Muruvanda Okka

About the Okka

The Muruvanda Okka has a history associated with the conflicts during the period of Tipu Sultan and the subsequent preservation of the okka through the female line.

According to the recorded tradition, all the men of the Okka were captured and killed by Tipu Sultan’s soldiers. The only surviving male member of the okka later died in a tiger attack while he had gone to cut bothh (Bothh Kuthuvo) for Kaveri Sankramana.

Following his death, his last daughter was married to a man from the Muruvanda Okka, who adopted the Jammada manepedha and continued the okka. This tradition is cited as the reason that there is no intermarriage between the Jammada and Muruvanda okkas.

Thakkame

The Muruvanda Okka holds thakkame rights for the Ayyappa Temple and the Poluvappa Temple.

The Poluvappa Temple was traditionally regarded as the ur devasthana, or village temple.

Stories and Traditions of the Okka

Revival of the Okka

One recorded tradition states that when the members of the Muruvanda okka were killed by Lingaraja, a woman who had married into the okka was away at her thamane for childbirth and therefore escaped the slaughter.

Her son, Karanava Muddayya, subsequently revived the okka.

Conflict with the Sōmayanda Paleyagara

According to tradition, an ancestor of the okka fought with the Sōmayanda Paleyagara to retain the land.

Remains associated with the house of the Sōmayanda Paleyagara—including foundations and a stone trough for horses—are said to remain visible on the route from the Muruvanda area towards the Kelappanda Ainmane.

Origin and Land Records

The okka is believed to have come to the area from Hosūr.

A document dated 1852, issued by the British Government, is recorded as granting the family jamma and umbali land in Kolathod, as well as jamma land in Hosūr.

Moolapurusha

Muddayya

Ainmane

Eminent people

PhD

• Muruvanda Devaiah

Civil Service

• Muruvanda Aiyappa

Teachers

• Muruvanda Suma
• Muruvanda Veena
• Muruvanda Vinutha

Forest Dept

• Muruvanda Bopaiah Subbaiah