Chadayamangalam
Grama Panchayat

It can be assumed that the present-day Chadayamangalam Block area was part of the Ay kingdom, also known as 'Ayoi', which existed in the southern part of South India between the Pamba River and Kanyakumari until the 16th century AD. The place names of that era typically ended in suffixes like Ur, Mangalam, Kulam, Kot, and Kara. It is said that the place name 'Ayur' itself is connected to the Ay dynasty.

There is reason to believe that Chadayamangalam became the base camp for the Pandya army when King Jatila Parantaka Nedumjadayan, who ruled the Pandya kingdom between 765 AD and 815 AD, invaded and conquered the Ay kingdom. The story connecting Chadayamangalam to Jatayu is a myth. Similarly, the tale that Chadayamangalam is the place where a member of the Paraya community named Chadayan attained Mangalam (salvation) is also a myth.

Kalaris, Asan Pallikkudams (traditional tutor-led schools), and Gurukula schools were the earliest educational institutions in the Panchayat. Modern-day schools were established by a few idealistic and self-sacrificing teachers and great personalities. Those who took the initiative to set up these schools included people from both upper and lower castes. In some schools established by upper-caste communities, children from lower castes were denied admission. In certain other schools, even though lower-caste children were admitted, they were not allowed to sit alongside upper-caste students. Initially, the primary objective of these schools was teaching the mother tongue and mathematics. In later years, many of these institutions became government schools.

The Kottukal Cave Temple (located in Ittiva Panchayat), believed to have been constructed around the 8th century AD, proclaims the cultural grandeur of its people. The connection between the Chadayamangalam Rock—once called Jatayumangalam Rock—and the epic Ramayana cannot be dismissed either.

This region places great importance on folk arts as well as other classical art forms. A population with deep interest and tradition in numerous folk art forms like Villu Pattu, Kambadikali, Thumbi Thullal, Uriyadi, Kathirukala Kettal, and Kuthiyottam resides here. There are still people in this area who preserve many Njattupattukal (traditional agricultural/planting songs) in their memory. Artistes proficient in highly popular art forms like Kakkarissi Natakam, Padayani, and Ottanthullal live in places like Kottukal and Mathira. The Makaravilakku festival at the Kunjayyappa Temple in Chadayamangalam is highly notable, and devotees visit this temple bearing the Irumudi (sacred travel bundle).