An Ancestral Home of More Than 400 Years

The Thelappanda Ainmane , belonging to the Thelappanda Okka, is situated at Aivathoklu, near Kargunda in Kodagu district, Karnataka. According to the historical record compiled by Boverianda Nanjamma and Chinnappa, the ancestral house is more than 400 years old.

The Ainmane is a traditional Kodava Mund Mane, distinguished by its central open courtyard, traditional wooden features and a Kall Boti standing prominently in its front yard. It remains an important link to the history, customs and ancestral traditions of the Thelappanda Okka.

Location

Aivathoklu

Architecture and Distinctive Features

The Thelappanda Ainmane is a 13-room ancestral house facing east. Its relatively simple architectural appearance preserves several characteristic features of traditional Kodava domestic architecture.

The Verandah

The house has a narrow verandah with two wooden pillars and a simple Aimara. Two half-columns are embedded in the walls at either end of the verandah, alongside two broad windows with glass panes.

The wooden door and its frame feature simple vertical etchings. Four wooden pillars, with modest carvings on their capitals, add to the traditional character of the entrance.

The Mund and Nellakki

The house follows the traditional Mund Mane layout, with an open central courtyard known as the Mund. A room separates the verandah from the Nellakki, an important space associated with the customary and ancestral traditions of the Okka.

A distinctive feature recorded in the house is the arrangement of pipes within the Mund to direct rainwater from the roof and prevent splashing into the courtyard.

The Kanni Kamba, situated at the southwestern corner of the Mund, bears a painted crescent moon and dot. The southwestern room serves as the kitchen, while the Meedi is kept in the Nellakki.

The Kall Boti

One of the most prominent features of the Thelappanda Ainmane is the Kall Boti in the front yard.

Standing approximately eight feet high, it is made of black granite and has a carved top painted white. This stone feature forms a distinctive part of the ancestral home’s setting.

Roof and Flooring

The Ainmane originally had a thatched roof made from paddy straw. The roof was converted to tiles in 1934.

The floors were cemented around 2000, reflecting changes undertaken to maintain the house and adapt it to changing requirements while retaining its traditional layout.

The Kaimada and Ancestral Traditions

The Thelappanda Okka’s Kaimada is located in front of the Ainmane, along the approach to the house.

Festivals and Customs

The Ainmane continues to be associated with important Kodava festivals and ancestral observances.

Kailpodu and Puthari

Kailpodu and Puthari are among the principal festivals observed by the Okka.

The recorded account describes Karanang Kodpa as being performed three times a year: on the day after Puthari, on Beda Sankramana in February, and on Kailpodu.

At Puthari, following Kad Edpa, men traditionally perform Jogi Kali and sing Thali Paat in the Mund. The historical account also records that women formerly performed Ummathat in the courtyard during this occasion.

Karana There

A Karana There is traditionally held once every seven years, according to the historical record.

The observance is associated with the ancestral figure Appayya and Kudi Beera Subbayya Ajja. The recorded account notes that the performances are generally conducted by Maleya and sometimes by Panika. During Subbayya Ajja’s There, Anuvada is given and questions may be addressed to the spirit.

These traditions reflect the relationship between the Ainmane, the ancestral lineage and the customary practices preserved by the Okka.