of the previous generation, famous personalities included Marppanadukka Veeran, Krishnappanikkar, Pambe Koppala, and Kunda Koppala. Temples such as Gosada, Agalpadi, Ubrangala, Umamaheshwara Delampady, and Mulinja played a major role in nurturing the cultural life of the region in earlier times. It is said that Agalpadi Temple was originally only a resting place (Sathram) in ancient times and later became a temple. The Sastha consecration at Ubrangala Temple is very famous, and the temple is popularly known as the “Northern Sabarimala.”
Although almost all the art forms and beliefs of Tulunadu are present in Kumbadaje Panchayat, traditional Malayalam festivals such as Onam and Thiruvathira are not widely celebrated here. Swami Anandatheertha was the leader who brought revolutionary progress in the temple-entry movement. His efforts helped connect marginalized communities with temples.
The discovery of several prehistoric archaeological remains in Kumbadaje points to the Panchayat’s ancient cultural heritage. Muslims living together with Hindus during important phases of the Panchayat’s history was widely recognized. During the early decades of this century, Hindus and Muslims lived in great brotherhood and harmony. They helped each other in the construction of temples and mosques. The mosque at Kumbadaje is the oldest Muslim mosque in the Panchayat and is believed to have been built before the time of Tipu Sultan. An ancient Makbara (tomb) is located beside this mosque. Another Makbara is situated at Karkadagoli in Belinja. The Belinja–Annadukka mosques are more than 140 years old.
The Kumbadaje Grama Seva Sangham Library at Ethadukka and the Shadanana Granthasala Library at Mouvvar are among the oldest cultural institutions in the Panchayat. Early educational activities were centered around certain families and temples. Scholars from outside the region taught Sanskrit in the temples at Agalpadi, Ubrangala, and Alinja. The school at Karuvathadukka, established around a hundred years ago, is the oldest school in the Panchayat. It is now known as G.J.B.S. Kumbadaje. Many prominent elders from Badiyadka and Kumbadaje Panchayats studied there. The famous Kannada poet and writer Kayyar Kinhanna Rai was also a student of this school. The major market centers of the Panchayat are Ethadukka, Marppanadukka, and Movvar.