Monnanda Ainmane

Monnanda Ainmane

Location

Kukloor (2 -3 Kms from Virajpet)

History

In the past, the Monnanda okka lived in their first ainmane on the slopes of the Male thirike hill near Virajpet. The hill can be seen from the present ainmane and the foundation of the old house on the hill is still there. When Tippu attacked the ainmane and killed all the people in the okka (there were 13 thottkunjhiya – infants in cradles in the ainmane then), one old man escaped and came down here and built this ainmane

Description

Small Othe Pore. Built about 250 years ago, the East facing ainmane has its approach from the fields is through a mummadakandoni (lane with three folds and two right-angle bends). The verandah has two doors to the nellakki and one to the left which, in the past, led to a room that has since been demolished. A lone pillar towards the middle of the large nellakki helps support the ceiling.The verandah has three beautiful carved door-frames with geometric designs; a carved window; and geometric designs carved on the capitols on the pillars. There is a kannikamba to the left of the steps to the kayyale.

Timeline

This ainmane has seen several renovations from being tiled from thatched about 65 years ago to removal of the attic and several rooms in the 1980s to help manage and maintain. There was a kannikombare in the south-west part of the house that was demolished as part of this renovation. The meedhiis since being offered in the south west corner of the house. The floors were cemented about 15 years ago. Besides the kayyale and baade (main hall), the ainmane has a kitchen and a store room. The ainmane was renovated in 2018 when the walls were plastered, wooden frames polished and the house fenced to prevent cattle and other animals from entering the kayyale.

Though nobody resides in this ainmane for the last 45 years, lamp is lit twice every single day of the year. Monnanda family is the deva thakka in Kunda Bhadrakali temple and some of the important festivities during the annual namme start in this ainmane. The entire vokka gather in the ainmane to celebrate important festivals like Kailpoudh, Kaveri Sankramana and Puttari. Besides, the vokka and extended families (thaamanemoodiya) celebrate Kaarana Kodupo once a year in October-November after Kaveri Sankramana.