The Thirumala Deity:

Prof: Das Gupta further adds : "the king of Travancore was exceedingly angry to hear of the massacre. Both Devaresa and Nagendra , the Son of Ranga Pai , were his agents and between them took care of a great deal of his money. He urged the Dutch to take vengeance and , then to pay him a proper compensation. Infact he went so far as to offer assistance. But the English (Mr. Powney, the English company's agent) intervened, and the the King of Travancore had to withdraw from the dispute. A face saving compramise for the Dutch was reached but the sense of older security did not return". It was not tilll the english power was firmly established in Cochin, says the Grandavari of Cochin, "that the konkanies and christians became finally free from molestations".

The persucted Konkanies then fled to Thuravoor and Alleppey in Travancore and presented their grievances to the Raja thru Dewan Kesavadas who assured them that he would bring about their return to and stay at Cochin as before and in the interim allowed them to stay at Alleppey. At Alleppey , they installed their god's image , Thirumala Devar, which they took care to preserve on the banks of Alleppey Canal.

Sakthan Thampuran them made vain attempts to bring back Thirumala Deity frm Alleppey to Cochin. In reply to a Thitooram, form them Raja of Cochin ( 12-7-968 M. E / 1792 , State Archives , Ernakulam). Dewan Chembaga Raman kesavan of Travancore States, "I dare say their (Sarasvats) fears will be removed if your Highness , as I adviced your Highness whilst at cochin", would send Thitooram on the subject to the Adhikaries, Mahajanams and sanyasi of the Thirumala Devaru. The Thitooram which your Highness, may be pleased to send them should be so written as to assure them of your Highness's protection as dispel all further doubts from their minds". In reply to another Thitooram from Raja of Cochin, the Dewan of Travancore further writes (Dated 13-8-968 M.E. / 1792, "..... I will send for the konkanies and inform them of the Contents of your Highness's Thitooram and will endeavour to pursuade them to appear before your Highness".

The Raja also made attempts to get back the Thirumala Deity through the Dutch Government functioning at Cochin. In his letter (No. 378/74/, I series, dated 26/11/970/1794 A.D., State Archives, Ernakulam), the Raja of Cochin "requests the Commandore to order that the Thirumala Devaswom Fund kept as a deposit in the secetariat should be made over to Palliat Menon (Prime Minister of Cochin) who will receice on behalf of Devaswom to make arrangements for the proper conducting of the temple ceremonies before the celebration of 'Choroonoo' (Ceremony of giving the new born child Prince of Cochin to eat for the first time with preliminary oblations to fire)". The Raja further stated in his letter that on consulting astrologers it was found that the Cochin Royal family had incurred the severest displeasure of the Cochin Thirumala Deity.

After the death of Sakthan Thamburan, Raja Kerala Varma who sucesseded him took keen interest in the image & wish to get it back to Cochin. He even addressed a letter to Col. Munro (991 M.E/ 1816 A.D) wherein he stated that "as the rheumatic and hermein disease which we have been suffering from has grown more serious now & since no visible cure has been affected not withstanding that several physicians have treated the disease and as , on consulting astrologers , it turns out that we have incurred the serevest displeasure of the Cochin Thirumala Deity and that the disease will be cured if the Thirumala Deity is returned to Cochin, consecration effected and the poojas commenced...." (State Archives Ernakulam ). The Raja therefore requested Col. Munro to use his good offices for restoration of the image in question to Cochin; But the request was turned down by the then resident as a result of urgent representation of Travancore officers that the "presence of the image was considered to be intimately connected with the prosperity of the Port of Alleppey" (Minutes of consultation , dated 19-8-1858 , Political Department by T.Pycorft, Chief Sec. Madras).

It was only after the settlement of the Cochin Konkanies at Alleppey that the place began to develop into a center of commerce. The konkanis build 'Pandikasala' and started doing extensive business. It was during the prime ministership of the Diwan Kesavadas who recommended the case of Konkanies to the Raja of Tranvancore for their stay at Alleppey, that the new port of Alleppey came into being with better harbour facilities. The desparate Konkanies of Cochin planned the recovery of the Image by hook or crook. Ultimately the Image was clandestinely brought back to Cochin on the midnight of 8th Feb 1853. The object was laudable and it being 1853 there was no risk of a head being lost. Since it was found that the Raja of Cochin had his hand in the Robbery, the Maharaja of Travancore put in a lenghtly complaint with the governor of Fort, St. George through the resident , Trivandrum for the restitution of the Image in question , and the whole matter was referred to the Hon. Court of directors Madras, and a long drawn out suit ensued between the two states , Cochin & Tranvancore. The Konkanies of Cochin got through all ordeals and finally the Idol was duly reinstated in the Cochin Temple itself.

Consequent History

The year 1791 was marked by the terrible persecution of the konkanies at the hands of Raja Rama Varma, Known in Cochin Historyas Sakthan Thampuran. Shortly after ascending the gaddi the Raja demanded a contribution of jaggery from the Konkanies. On refusal, the Raja arrested a number of Konkanies and ordered them to pay customs to the king thereby violating the agreement which the Dutch had made in the year 1772.

Letters were exchanged between the Raja of Cochin and the Dutch Governor, an abstract from which reads thus. "Owing to H. H. 's oppression of the Konkanies and imprisonment of the T. D Authorities , the Dutch have determined to station a military detachement at Chellayi to protect them, and insist on recall of H. H. 's guard stationed there and warns of the serious consequences of the conduct of H. H. 's (NO. IXVI / 1 State Archives, Ernakulam dated 17-7-1771) I series ( No. 379/5, State Archives Ernakulam, dated 26-7-1771 is a reply communicating the conditions proposed in negotiation with the Valiah Sarvadhi Kariakar and two Sarvadhi Kariakars deputed by H. H., namely that the Dutch will recall their detachment leaving only a small guard near the temple site, provided H. H. will not subject the Konkanies for any new demand and summon them to palace. I Series No: 379/14-9-1771 is a reply to H. H.'s letter. The Dutch Council informs the Raja that the Council will not order the recall of Dutch detachments unless H. H. gives a written assurance that the konkanies will not be troubled by new demands. I Series No: 379/15 dated 16-8-1771 is a letter of warning given by the Dutch to the Raja of Cochin. It states, "H H. will be held responsible for the loss of Thirumala Devasom by H. H.'s injunction not to allow gathering of crops on Devasom Kanam fields, the trustees being unable to appear before H. H in the present time". But in disregard ogf the warning, on 12th October 1791 the leading merchants of the Konkani community were massacred including Deweresa Kini. Again, Raja caused three overseers of Temple Thirumala Devasom to be put to death because they won't surrender to him any part of the trasure belonging to it, and also plundered the shops and carried away the merchant's property. The Duth on seeing the Raja's atrocities sent an army and attacked the King' Palace at Mattancherry, but were repulsed. Letter I, Series No: 379/19, of the Dutch Dated 15-101791 (State Archives, Ernakulam) explains why guns were discharged against Cochin Palace, viz. protection of the Konkani subjects who, frightened by devastation in the Devswom shops by H. H.'s men, left the country in ship for personal security, some having persuaded and given shelter in Cochin fort". The Raja plundered the temple of Thirumala belonging to the comunity. Prof: Das Gupta writes, "The loot was calculated at over Rs. 1,60,000 from the temple alone." (Malabar in Asian Trade p.121).

The story that Sakthan Thampuran, Raja of Cochin , demanded the head of Devaresa Kini to be shown as "Kani" to him is related by Saastri Poy in his account given latter. He says that on that day the Sambadi Menon (Sec. of King of Cochin) came to Pandyashala of Devaresa Kini and said that for the money due to him pepper could be given in payment. He then, apparentely to speak very privately to him, took him to a room in Pandyashla. When engaged in conversion, 2 or 3 country boats sailed up & stopped to the North of the godown. First stepped out "Balia Gammaan" or Capt. of the Infantiry, and the no. of men with swords drawn. The former entered the room where Devaresa Kini was talking with Menon. Menon pinned Devaresa down while two men murdered him. The rest of the men who were on the main hall murdered the Konkanies whom they could catch hold of. The head of Devaresa Kini was severed and that severed head of kini was exhibited to the Raja as a first thing ("kini") next morning. "Among the murdered included Krishen, Goga Kamath, Manuku Shenoi and son of Ranga Pai. Ofcourse the remaining , Saastra Pai, Morthu Patter were wounded but Baboden fortunetly escaped". (Ibid).