Many legends of Perumthachan can be seen in Aithihyamala, the compilation of legends and folklore of Kerala written by Kottarathil Sankunni. According to legend, Perumthachan was born to a Brahmin father Vararuchi and a low caste, mother from the village of Thrithala. After the marriage, they set out on a long journey. During the course of the journey, the woman became pregnant several times, and every time she delivered a baby, the husband asked her whether it had a mouth or not. Each time she answered yes, Vararuchi asked her to abandon the baby saying that since it had a mouth it could somehow fend for itself in the world. Each of these babies were taken up by people belonging to twelve different castes. Thus each of these babies grew up in that particular caste, making the legendary Parayi petta panthirukulam or literally the twelve castes borne from the pariah woman. They all became famous in their lives and many tales and legends are attributed to them. The eldest was Agnihothri, a brahmin, whose place is Mezhathur in Trithala. The others are Pakkanar (basket weaver), Perumthachan (Master carpenter), Naranathu Bhranthan (an eccentric but divine person), Vayillakunnilappan (a child without mouth, whom the mother wanted to keep with her) and so on.
Since Perumthachan was taken up by parents who belonged to Carpenter caste, he mastered the art and science of carpentry and architecture. He read the sacred texts and mastered the ancient intellectual tradition. He was commissioned for many a great architectural projects to build temples and palaces. In course of time he became known as a reincarnation of the chief architect of the gods.
Perumthachan had a son who like him mastered and excelled in carpentry and architecture. His son soon excelled his own perfection. The renown of Perumthachan's son spread far and wide. This is said to have caused a sort of professional jealousy in Perumthachan. According to the Aithihyamala, Perumthachan dropped his chisel on his own son faking it as an accident.
But Viswakarms in kerala are not believing in this mythologies. Parayi petta panthirukulam was a fabricated story of the so called upper casts, just to show the abode of creativity or brahmajyanam was with them.
Since Perumthachan was taken up by parents who belonged to Carpenter caste, he mastered the art and science of carpentry and architecture. He read the sacred texts and mastered the ancient intellectual tradition. He was commissioned for many a great architectural projects to build temples and palaces. In course of time he became known as a reincarnation of the chief architect of the gods.
Perumthachan had a son who like him mastered and excelled in carpentry and architecture. His son soon excelled his own perfection. The renown of Perumthachan's son spread far and wide. This is said to have caused a sort of professional jealousy in Perumthachan. According to the Aithihyamala, Perumthachan dropped his chisel on his own son faking it as an accident.
But Viswakarms in kerala are not believing in this mythologies. Parayi petta panthirukulam was a fabricated story of the so called upper casts, just to show the abode of creativity or brahmajyanam was with them.
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