IN SEARCH OF THE JOOTHAKULAM (JEW POND) OF SHINGLY (CRANGANORE OR KODUNGALLUR)

Introduction

An obscure pond known by the name ‘Joothakulam’ survives as the sole relic from an ancient Jewish colony in Kerala. Shingly, as Jews called their beloved colony was one of  their most glorious settlements in Kerala. It was fondly remembered and cherished by the Jewish community and the site was so sacred to them that they considered it as the “Jerusalem of the East”. Unfortunately, Shingly exists no more, it was burnt and destroyed almost five centuries ago and has never been revived. Memory of the pond also has faded significantly and very few remember its existence today. Locating the ‘Joothakulam’ of Shingly was equally exciting and challenging. 

Before going further into the text, I have to emphasize that the Malabari Jews do not give much importance to the Shingly traditions, and most of the following details are essentially from the Paradesi accounts unless specified, so the Malabaris may not necessarily agree with much of the conclusions. Shingly for them was one of the earliest Jewish settlements in the shores of Malabar. Considered to be established after the destruction of Second Jerusalem Temple (68-70 A. D.), it became the epicentre of Jews from where they later migrated to Cochin and other parts of Kerala. It is said that at its height of glory Shingly and its neighbourhoods possessed 18 synagogues and prayer houses (Segal, 1993). For Jews, Shingly was their own kingdom with Jewish rulers who reigned over a thousand years! Eminent Jewish Biblical scholars and poets like Abraham ibn ‘Ezra, Samuel HaLevi and Yehuda HaLevi are believed to have visited this city. The synagogue of Shingly boasted of possessing two precious original silver trumpets used in the Second Jerusalem Temple. The first Jewish ruler of Shingly, Joseph Rabban obtained 72 privileges from the Hindu King for generations to come. All their glory and fame declined after a 14^th century natural disaster in the form of a massive flood silted up their port city and turned the site unsuitable for commerce. Later, internal dissensions, external invasions and lack of trade sealed their fate. Shingly was eventually destroyed and lost for ever, and by 1565 there was not a single Jew left.

Generally, it is agreed that Shingly is a suburb of Cranganore (modern Kodungallur in Thrissur District of Kerala)-the ancient port city of Muziris. Two other areas in the region also claim Jewish heritage, a very old Jewish settlement by the name Cherigandaram, and Anjuvannam the land donated by the Hindu King for Joseph Rabban and his descendants. Based on Jewish traditions and general scholar views, it is not unreasonable to assume that Shingly was in Cranganore and the region was also known as Cherigandaram or Anjuvannam. At least it is well evident that in Middle Ages both Cranganore and Shingly had a large Jewish community, and Shingly was exclusively inhabited by Jews.

We know from Jewish traditions that after Shingly was destroyed only a pond and a hill, known as the ‘Joothakulam’ (ജൂതകുളം, ‘Jew Pond’ or ‘Jew Tank’ or ‘Jew’s Pit’) and the ‘Joothakunnu’ (ജൂതകുന്ന്, ‘Jew Hill’), respectively were left behind. ‘Joothakunnu’ was considered once the capital of the Jewish Kingdom in Kodungallur, but unfortunately it has not survived. However, in 1947, when Samuel H. Hallegua paid a visit to the region, he remembers: 'Joodhakunnu' was something, which caught the eye at once, being the only hill in the flat country side' (Puthur,  2006). Joothakulam on the other hand has prevailed all these years and exists somewhere hidden in Kodungallur with a different name. It is widely assumed that ‘Joothakulam’ was formed gradually when Jews used to take a handful of earth from the place of their ancient  settlement as a token of remembrance and to put into the graves of their deceased. The only other ‘Jewish Pond’ that has survived from a Jewish settlement in Kerala is at Madayipara (see the blog post here) north of Kannur (look for future blog uploads). The local population is equally clueless of a Jewish Pond in Kodungallur, many suggested me to look in Mala or Parur instead. Before discussing how and where to trace the site, I believe it would be informative to add a little more about the early Jewish settlement of Shingly- its origin, Jewish life in the city, its synagogues; how the city was destroyed, and legends associated with the ‘Joothakulam’.

Earliest Settlements of Jews in Kerala

Most Scholars agree that the earliest Jewish settlements in Kerala were in port cities like Kozhikode (Calicut), Kodungallur (Crangannore) and Kollam (Quilon). Jews of Kerala have slightly different views, the Malabari Jews place their earliest settlements at Palur, Pulloot, Madai and Maliankara (Cranganore), whereas the Paradesi Jews assign Madai, Cherigandaram and Periyapattanam as their first colonies. Except Cherigandaram and Periyapattanam, all the other places survive in modern Kerala, however there is nothing Jewish to be seen (Jussay, 2005). 

Cherigandaram and Shingly

Amongst the earliest colonies of Jewish Kerala, Cherigandhram has a unique place. Sidney Mendelssohn (1920) in ‘The Jews of Asia’ (p. 115) gives the name Cherigindaram. It seems the word does not appear in Malayalam documents but only in English records. P. M. Jussay, a well-respected scholar in the subject, provides many valuable insights, his small book entitled, “The Jews of Kerala” (2005)-it is undoubtedly a mine of information for anyone interested in understanding the Jewish heritage of Kerala, and personally, it had been of much help in this endeavour. Jussay addresses a Jewish Malayalam folksong about a place called Chirikantanagar and quotes: “Like a diamond mounted on a golden diadem studded with sparkling pearls and gems. Right in the heart of the city towered aloft the magnificent Synagogue of the Jews”- identifies it with Cherigandaram of Jewish traditions where the power and glory of the community was exhibited most (Jussay, 1990). He establishes Cherigandaram with Shingly and later modern Methala near the harbour mouth at Crangannore. The etymology of Cherigandaram is not possible to determine, one speculation is that it is related to the place of Joseph Rabban who was also referred to as Chirianandan. Jussay relates Chiriananden to ‘Syria Ananden’, the probable Malayalam equivalent for ‘Joy of Syria’ or ‘Son of Syria’ or ‘Man of Syria’ (Syria=Syriyanadu).  The city of Chirianandan (Chirikantanagar) therefore could be known in various forms of names such as Chirianandapuram, Chirianandapuri, Chirikandapuram, Chirikandaram, Chirigandaram and Cherigandaram. Another assumption however is that Cherigandaram may be linked to the city of the legendary King, ‘Cheraman Perumal’. 

Moses De Paiva, a Dutch Jew who visited Cochin in 1686 observes the tomb of Rabbi Samuel HaLevi, a Jewish scholar from Jerusalem, in Cherigandaram, an indication that the city existed at least until late 17^th century. S. S. Koder, a prominent leader of Cochin Jews also speculates Cherigandaram as a region in Kodungallur with an old (extinct) Jewish cemetery, which he thinks as the burial place of Joseph Rabban, the first Jewish ruler of Shingly (Koder, 1986). The tombstone of Sarah Bat Israel, the oldest Jewish grave monument of India (dated 1269 A. D), is also thought to be relocated to Chendamangalam from Shingly (Katz, 2000), probably from the Cherigandaram cemetery. (Note: The tombstone’s origin from the Kottappuram or Kothaparambu regions of Kodungallur are also suggested). George Woodcock (1967) while describing the destruction of Cranganore in his book, “Kerala: A Portrait of the Malabar Coast”, p. 127, mentions that: “The devastation was so complete that, apart from a few tombstones, the only known relics of Anjuvannam are place names-the Hill of the Jews and the Jews’ Tank”. Where are the tombstones of Anjuvannam now; did the graves really exist at the time Woodcock was writing; and if so do they belong to the cemetery of Cherigandaram-a few queries pop out of curiosity.

Periyapattanam and Shingly

Periyapattanam on the other hand is identified with Mahodarpattanam or Mah(k)odayapattanam (Kodungallur), a large area that extended from Maliankara to Palur. As per oral traditions of St Thomas Christians, it was in Maliankara (Malankara) that the Apostle landed in 52 A.D. and there was a large Jewish community. Not far from Maliyankara is Pattanam the site of Muziris archaeological excavations. Jussay believes Pattanam as a corrupted form of Pashanam and its original name might have been Periyapattanam (Jussay, 2005). There is a legend that at this time, Jews were widely spread in a 50 km stretch from Palayur to Poyya near Kodungallur. Such dense were the Jewish residences in the area that a local phrase goes: ‘A cock that climbs the rooftops of Pullut could reach Palayur without touching the ground’ (Adarsh, 2013).

Shingly in General

Shingly is generally identified with Kodungallur (Cranganore), Anjuvannam, Cherigandaram, Muyirikkotu (Muziris), Mahodayapuram (Makotai), Thiruvanchikulam etc. or as some believe they represent different close quarters within Kodungallur city:  Muziris-the royal (Chera King’s) quarter; Thiruvanchikulam-the Hindu temple quarter; Shingli, Cherigandaram and Anjuvannam-the Jewish quarter. Not all agree the association of Shingly and Anjuvannam with Cranganore. Shingly is sometimes identified with Singulir, a town near Flandarina (Panthalayani Kollam) north of Calicut, and Anjuvannam has been variously proposed as 1) a West Asian Traders’ guild, 2) a body of merchants who traded in five different commodities or 3) a fifth foreign social division outside the four Varnas (Classes) of Hindu caste system.

Etymology of Shingly

Jussay deduces the word Shingly from foreignised version of “Changala Azhi” (ചങ്ങല ആഴി), the original name of the estuary at Kodungallur (Jussay, 2005). Local historian  Valath V. V. K. (1992) cites a 14^th century (1352) document, ‘Huzur Grandha Ola’ where Kodungallur Estuary (Azhi) is called ‘Changala Azhi’, and based on that he also believes the origin of the word Shingly has an Indian root. Yule and Burnell (1903) allude differently, they believe Shinkali or Shigala is derived from ‘Tiru-van-jiculam’ (Thiruvanchikulam). European and Arab mediaeval travellers have documented Shingly by various forms of names such as Al Gingaleh, Canglin, Cinghilin, Cinglin, Cyncilim, Cyngalin, Cyngilin, Gingaleh, Gingilin, Jangli, Scigla, Shinkali, Shinkli, Sindschel, Sigli, Singoli, Singuyli, Ziniglin, Zingelyn, Zinglin (Ludwick, 1945).

Origin of Shingly

We don’t know when exactly Jews arrived Kodungallur. Different dates, from the destruction of the First (6^th century B. C.) and Second (1^st Century A. D.) Jerusalem Temples, Bar Kochba revolt (2^nd Century A. D.), Majorca (4^th Century A. D.), Persia (5^th Century A. D.) etc. have all been suggested. Ancient Syrian Christian traditions trace a Jewish colony in Kodungallur at the time of St Thomas’ arrival in Kerala in the first Century A. D.  St Thomas, thus was welcomed by a Jewish flute girl, stayed in the Jewish quarter of Cranganore and baptized 40 Jews [Acts of Thomas, 3^rd Century A. D., see- Schneemelcher, 1992; Ramban Thomas Pattu-16th century (?) Malayalam folksong]. Christian legends date St Thomas’ visit to Kerala in 52 A. D., some 17 years before the more accepted traditional date of Jewish arrival in Kerala, i.e. after the destruction of Second Jerusalem Temple (68-70 A. D.). Were there Jews in Cranganore before first Century A. D.? It appears that older traditions attested by two independent early 16^th century sources confirm this speculation. An oral testimony by Hayim Franco in 1503-1504 and a Hebrew letter dated 1503 by ‘Moses, son of Rabbi Abba Mori’, both from Shingly, testify that the Jews came before the destruction of the First Jerusalem Temple (586 B. C.) from the two tribes of the Kingdom of Judea, viz. Judah and Benjamin (Lesley, 2000).

David Shemtob Hallegua, a Jewish leader of Paradesi Synagogue incorporates details regarding the origin of his people in an article entitled ‘the Native Jews of Cochin’ (published in the Jewish Chronicle on March 3, 1865) where he mentions, “In A. M. 3088 (i.e. in the year 672 before the vulgar era) there came about 10,000 Israelites, who had been driven from their country by Sanherib, to India, settling in the four cities Karagnar (Kodungallur), Phallo (Palayoor), Madai, and Palato (Pullut); most of them lived at Karagnar (Cranganore), which is also called Magodra (Mahodara), Petunam (Pattanam), or Sengalla (Shingly)” (It is interesting to note that he uses the term ‘Vulgar Era’ for ‘Christian Era’). 

The generally accepted version of Kerala’s Jewish origin is well documented in an Extract prepared by the Dutch scholar Leopold Immanuel Jacob Van Dort who visited Cochin in 1757. The original Extract of Van Dort was translated into Dutch from an ancient Hebrew Chronicle of Cochin Jews. An English translation of the same appeared in an Anglo-Jewish Periodical named Kol Yakov (‘The Voice of Jacob’, Vol V, No: 136, 28 August 1846) it goes: “After the destruction of the Second Temple, in the 3828th year of the creation, 3168th of the tribulation and 68th of the Christian Era, about 10,000 Jews and Jewesses came to Malabar and settled in Caranganore (Kodungallur), Poloor (Palayoor), Mahdorn (Madai?), and Poollootto (Pullut), and three-fourths of this population remained at Caranganore, then called Mahodacapatna, and subsequently Chingly (Shingly), under the government if Cheremperrummab (Cheramanperummal). In the year 4139th of the Creation, 3479th of the tribulation, and 379th of the Christian Era, Cheremperrummab Eravy Virma, the King, granted to the Jews the honour and privileges they are to exercise, and which were engraved on Copper-plate, called Chempeada, in Malabar, and thereby appointed Joseph Rabban at the head of the Jews, and called him Sriannandan Mappla (Chirianandan).

Development of Shingly

Paradesi scholar, Koder (1986) cites Roman traders visiting the Jewish colony of Cranganore as early as the 2^nd Century A. D. In "Notisias dos Judeos de Cochim (1686)", one of the most comprehensive document ever written on Cochin Jews, the Dutch leader Moses De Paiva describes about 70000-80000 Jews migrating to Kerala from Majorca in the year 4130 (370 A. D.) and 15000 members of Royal descent with their King (Joseph Rabban) settling in Cranganore. (Historically, Joseph Rabban arrived Cranganore in early 11^th century only, but Cochin Jewish tradition dates the event to late 4^th century A. D.). A third wave of migration to Cranganore in late 5^th century (499 A. D.) consisting of a large group of Jews from Persia and Babylon (Iran and Iraq) is attested by an independent tradition. From 9^th century onwards we have multiple records about Jewish presence in Kodungallur until 16^th century. In 1169, Rabbi Benjamin Tudela observes Al-Gingaleh (Shingly) with about one thousand Israelites (see Adler, 1907).

Later documents however find a larger Jewish community in Cranganore. For instance, in a 1496 letter, Rabbi Abraham of Sienna reports “In an Island named Shingly are about 40,000 Jewish householders, great, wealthy men, who know the written and oral Torah and have a Jewish King” (Lesley 2000). English traveller Alexander Hamilton’s account (1744) on Cranganore states: “In times of old it bore the name of a Kingdom, and was a Republic of Jews, who were so numerous, that they could reckon about 80000 families, but, at present, are reduced to 4000”.  It is highly unlikely that Cranganore had such a large Jewish population after 15^th century and these numbers are definitely over-exaggerated, but it is safer to assume that, over time Kodungallur became a stronghold for Jews and they had a good monopoly over the pepper trade in Malabar. An interesting 14^th century account, ‘The Travels of Sir John Mandeville’ (Edited by A W Pollard, 1900, p.112) mentions about the towns of Fladrine (Panthalayani Kollam) and Zinglantz (Shingly) inside a large pepper-forest and adds “it (pepper) grows nowhere else in all the world, but in that forest, and that endureth well an eighteen journeys in length’ and ‘in every of them dwell Christians and Jews in great plenty’. It is quite certain that Jews of Shingly were excellent traders and powerful warriors, and they virtually controlled pepper trade in Malabar for quite a long period. We know that in later centuries, Jewish soldiers of Cranganore served the local Rajahs and their rights were respected even after Chera Empire came to an end.

Jewish Life in Shingly

The “famous and glorious” synagogue of Shingly boasted possession of original silver trumpets used in Jerusalem Temple. It is believed to be brought to Shingly after the destruction of Jerusalem Temple (70 A. D.) or through the Jewish immigrants from Majorca (370 A. D.) or during Rabbi Samuel HaLevi’s visit in 12^th century A. D.? The precious relic was said to be lost in an internal strife as recorded by Moses De Paiva in his 1686 account, “the Majorcan Jews brought with them two trumpets with the Ineffable Names engraved on them from the Holy Temple. The Levites used to sound the trumpets to announce the approach of the Sabbath (Friday after sunset). On one occasion when the sun was about to set, the Levites had not arrived, the members sounded the trumpets; this enraged the Levites and they broke them into pieces. Thus a celebrated relic of our ancient glory was lost. This happened two hundred years before the loss of Cranganore and was the harbinger of events to follow” (Koder, 1986).

 A letter written by Moses, son of Rabbi Abba Mori dated 1503, highlights Jews of Shingly living a rich and prosperous life enjoying superior social status and celebrating their festivals and religious ceremonies with all gaiety, pomp and fervour. From the letter we understand that at the beginning of 16^th century, Shingly Jews possessed a rich collection of religious texts including the five books of the Torah, eight Prophets, the Writings, Tanhuma, Rashi’s commentaries, Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, Midrash etc. The author also carefully adds details of a festival procession in the synagogue of shingly with “eight Torah scrolls in precious coverings and chains…and golden pomegranates being brought out” (Lesley, 2000). Tradition has it that at the time of the destruction of Cranganore, Jews fled their city carrying with them two Torah-scrolls from the synagogue (Avishur et al., 1995). These scrolls might have landed in Parur synagogue as Moses De Paiva (1686) notes that people there had two scrolls brought from Cranganore (Koder, 1986).

For nearly a thousand years from 4^th to 14^th century A. D., the Jews in Shingly are believed to have an independent principality ruled over by a Jewish prince starting from a wealthy Yemenite merchant leader Joseph Rabban to his 72nd heir, Joseph Azar. “This form of government lasted about 1,000 years, so that everyone lived happily amid his vineyards and fig trees. Seventy-two Kings ruled over the land of Shingli”- writes David Rahabi with a Biblical zeal in late 17th century  (cited by Gustav Oppert, 1897). This Joseph Rabban or Issuppu Irappan or “Chirianandan” as he was fondly addressed by Jews was the recipient of the famous Jewish Copper Plates issued by a Hindu King named ‘Bhaskara Ravi Varma I or III’ of the Chera Empire in Kodungallur during his 36^th year of reign. The copper plates are still extant and have been dated from various authors from 4^th to 11^th Century A. D., the traditional Jewish date being 379 A. D. This Magna Carta of Cochin Jews assigns 72 privileges to the Jewish chief including the right to rule Anjuvannam, perhaps a suburb of Kodungallur. In this deed the principality of Anjuvannam was to survive ‘so long as the world and moon exist! “Anjuvannam was 27 square miles in area and more than 20.000 Jews lived there”, writes Dravidian Judaist Prem Doss Swamy Doss Yehudi (1989). In a Malayalam folksong, we find Joseph Rabban, being provided wood free of cost by the ruler (unnamed) of Cranganore for the building of a synagogue in Mala. “Nomar Shira”, a famous song attributed to the Spanish Hebrew poet and traveller Rabbi Nissim Ezekiel ben Reuben, who is believed to have visited Shingly in the 14^th century A. D. has these touching lines:

“I travelled from Spain

I had heard of the city of Shingly

I longed to see a Jewish King

Him I saw with my own eyes”

Medieval records strongly suggest a prosperous Jewish principality in Shingly, but one has to take it with a pinch of salt. For instance, Friar Jordanus (14^th century) enumerates the king of Singuyli (Shingly) besides the king of Malabar who reigned the whole west coast of Kerala (Mirabilia Descripta, Translation Colonel Henry Yule, 1863, p.40). Paradesi Jewish scholar, A. I. Simon (1947) is of the opinion that Cochin Jews recited ten songs of Yehudah HaLevi in “Cranganore or Shingly” tunes. One among them “Yashru Behenai” he says is “considered traditionally so important that no Reader is certified as such if he does not know the tune of this song”. Shingly poetry, Shingly melodies, Shingly rites and usage of Shingly in official documents (marriage contracts & letters of manumissions)-all indicate the significance of Kodungallur in the life of Cochin Jews. The fond desire of Kodungallur Jews for their Synagogue is explicitly expressed in a historic Malayalam folksong and it is translated by Prem Doss Swamy Doss Yehudi (1989) as:

“May the celebrated Synagogue last for Centuries

In this country there are Jews who worship at the Synagogue

May it stand for Centuries”

The Synagogues of Shingly

There was a time when Cranganore had no less than 18 synagogues and houses of study (Segal, 1993). It is possible that the first Jewish sanctuary of India was established in Kodungallur. However, we don’t know when this synagogue was built or where precisely it was located or how long it survived, but we do have hints from traditions and a few medieval records that can fill some of the gaps. Most probably the synagogue was established in the first Century A. D. An older Jewish tradition places the synagogue in a place called Cherigandaram, a name unlike other Jewish colonies have not survived. As mentioned earlier, Jussay identifies Cherigandaram with Shingly and then Methala by the name in which it is known today. In certain Jewish folklores, the Synagogue in Kodungallur was called the Synagogue of Kotai or Makotai (Mahodayapuram). There is a tradition that in the 12^th century, Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi, one of the greatest Hebrew poets and his father Rabbi Shmuel HaLevi visited Shingly and the later had obtained a land to build a synagogue (Koder, 1986). Moses De Paiva even recalls of seeing the tomb of Rabbi Samuel HaLevi in Cherigandaram in 1686. A confirmation of this tradition is furthermore supplied by a 1503 letter of ‘Moses, son of Rabbi Abba Mori’ from Shingly: “After the destruction of the Second Temple, our revered master and teacher, Samuel Halevi, and Israelites and priests, came to the land of Melibara (Malabar) where is the city in which we live, Shingly...Samuel HaLevi asked the King (Hindu  ruler of Malabar) for a place in which to build a synagogue…And to Rabbi Samuel he gave Shingly…And our lord is Master Joseph Hasar (Joseph Azar?), son of Master Sa’adia Hasar” (Lesley, 2000). A Paradesi Jew, A. I. Simon (1947) attributes a famous Cochin Jewish song (“Yashru Behenai”) to Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi and claims that it was composed in Cranganore!

Ruby Daniel gives another tradition which recounts how “the Cranganore Jews were having a big party to celebrate the building of a new synagogue. As they were celebrating, an old man came—some say he was Eliyahu Hanabi—and he told them, “You will live here only three times thirty years, and after that the synagogue will be destroyed”  (Daniel and Johnson, 1995). What we can infer from this tradition is that Jews had a smaller synagogue at Cranganore in Middle Ages and when they became prosperous and rich they replaced it with a larger and splendid synagogue.  We are told that the new synagogue stood only for 90 years and if this is the case, the synagogue at Shingly was rebuilt for the last time between 13^th and 15^th centuries A. D., depending on the date of destruction of Cranganore in 14^th (internal dispute and natural disaster) or 16^th (Islamic and Portuguese attacks) centuries.

It seems two additional Jewish sanctuaries existed in Kodungallur from early times, viz. the Kadavumbhagom (River Side) and Thekkumbhagom (South Side) synagogues. They were supposedly located north and south to the Hindu King’s palace in Kodungallur (Cheraman Parambu) and believed to be active until 16^th century A. D. Jussay (2005) locates Kadavaumbhagom in Pullut and Thekkumbhagom at Maliankara both neighbourhoods of Kodungallur on the northern and southern sides of the river Periyar, respectively. After the destruction of Kodungallur, Jews migrated to other parts of Kerala. The newly built synagogues in Ernakulam and Cochin were named probably in memory of Kadavumbagom and Thekkumbagom synagogues of Kodungallur. Based on a Jewish Malayalam Folk song, Jussay (1990) interprets the existence of two economically divergent Jewish communities in Cranganore, a rich market sector and a poor harbour sector (Kadavumbhagom) fractions who often had disputes over the tax collected for the maintenance of the synagogue in Chirikantanagar (Cherigandharam).

The Formation of ‘Joothakulam’ or ‘Jewish Pond’ of Kodungallur

A Malayalam folksong quoted by Peethambaran, P. K. (2014) goes:

“യുദരുടെ പിതൃക്കൾ

തോമയ്ക്കു മുൻപേ എത്തിയവർ

രാജാവിൻറെ ചടങ്ങുകൾക്കായി

ജൂതകുളമിത് പണിതല്ലോ”

Which can be roughly translated: “Ancestors of Jews; Who arrived before Thomma (St. Thomas); For the King’s ceremonies; Built this Jewish Pond”. The song thus suggests a Jewish Pond’s existence at Shingly from the first Century A. D.  There is also a proposition that the word Joothakulam is actually derived from Joothakkalam (ജൂതക്കളം) which means “Jewish Settlement’, and in this case the settlement of Shingly (Cranganore). However, it is generally accepted that Joothakulam was formed when Jews dispersed after the destruction of Cranganore took a handful of earth with them from the site of their beloved city. It is interesting to note that Moses De Paiva fails to record in 1686 about Joothakulam although he discusses the fall of Cranganore in detail. Malabari Jews have a different tradition about the destruction of Shingly and the consequential formation of ‘Joothakulam’. In fact, two slightly different versions are known, addressed by Ruby Daniel and P M Jussay. The story revolves around a well-respected Jewish widow, her beautiful daughter and the local Hindu ruler of Cranganore. The King asks for the daughter, she refuses, as a consequence Jews get expelled from the city and their synagogue completely burnt and destroyed.

In Ruby’s version, the widow known as ‘Kadambath Achi’, her daughter and 800 people settle in Cranganore from Palestine, the local ruler’s son falls in love with daughter, his request for marrying her is rejected, the furious King destroys their city and finally the mother and daughter commit suicide by swallowing their precious stones. Jussay’s account gives the widow’s name ‘Kadavath Achi’ (the Lady of the Riverside) who lived by the side of Paloor Bay (Paloor Kadalarikil). In his narration, the local king falls in love with the daughter, his request to include her in his harem is declined and he burns their city in retaliation, the mother daughter duo along with their people flee from Cranganore to escape its total destruction. In both versions, the king gives a 48 hour ultimatum, his order is being rebuffed, the city is burnt and a Jewish Pond or Joothakkulam is generated on the site of its destruction. The destruction of Shingly and the subsequent origin of ‘Joothakulam’ (‘Jewish Pond’) are described in both versions as follow:

Ruby Daniel’s account:

“So the raja got angry and ordered the Jews out of his country overnight, under pain of death. So all the people ran away. This lady and her daughter ground all their jewellery and precious stones into powder and threw it into a pool. They themselves swallowed diamonds and died. The name of that pool is still called the Jewish Pool (Jutha Kulam) and the hill nearby is called the Jewish Hill (Jutha Kunna). No Jews remain there, only the names of these places. People living there still say they sometimes find tiny pieces of gold in the sand of that pool”- (Daniel and Johnson, 1995)

P M Jussay’s account:

“So they fled carrying with them what they could, including the two Tora-scrolls from the synagogue. As they fled, each of them carried a handful of earth from the place of their ancient settlement. It is said that what is known in Cranganore as Joothakkulam (the Jews’ pit) was formed in this manner. The Jews crossed a small river to the east of Cranganore and reached Thuruthipuram and hid themselves among the reeds. From there they could see their synagogue go up in flames. From their hiding place they dispersed in small groups to Chendamangalam, Parur, Cochin, Muttam, Ernakulam etc., where they lived in comparative obscurity, avoiding Cranganore. Even if they had to go to Cranganore on business, they would stay there overnight but would hasten way before nightfall”-(Avishur et al., 1995).

Fall of Shingly or Cranganore

Decline of Kodungallur began with a heavy silting up of its spacious port in 1341. Internal dissensions within the royal family of Kodungallur’s Jewish community culminating with the murder of Aaron Azar by his younger sibling Joseph Azar- the last Jewish ruler, followed by their migration to Cochin marked the final days of Shingly. However, the exact cause (family, political, religious, caste etc.,) and time (1341 or 1471 or 1565) of this conflict is debatable and multiple versions have been put forward by various traditions. For example, in one tradition Joseph Azar, the last Jewish ruler fled Cranganore in 1344 with a few faithful followers to Cochin and established a new congregation and a synagogue in Kochangadi; whereas in a different legend the same event happened in 1565 only. In 1496, almost 150 years after Jews settled in Cochin, Rabbi Abraham of Sienna sees a ruler by the name of Rabbi (Master) Joshua residing in Shingly, and Hayyim Franco and Moses b. Rabbi Abba Mori attest Joseph Azar reigning Cranganore in 1503 (Lesley, 2000).

What happened to the Royal family of Joseph Rabban after Cranganore’s destruction? Moses De Paiva in his famous 17^th century report on Cochin Jews describes that the Cranganore Jews primarily settled in Cochin and the remaining in Palur and Parur, he even recorded of seeing the Tomb of Joseph Azar, the last Jewish ruler of Shingly in Cochin in 1686. He further lists five heads from three of Cranganore’s First and  Royal  families, and three women of Royal descent among the members of Paradesi Synagogue in 1686 (Koder, 1986). In a footnote for Moses De Paiva’s report, Koder adds that the Zackay family of Cranganore became extinct in Cochin and many of its members were buried in old White Jewish cemeteries of Cochin (Mattancherry), but survives through a branch that settled outside Kerala (Koder, 1986). An extract prepared from a Hebrew Chronicle by Leopold Immanuel Jacob Van Dort (1757) provides a valuable information about the last of Joseph Rabban’s lineage, he quotes: “in the year 1650, the last of the family of Rabban (Joseph Rabban) died. His name was Joskiah (Josiah?), and he was prince over the Jews at Malabar, who reside at Calicot (Calicut or Kozhikode).”

The presence of Jews in Shingly was finally put to a historic end by the heavy damage inflicted upon them by the Islamic (1524) and Portuguese (1503 & 1565-66) conquests in the name of trade and religion. In one of the earliest detailed account of Cochin Jews, Moses De Paiva (1686) writes, “The Zamorin (Samoothiri of Calicut) attacked the town on a Sabbath midnight when the innocent people (Jews of Cranganore) were all asleep. The Zamorin sacked the town and caused great destruction” (Koder, 1986). The quarrel with Muslims is attributed to Arab merchants who claimed that Jews spread rumours about them adulterating pepper. The dispute resulted in the death of a Muslim and in retaliation his companions called on Arabs in Malabar region and together with Zamorin of Calicut’s help they plundered Jewish Cranganore. The 16^th century Arabic history, Tuhfatul Mujahideen by Sheikh Zainuddin al-Ma’bari describes the destruction of Shingly (Translation by S. Muhammad Hussain Nainar, 1942-p. 65): “This happened in 931 A.H, (1524 A. D.). The inhabitants of the towns mentioned above (Kalikut, Fandarina, Kabkat, Tirkud, Shaliyat, Barburankad, Tiruwarankad, Tanur, Barwanur, Fannan and Balinkut) embarked in a fleet about one hundred small corvettes and sailed to Kodungallur where they killed many Jews. Those who escaped, ran away to a village near Kodungallur that lay to eastward of it. The Muslims burnt their houses and synagogues.” They set fire to the houses and the churches of the Christians”. The Portuguese established their presence in Kodungallur by building two forts in the region; in 1503 a fort in Pallippuram (Aiyakotta or Alikotta) and another in Kottapuram (Cranganore or Kodungallur Fort) in 1523.Their animosity towards Jews is primarily anti-Semitic and partly due to their desire to control the pepper trade. After 1566 there is no evidence of a Jewish presence in Kodungallur.

A Jewish Malayalam folk song beautifully summarizes the legacy of Shingly-arrival of Jews from Jerusalem (first Century A. D.) and their
exile to Cochin in the following stanzas (Avishur et al., 1995):

Arrival:

‘The Lord had compassion on them

A few he saved

And they all assembled and decided

“To a land safe and secure we should go”

And to the lovely Land of Cranganore did they come’.

 Exile:

‘The lovely Land of Cranganore was ruined

Then all assembled and decided

“To a land safe and secure we should go”

The lovely spot indeed is Cochin harbour’

References:

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