THALAM(HALL- LIVING ROOM) 1.What is thalam?
In old nalukettu type homes there werethree halls except on the west surrounding the centre open area calledNadumuttam. On west side there used to have the ARA, divine room of the housebefore which nilavilakku is lighted in the morning and evening. On southernside a bed room and northern side kitchen were provided. As extension onwestern side more rooms and in front a chavadi through were provided in laterperiods. My note- In central Kerala Agraharam type homes are/were lesser for iyers. Mostare independent homes earlier and now also. My first seeing agraharam type ofhomes were in Palghat in earlier 1971’s. 2.How many thalams? These halls were called Thalam.These Thalams were used for all religious functions. My ancestral home was analukettu. It had THREE THALAMS. The northern thalam was used for dining, andwet grinder (Attukal) was there in a convenient place. The eastern thalam was having lesser spaceand accommodated a cot for grandmother. And southern thalam was more spacious. It was called thekkae thalam. Thekkae thalam to the left ofNadumuttam (Centre open area) was used for most functions. Nadu muttam wasprovided with a sandy surface and helped for getting sunlight to thalam. By falling of sunlight on thalam andnadumuttam, TIME WAS DECIDED in the day. Even I recollect calculatingapproximate time. On rainy days only MANA KANAKKU. In most Nalukettu Thekkethalam was for allfunctions. 3.Thalam and furniture East and Southern Thalams wereprovided with furniture like cot, bench, wooden chair, and a make shiftthookkuvanchi. On the top, about 6 feet height a wooden raft was there at thewestern end to keep pillows, mats etc. when not in use. It was our duty to rollmats with pillows and keep on the raft after sleeping in the night. 4.Thalam for functions Southern Thalam was used to conductauspicious and semi auspicious functions. My upanayanam was conducted in thethalam. My both brother’s betrothals were performed in the thalam. Even myseemantham was performed there. My father used to perform srardha,re arranging furniture. Eastern thalam was used at that time for PERFORMING HOMAM.Southern side was used for feeding of Bhokthas. Though one side was open tonatumuttam, there was no fear of any creatures entering thalam, since it waskept neat. Even washing hands was not done there. I recollect I was made to get down in tonadumuttam for mischievous actions. With my height it was not easy to climb up.Somebody has to assist. After punishment time, father or mother would take meup!!! In course of years water startedclotting, a drainage pipe was laid to take water out. At that time about onefoot wall was raised on all the sides of the nadumuttam. This helped to sit onplanks and lean to the raised side (Also nil fear of any creatures). 5.Receiving guests People (Brahmins) were received inThalam and asked to sit either on bench or on planks as they desired. Otherswere mostly received in the veranda. Only exception was functions andcelebrations and VIPS like sreekaryam, headmasters, other teachers etc. Local people would take seat in front verandaonly AT THEIR OWN ACCORD. 6.Moosa, Bhasmam, dharbahm Earlier the thalam was having asurface applied with cow dung. When I was about 10 years, it was cemented.Moosa with bhasmam (holy ash) and a small sandal wood pot were hung from thecorners of nadumittam. My father used to keep dharbham on the rafts towardsnadumuttam on the southern side. 7.No normal food in take Most important- For normal taking of food, our easternand southern thalams were never used. During functions it was used to take fooditems also. 8.Sanctity Always sastha pooja and kettu nirawas conducted in southern thalam. After kettu nira food was taken in vadakke thalam before starting topilgrimage. Today sastha pooja was gettingconducted in our local temple. Suddenly in my mind the picture of irumudiplaced on planks facing east, after pooja came to remembrance. After returning also irumudi was kept onplanks kept ready on hearing saranam. After deeparadhana to Irumuti, garlands were removed (customof our home) and put on irumudi. About 7 years back my house was reconstructed with RCC roof bymy brother, still thalam kept in the same area, however no nadumuttam now. Now also the area is called thalam… 9Other meanings of thalam 1. Thalam is also used to mean the application of cooling oil on thehead. It is a saying – Thalayil nellikka thalam vaikkanam (Apply special amla oil on centreof head). This is told of the people behave like insane. Applying Thalam is an important ayurvedictreatment. It cools the head. Even before bathing kids and infants, a littleoil is kept over the head for a short time. 2 Thalam is also used for the bottom of the country boats. One has toensure thalam should not have any leaking holes. Even for a small hole bitumen isapplied after inserting a wooden plug. For large boats even a good metallic sheetis provided over wooden base. Kerala is the only state having a water transportcorporation and passenger ferries at scheduled times between stations. InErnakulam between islands and to city there are continuous local boat services byTransport Corporation. 3. Also for the bottom of the wells. In the bottom of wells were more springsappear a plank of Amla tree is provided. It is called Nellipati. Always clayformation will be there in the bottom of wells. Standing on some rocky partswell is cleaned at bottom. 10.Padinjare thalam In my home one palace itself iscalled PADINJARAE THALAM. This was the first palace having tharayodu (browntiles) for flooring. On those days tharayodu was a luxury. Today we use thetype of tile on the terrace. My periamma used to work in the palace as cook fora long time, after the demise of my periappa. Writer- R. Gopala Krishnan, 77, retired AGM Telecom Trivandrum. Earlierposted on 02-2014. 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