Kottayil Kovilakom - Jew’s Kovilakam in Kerala

Kottayil kovilakom on the bank of the river Periyar, is a village of religious harmony with many historical monuments like the ruins of a fortified palace (Kottayilkovilakom) a Christian Seminary and a Church, a Synagogue, a Jewish Street and Symmetry, a Mosque and a temple in the top of the hill.

Kottayilkovilakam was the seat of the chieftain known as Villarvattathu Swaroopam which had become extinct around 12th century AD. Later the area was assigned to the Paliam family who were the traditional ministers of the erstwhile Cochin State. The Jews in Kerala, now few in number, generally believe that their ancestors reached Kerala after the destruction of their second temple at Jerusalem, around 70 AD. They were well received in this country and were encouraged by the rulers concerned. In course of time they evidently attained a considerable measure of natural prosperity which is proved by the copperplate charter granted to them by King Bhaskara Ravi Varma, one of the Perumals of Mahodayapuram who is believed to have been ruled in the end of the 10th century AD. The charter conferred valuable privileges upon them and raised the head of the Jewish community virtually to a position of equality with the ‘Naduvazhi’ chiefs.

They continued the enjoyment of this high standing till the arrival of the Portuguese, who not only persecuted them but also compelled them to leave their ancient settlement of Kodungallur in 1565. Their compact colony thus became scattered and they finally settled themselves in Mattancheri, Ernakulam, Chennamangalam, Parur and Mala. The Synagogues known in Hebrew as (‘Bed eke nesset’ – house of god) in Kerala are simple in architectural style with high slope roof, thick walls, large windows and doors balcony etc. The inside of the Synagogues are enriched with wood carvings and paintings on the ceilings on the altar known as ‘eahal’ in Hebrew (where ‘torah’, the holy book of the Jews are kept) and on the ‘thevai’ in the centre of the hall where torah is read. There is a balcony which is divided into two portions one for men and the other for ladies.

The most important prayer of the week on Saturday’s known as ‘Sahabath’ is conducted in the front portion of the balcony. Men used the staircase to the balcony from the main hall while the ladies were provided with a separate staircase from a staircase room outside the main hall. Generally the staircase is a spiral one, made of wood.

The Synagogue at Kottayil kovilakom near Chennamangalam was built for the Black Jews (Black Jews are those who came from the Asian region and the White Jews are those who have came from the European region) who had been thrown out from Kodungalloor by the Portuguese in the 17th century. As the evidence of their plight they had brought inscribed grave stones from Kodungallur and buried near the Synagogue. One of these grave stone is exhibited in front of the Synagogue.

The Synagogue was provided with a large property and a place for this symmetry on the valley of the hillock where there is a temple. The Jewish street in front of the Synagogue was a trade center until late 1960s when all Jews of this street have left for Israel. The two storeyed houses which are aligned to face the street on both the sides were all sold out to local people who have altered the unique houses to suit their purposes.

Owing to negligence the Synagogue was in a dilapidated condition when the Department of Archeology taken over the building in 2003. Now after the scientific structural conservation the Synagogue is as good as the original. The Jewish community who had left this Synagogue appreciated the efforts of the department and in collaboration has arranged a beautiful photographic display in the Synagogue in the “Jewish Synagogues in Kerala”