Institutional History
Eramala Grama Panchayat is located in Vadakara Taluk, within the Vadakara Block Panchayat limits of Kozhikode District, Kerala. The total area of the Panchayat is 19.06 square kilometres.
The Panchayat is bounded by Edachery and Kariyad (Kannur) Panchayats in the north, Chorode, Villiappally and Ayanchery Panchayats in the south, Onchiyam and Azhiyur (Kannur) Panchayats in the west, and Edachery, Purameri and Ayanchery Panchayats in the east.
The region gained historical importance with the establishment of the 36th cattle market in India at Orkatteri in 1938. Even today, the Orkatteri cattle market remains a matter of pride for the Panchayat.
Historically, the region was under the rule of the Kadathanad rulers, who governed from Kuttipuram Kovilakam in Kurumbranad Taluk.
Eramala holds a significant place in the political history of Kerala. The social and political activities led by prominent leaders such as Mandodi Kannan and K. Kunhiramakkurup, particularly in connection with the rights of the working class, occupy an important place in the history of the region.
Located in the northern part of Kozhikode District, the Panchayat is also blessed with considerable natural beauty. Numerous ponds, wells, streams and rivers contribute to the water resources of the area. Mayyazhipuzha and Kaliyamvellipuzha are among the important water resources of the Panchayat.
The Orkatteri Siva-Bhagavathi Temple has played an important role in the cultural development of Eramala and its neighbouring areas. The annual temple festival, which begins on the 12th day of the Malayalam month of Makaram, continues to stand as an excellent example of Hindu-Muslim harmony. The active participation of people from different sections of society through various traditional ceremonies is a distinctive feature of the festival.
📖 Eramala: The Meaning of the Name
Near Thuruthimukku in Eramala, there is a plot of land known as ‘Erala’. One view is that the name Eramala may have originated from the name ‘Erala’.
It is also said that the remains of the old ‘Erala Kovilakam’ still exist in a limited form.
According to another belief, ‘Eraal’ is a word meaning ‘Crown Prince’. The area granted to a Crown Prince was believed to have been known as ‘Eraal Moola’, which gradually evolved into the name ‘Eramala’ over time.
