The late eighteenth century was a turbulent period in the history of Kodagu. During the military campaigns of Tipu Sultan against the Kodagu kingdom between the 1780s and 1790s, many Kodava clans (okkas) experienced severe disruptions. Oral traditions, clan histories, and regional records describe widespread destruction of settlements, burning of ancestral houses (ainmanes), deportations to Srirangapatna, forced conversions, and the loss of temples and sacred objects.

Despite these hardships, many Kodava lineages survived through extraordinary circumstances. In several cases, a single surviving individual, a pregnant woman, or an adopted heir ensured the continuation of the clan. Some lineages were revived through customary practices such as mannk nindiya and kuthik nindath, which allowed marriages or alliances to preserve a family line.

The following compilation summarizes notable incidents affecting specific Kodava clans during this period.

Clan histories preserved in oral traditions and regional records recount how many Kodava clans (okkas) suffered heavy losses. Entire lineages were reduced to a few survivors, while in several cases a single pregnant woman, an escaped captive, or an adopted heir ensured the continuation of the clan.

The following compilation summarizes the known historical impacts on specific Kodava clans.

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Documented Clan Impacts

Clan Name	Historical Incidents	Impact on Members	Impact on Property / Ainmane	Religious / Temple Impacts	Notable Ancestors or Survivors	Lineage Status	Restoration or Survival Method	Rewards or Recognition
Pattamāda Okka	Attack on Bhagamandala during campaigns of Tipu Sultan	Pattamāda Appanna fought and died in battle		Ensured continued worship at Bhagamandala and Talakaveri by protecting a Brahmin boy	Pattamāda Appanna	Lineage survived despite loss of warrior	Preservation of temple ritual through refuge given to priestly lineage	Land grant in Bengur by Kodagu ruler
Mēkathanḍa Okka	Clan members summoned for negotiations during Mysore campaigns	Many men killed; only one male descendant survived	Lands occupied by Konkani families due to lack of male cultivators		Surviving child born to a pregnant woman staying at her maternal home	Lineage nearly extinguished	Lineage restored through descendants of the surviving child
Monnanda Okka	Settlement attacked during invasion of Kodagu	Nearly all members killed including infants	Ainmane destroyed on Malethirike hill		One elderly survivor	Lineage nearly wiped out	Elderly survivor established a new ainmane elsewhere
Pāndanḍa Okka	Deportations during Mysore campaigns	Men taken to Srirangapatna and converted			One pregnant woman who remained in Kodagu	Lineage nearly extinguished	Preserved through mannk nindiya customary marriage
Pattaḍa Okka	Attack destroyed original residents of settlement	Brahmin family killed; only a girl survived		Temple located on the land destroyed	Surviving girl who later married Achappanḍa clan member	New lineage formed	Lineage established through mannk nindiya custom
Battiyanḍa Okka	Mysore campaigns in Kodagu	All male members killed; two sisters survived			Two surviving sisters	Lineage nearly extinct	Preserved through kuthik nindath marriage with Bepadiyanda clan
Cheeyanḍira Okka	Campaigns of Tipu Sultan	Sixteen young men captured; one escaped	Original ainmane burned		Escapee who fled to Arekad	Lineage fragmented but survived	New branch Cheeyanḍira-2 established
Pēriyanḍa Okka	Invasions of Kodagu	Members killed or captured	Settlement heavily damaged	Shrine of Uppguṇḍi Lavaṇēshwara destroyed; idol thrown into river		Severely weakened but survived	Continuation through remaining survivors
Kunchettira Okka	Mysore invasions	Clan head Uthayya killed			Pregnant wife who escaped hidden in jaggery basket	Lineage nearly extinguished	Son born at Thelappanda house preserved lineage
Naḍikērianḍa Okka	Mysore campaigns	Ancestors captured and converted to Islam			Returned captives	Lineage split	Returning members lived separately due to absence of cleansing rituals
Nālēyanḍa Okka	Deportations during Mysore campaigns	Many members captured; few remained		Destruction of Vishnu temple associated with clan	Few remaining survivors	Lineage severely reduced	Adoption used to continue lineage
Maletira Okka	Campaigns of Tipu Sultan	Members captured and taken to Srirangapatna	Lands in Bengur reassigned during captivity	Sacred image of Bhadrakali protected	Surviving members who later returned	Lineage disrupted but restored	Survivors returned after Mysore control declined
Ammanda Okka	Military campaigns in Kodagu	Spiritual custodianship affected	Ancestral houses damaged	Povvadi temple at Kaḍanga Murūr destroyed	Clan custodians preserving memory of temple	Lineage continued	Preservation of traditions and temple memory
Balyanḍa Okka	Invasion of Kodagu	Members survived despite destruction	Original mundh mane burned		Surviving clan members	Lineage preserved	Temporary bamboo house built then ainmane rebuilt
Ammaṇichanḍa Okka	Resistance against Mysore forces	Ancestor Chengappa recognized as a brave fighter	Land later granted		Ammaṇichanḍa Chengappa	Lineage strengthened	Continuation through surviving members	Jahagir land grant, sword, gold bangles (1818)
Achanda Okka	Mysore forces entered Kodagu	Some captured and deported; others fled to forests	Settlements abandoned		Survivors who returned after 1799	Lineage restored	Rebuilding of settlements after fall of Tipu Sultan
Ajjinikanda Okka	Troop movements disrupted settlements	Some captured; others hid in forests	Homes abandoned		Survivors returning from forests	Lineage restored	Restoration of lands after Mysore rule ended
Bōvērianḍa Okka	Military campaigns		Second ainmane burned		Surviving members who built third ainmane	Lineage preserved	Reconstruction of new ancestral house
Kuttanḍa Okka	Invasion of Kodagu	Clan relocated for safety	Original hill settlement abandoned		Clan members who relocated to Kuklur	Lineage preserved	Construction of new ainmane
Pākēri Mukkātira Okka	Advance of Mysore troops			Temple artifacts buried for protection	Temple priests who hid idols	Lineage preserved	Sacred objects rediscovered years later
Còdanḍa Okka	Raids by Mysore forces	Supported Kodagu rulers during conflict	Fortified house (alakkadi kote) declined		Members who sheltered Kodagu rulers	Lineage preserved	Memory of fortified refuge maintained
Kulletira Okka	Kodava resistance against Mysore forces	Warriors actively engaged in battles			Kulletira Ponnanna and Manicha	Lineage preserved	Military service and leadership	Memorial stone Kullati Ponnanna Kallu
Arapattu Mukkātira Okka	Encounters with Mysore forces	Ancestor captured and taken prisoner			Captured ancestor	Lineage survived	Continuation through surviving descendants

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Historical Significance

The experiences of these clans illustrate the profound disruption faced by Kodava society during the Mysore campaigns. Settlements were destroyed, temples desecrated, and many families were deported or killed. Yet the survival of numerous lineages demonstrates the resilience of Kodava social institutions, including customary marriage practices, adoption, and the rebuilding of ancestral houses.These clan histories remain preserved through oral traditions, memorial stones, temple records, and the continued existence of ainmanes across Kodagu.

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Patterns of Survival of Kodava Clans

The campaigns conducted by the Mysore state in Kodagu during the late eighteenth century caused widespread disruption to Kodava society. Many clans faced the loss of ancestral houses, displacement of families, deportations, and the death of clan leaders. In several cases, entire lineages came close to extinction.

Despite these severe circumstances, Kodava social customs and community support systems enabled the survival of many clans. Clan histories reveal several recurring patterns through which lineages were preserved.

Survival Through a Single Descendant

In a number of clans, the continuation of the lineage depended on the survival of a single individual. This survivor was often a child or an elderly person who escaped a massacre.

1. Monnanda Okka
   1. The Monnanda settlement was attacked and its ancestral ainmane was destroyed. Nearly all members of the clan, including women and children, were killed. Only one elderly man escaped the massacre. He later established a new ainmane, preserving the Monnanda lineage.
2. Mēkathanḍa Okka
   1. Many male members of the Mēkathanḍa clan were killed after being summoned to what was believed to be peace negotiations. A single male child, born to a pregnant woman who had been staying at her maternal home, became the only surviving descendant and restored the lineage.
3. Kunchettira Okka
   1. The clan head, Karanava Uthayya, was killed during the Mysore invasion. His pregnant wife escaped and later gave birth to a son, who became the sole surviving male descendant and continued the Kunchettira lineage.
4. Pānḍanḍa Okka
   1. Following the deportation and forced conversion of the clan’s male members, only one pregnant woman remained in Kodagu. Her child became the surviving descendant through whom the lineage was preserved, later strengthened through the mannk nindiya customary marriage.
5. Pattaḍa Okka
   1. An attack killed the original Brahmin family living on the land, leaving only one young girl alive. She later married through the mannk nindiya custom, and her descendants became the founders of the Pattaḍa Okka.

Such cases illustrate how the survival of even one descendant could ensure the continuity of an entire clan.

Survival Through Pregnant Women

Several clan histories describe situations where the only surviving member was a pregnant woman who escaped capture or violence. The child born from such circumstances later became the sole heir to the lineage.These narratives highlight the crucial role women played in preserving clan continuity during times of crisis.

1. 1. Mēkathanḍa Okka

• • During the massacre following the negotiations at Devatparamb, the male members of the clan were killed.
  • A pregnant woman was staying at her maternal home (Kodimaniyanda thamane) and escaped the massacre.
  • She later gave birth to a son who became the only surviving male descendant, ensuring the continuation of the Mēkathanḍa lineage.

1. 2. Kunchettira Okka

• • The clan head (Karanava) Uthayya was killed during the Mysore invasion.
  • His wife, who was six months pregnant, escaped by hiding in a jaggery basket.
  • She found refuge at the Thelappanda house and later gave birth to a son who preserved the Kunchettira lineage.

1. 3. Pānḍanḍa Okka

• • Most male members were deported to Srirangapatna and forcibly converted.
  • Only one pregnant woman remained in Kodagu.
  • Through her descendants and the customary practice of mannk nindiya, the Pānḍanḍa lineage was revived.
• 4. Biddatanda Okka
  • All Male members were killed and the whole clan was cleared
  • 2 pregnant women survived as they had been to thier thamane for delivery
  • 1 son was born and he carried the clan foward.

Survival Through Customary Marriage Practices

Kodava customary law included social mechanisms designed to prevent the extinction of a lineage. Two such practices mentioned in clan traditions are mannk nindiya and kuthik nindath.These practices demonstrate the adaptability of Kodava customary law in safeguarding clan identity.

• Pattaḍa Okka – One surviving girl established the lineage through the mannk nindiya custom.
• Battiyanḍa Okka – Two surviving sisters preserved the lineage through the kuthik nindath custom.

The practice known as mannk nindiya allowed for a marriage arrangement intended specifically to revive or continue a lineage that had lost its male heirs. This method was used in cases such as the Pāndanḍa and Pattaḍa clans.

The custom known as kuthik nindath allowed a surviving female member to marry into another clan in order to preserve the identity and continuity of the original lineage. The Battiyanḍa clan survived through such a marriage when two surviving sisters ensured the continuation of the family line.

These practices demonstrate the adaptability of Kodava customary law in safeguarding clan identity.

Survival Through Escape and Return

In several cases, captured members later escaped or returned to Kodagu after the decline of Mysore authority. These returning individuals often re established abandoned settlements and revived clan traditions.

1. Monnanda Okka
   1. The Monnanda settlement was devastated during the invasion, and nearly all members of the clan were killed. One elderly man escaped the massacre and later established a new ainmane, ensuring the continuation of the lineage.
2. Cheeyanḍira Okka
   1. Sixteen young men of the Cheeyanḍira clan were captured by Mysore soldiers. One escaped to Arekad, where he established a new branch of the clan known as Cheeyanḍira-2, while the original branch later rebuilt its ancestral house.
3. Naḍikērianḍa Okka
   1. Members of the Naḍikērianḍa clan were captured and forcibly converted to Islam. Some later escaped and returned to Kodagu. Although they were not reintegrated into the original clan because of the absence of purification rituals, their descendants continued to live separately in the region.
4. Maletira Okka
   1. Members of the Maletira clan were deported to Srirangapatna during the Mysore campaigns. After the decline of Mysore authority, surviving members gradually returned to Kodagu, reclaimed their lands, and re-established the clan.
5. Achanda Okka
   1. When Mysore forces entered Kodagu, some members of the Achanda clan were deported to Srirangapatna while others escaped into the forests. Following the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799, survivors returned and rebuilt their settlements.
6. Ajjinikanda Okka
   1. Members of the Ajjinikanda clan either fled into the forests or were taken prisoner. After the collapse of Mysore rule, surviving members returned to their ancestral lands and restored the lineage.

Survival Through Adoption

Adoption also played a role in preserving clan continuity when very few descendants remained.Adoption ensured that the ancestral house, rituals, and land associated with the clan continued to remain active within the community.

• Nālēyanḍa clan
  • The Nālēyanḍa clan is remembered as having revived its lineage through adoption after many members were deported or killed.

 

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Cultural Memory and Legacy

The survival stories of these clans form an important part of Kodava historical memory. The destruction of ancestral houses, temples, and settlements during the Mysore campaigns is remembered alongside narratives of resilience and reconstruction.

Many clans later rebuilt their ainmanes, restored religious practices, and preserved these histories through oral traditions, clan gatherings, and memorial stones. These accounts continue to form a significant part of Kodava cultural identity and collective memory.

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