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Home > Kerala Temples > Introduction to Kerala Temples > Twelfth to Fifteenth Centuries A.D Twelfth to Fifteenth Centuries A.DThe centralized authority of the Kulasekhara empire flourished till the beginning of 12th century and later its authority weakened and several minor *principalities and chieftains rose to prominence. Many of the temples, which were constructed in the earlier centuries, had to be reconstructed or renovated. The Rajas or chieftains took keen interest to renovate them adopting the well established Kerala Style of architecture. During this period four outstanding works viz, Isaanasiva Gurudeva Paddhathi, Putayoor Bhaasha, Thanthra Samucchaya and Sesha Samucchaya on temple architecture and thaanthric rites were composed. These volumes are now considered as authentic guide books for temple architecture and for observing rituals associated with it. The devotional work, Sree Krishna Karnaamrtham of Lilasuka of Vilwamangalam I relates to around 1300 AD. The word Devaswom is seen used in Isaanasiva Gurudeva Paddathi (Kriya paada, patala 20, sloka 16) which indicates that Devaswom covers village temples, cows belonging to them etc. * After the collapse of the second Chera empire, four important kingdoms became prominent in kerala, namely Kolathunad, Kozhikode, Kochi and Venad. Though early accounts of Kolathunad are not available, from 14th century onwards the rulers of Mooshika country of the north were called Kolathiris. Their jurisdiction extended from Nethravathi river in the north to Korapuzha in the south with the eastern boundary as Kutakumala to the south of Kolathunad was Kozhikode under the Zamorins (Samuthiris), also known as Netiyirppu Swaroopam, which became prominent by the beginning of the 14th century. The suzerainty of Zamorins was accepted by the smaller rulers and chieftains of this tract, extending from Korapuzha in the north to Bharathapuzha in the south and also along the coastal line upto Kochi (Cochin). Towards south and south-east of Zamorin’s territory, the kingdom of Kochi, also known as Perum batapp Swaroopam, existed. Their original seat was at Chithrakootam in Perumbatapp village (in ponnani taluk) but later in 1405, its capital was shifted to Kochi. Its jurisdiction extended upto the north-eastern limits of Vembanad lake except certain pockets. Further south of the kingdom of kochi there were a number of principalities like Karappuram, Vatakkumkur, Thekkumkur, Chempakasseri, Kayamkulam, Desinganad, Elayatath Swaroopam and Attingal. No authentic information about Venad rulers upto the 12th century is available but all these principalities were annexed by Marthanda Varma of Venad who ruled the state between 1729 and 1758. he is considered as the ‘Maker of the Modern Travancore’ who also dedicated the state to his tutelary deity Sree Padmanaabha on 5th Makaram, 925 M.E., (corresponding to 3rd January, 1750) and ruled the state as Padmanabhadaasa. By 1754, the jurisdiction of Travancore extended from Arukutti in the north to Kanyakumari in the South. The arrival of Vasco Da Gama, the Portuguese navigator, at Kappad near Kozhikode (Calicut) in May 1498 paved the way for the establishment of Portutuese influence in Kerala.
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