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Neervilakom - Welcome to Neervilakom communityBeautiful Paddy Fields

Neervilakom (also spelt Neervilakam, Neervilakem, Nirvilakam, Nirvilakom, Nirvilakem) is one of the beautiful villages situated between Aranmula and Chengannur. This place is blessed with natural beauty where God has shown his artistic ability. The place is located, 5kms away from Chengannur and 7 kms away from Aranmula. Neervilakom belongs to Aranmula panchayath situated in the extreme west part of Pathanamthitta district. It is the geographical border of Alappuzha and pathanamthitta districts. It shares its border with Malakkara, Arattupuzha, Puthancavu, Kurichumuttam and Piralasherry villages.

Centuries before, the area now known as Neervilakom was a part of dense and impenetrable tropical forest. The inhabitants of this forest being ferocious wild animals like tigers elephants etc, people were afraid to step into wild wood. Once it happened that, a tribal woman who was in search of food and honey, accidentally stepped into the denseness of this forest. The sickle which she had with her for collecting stuffs from the forest became blunt after prolonged use. In order to sharpen the knife she rubbed it against the face of a rock. To her surprise it happened that, blood began to gush out of the rock as if from a human body cut with a knife. Stricken by terror she fled out of the scene to a near by Brahmin Illam. On describing what she experienced in the forest, the thantri went along with the woman to the scene. Discerning the presence of Lord Shiva in that rock, the Thantri made arrangements for the 'Poojas' to be offered to the Lord.

The Nair aristocrats who came from Nilakkal to visit the same made arrangements for building a temple at the scene. The descendants of the nair family, who came from Nilakkal, came to be known as the Nilakkal Kudumbam. So the first human inhabitants of Neervilakom are the Nilakkal family. Later when the Cheravamsas ruled Travancore, more people moved in to Neervilakam appreciating the fertility of this land. This place came to be known as "Neeru vilanga idam" as a recognition to the fertility of the land. The name "Neeru vilanga idam" got abridged year after year to evolve as "Neervilakam". Another myth says that, since this place has got many rice fields in its periphery which are always filled with water, it came to be known as Neervilakam which literally means, surrounded by water. Experts believe the first to be true as "vilakam" etymologically has got a Tamil tinge to it.

As a joke people used to say that since this place has got lots of a special type of ant( called neer in Malayalam) Neervilakom has been named after them.


Demographics
As per 2001 India census, Neervilakom has a population of 6,535. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Neervilakom has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 85% and female literacy of 75%. 95% of population is Hindus and the rest Christians. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. People from different castes, creed and religion live in great harmony here. This unity in diversity is the real beauty of this place.

How to reach

The main access to Neervilakom village is Chengannur- Pandalam parallel road. Other accesses are Arattupuzha - Neervilakom road, Malakkara- Neervilakom road, Chakkittappadi-Neervilakom road and Aranmula- Chengannur parallel road. Limited bus services are available. Auto rickshaws and taxies are available for convenient travel. Chengannur railway station is just 5 kms away from this place and so is the main bus station
Places of Pilgrimage

Sree Dharmashastha Temple.

Peringattukavu Devi Temple.

Nilakkal Mahadeva Kudumba Temple.

Kuttamthu Murthi Temple.

Muttettu Murthi Temple.

St: Gregorious Orthodox Church.

Pampu Mana Nagaraja kavu

Chirakkirottu Nagaraja Kavu

Thompilethu Nagaraja Kavu

Thekkedethu Nagaraja Kavu

Vadakkedathu Nagaraja Kavu.

Main Families

Nilakkal Kudumbam

Kolethil Kudumbam

Kizhakkelethu Kudumbam

Vadakkedathu Kudumbam

Kuttamathu Kudumbam

Thompilethu Kudumbam

Kinattinkarethu Kudumbam

Modiyil Kudumbam

Kalechumodiyil Kudumbam.




Ajithg
Ajithg 		Latest page update: made by Ajithg , Feb 15 2008, 8:48 AM EST (about this update About This Update Ajithg Edited by Ajithg

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