PATHIYAVEEDU The Pathiyaveedu tharavadu (manor, ancestral homestead) is one of the Madambi families of Karapuram, located in Kuruppankulangara, Cherthala. Karapuram is the stretch of land between Alapuzha and Aroor along the western shores of the Vembanad lake. Karapuram was governed by madambis (local chieftains), and Pathiyaveedu Panicker was one of them. Madambi Families Madambi is an aristocratic title given to the uppermost subdivisions of Nairs in Kerala by the Kings of Travancore and Cochin. Madambis were also janmis (similar to zamindars in Northern India), who owned the titles to vast stretches of land during the pre-independence era. They had controlling authority over four or more karas (villages) and over local temples. Many Madambis had their own kalaris (martial arts school), and the kalari gurus were designated by titles. They had their own small armies comprising of 100-500 men. Until the formation of the modern Travancore state in 1729 and the begi