History of The Royal Ayathan Family

"Ayathan" is the family clan name of the great renaissance leader and social reformer of Kerala Rao Sahib Dr. Ayathan Gopalan. The word “Ayathan” means “Weapon bearer” meaning the "one who holds power", "the one who is the authority" or "the one who rule".

They were warrior clan and great navigators during olden times. The Ayathan's preserved their legacy and heredity by marrying with only people from the "4 ancestral family clan" "illam's of the Thiyyas of Malabar". There were 8 illam's for Thiyya's and Ayathan's were the one who was the head of all these 8 illam's. Amoung this 8 illam's marriage of the members of Royal Ayathan Family only takes place within the 4 illam's inorder to preserve their culture and genetics. They never intermix with other caste or tribes and not even with other thiyya illam's.They proudly preserved their heridity and culture by any cost. They were the most ferocious race in terms of dignity and culture and they stand only for truth and strongly stood against all odds of the society. The habit of picking up a sword when they see a mistake is ingrained in their blood and this gene is being transferred to every new member born in this clan. The forefathers of Dr. Ayathan Gopalan were great barons of majority of lands and was the head of the Ayathan family clan. The last ruler of this clan was Ayathan Ambu 1St who was a small time ruler, and an aristocrat of Randuthara. Ayathan Ambu 1St was also a great Acharya who is well versed in Hindu text and scriptures. He had deep knowledge in the Tantras and Vedas and was a great Yogi. He was a strict "Brahmachari" (bachelor) and a noble soul. He is said to have magical powers. He was the last ruler of Randuthara and the Ayathan Family clan. He was known widely as Ambu Mannan (Mannan meaning Ruler), Ambu karanavar, Ambu Muthappan etc. He was the authority of five council (5 thara's) and four families (4 Tharavadu) of Randaterra (Randuthara). For the ease of governance of the vast lands of Randuthara and for the management of Kavu (Sacred Shrines), Randuthara Achanmar's was appointed. After the British dominance in Thalassery, the power of Ayathan's came to a decline. Randuthara Achanmar's continued to govern the vast lands of Randuthara under the British. 
Ayathan Ambu I, the great grandUncle of Dr. Ayathan Gopalan was the last ruler of this clan. The name "Ayathan" is being transferred to the successor's who belong to this clan.