"Pathinaalu Desam" (14 "Desam") is situated in Ottapalam Taluk (previously, Valluvanaad Taluk) of Palakkad district between Vellinezhi in the west, Neelamangalam in the east, Kalluvazhi in the south and river Karimpuzha in the north. During its more than 1,000 year existence, the names of the Desams have not changed much. Originally all the families in the Pathinaalu Desam were Rigvedis, and were known for its Vedic traditions.

During the 15th or 16th century AD, a few Saamavedam and Yajurvedam families migrated here, inter-married and became integral part of the community. These were Mundaya (Saamam), Easwaramangalam Nedumpalli from Irinjalakuda Graamam, and Uduveli from the Angadipuram - Perinthalmanna area (both Yajus). Of the 32 present Illams, most (25) belong to Sukapuram, five to Perumanam and two to Irinjalakuda Graamams. One Palakkad Mana in Neelamangalam Desam ceased to exist in the absence of male children. From the early years, decision-making powers were vested with Olappamanna Mana. The two Vaidikans are Thaikkad and Cherumukku and Othikkan, Moorthyedam. The families belong to Kaasyapa, Viswaamithra, Bhaargava or Aangiras Gothrams.

PATHINAALU (14) DESAMS AND ILLAMS

DESAM	ILLAM	GRAAMAM	GOTHRAM	VEDAM	KSHETHRAM (TEMPLE)	OTHER PARTICULARS
1.Kaattukulam	1.Edamana	Sukapuram	Kaasyapam	Rigvedi	1. Naalissery 2.Pariyaanampatta	Aadhyan/ Thrissur Yogam (Supremacy in these two Bhagavathy temples)
.	2.Mundaaya	Peruvanam	-do-	Saamavedi	---	Aadhyan/ Thirunavaya Yogam
2.Kodarmanna	3.Thaarangaad	Sukapuram	Viswaamithram	Rigvedi	Vishnu Temple (Dwaadasi Vaaram)	Thirunavaya Yogam
3.Thottara	4.Maadambi	Peruvanam	Bhaargavam	-do-	Pachaayil Siva Temple (Ashtami Vaaram)	One of the few Illams having Aadhaanam/ Thiruna. Yogam
.	5.Kazhikandam	Sukapuram	Aangirasam	-do-	-do-	Thirunavaya Yogam
.	6.Vadakkedam	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-
.	7.Cherumittam	-do-	Athri	-do-	-do-	-do-
4.Neelamangalam	8.Nedumpally	-do-	Aangirasam	-do-	(Only Illam Temples)	-do-
.	9.Thazhengodam	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-
.	10.Mekkaat	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-	Place in Paanenkali; Thrissur Yogam
.	11.Uthuveli	Irinjalakuda	Aathreyam	Yajurvedi	-do-	Thirunavaya Yogam
5.Easwaramangalam	12.Thekkaad	Sukapuram	Viswaamithram	Rigvedi	Siva Temple ("Appam"	-do-
.	13.Mukkarikkaad	-do-	-do-	-do-	for Lord Ganapathy on	-do-
.	14.Aattuthala	-do-	Kaasyapam	-do-	1st Friday of every	-do-
.	15.Nedumpally	Irinjalakuda	Aangirasam	Yajurvedi	Malayalam month)	-do-
6.Sreekrishnapuram	16.Kizhiyedam	Sukapuram	Bhaargavam	Rigvedi	Krishna Temple (Thiruvonam Vaaram)	Thrissur Yogam
.	17.Kizhakkedam	-do-	---	-do-	-do-	Paanenkali/ Thiruna. Yogam
.	18.Meledam	-do-	Aangirasam	-do-	-do-	Thrissur Yogam
7.Valampilimangalam	19.Eledam	-do-	-do-	-do-	Sankaranarayana Temple (Ashtami Vaaram)	Yaagam rights// Thris. Yogam
.	20.Moorthyedam	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-	Othikkan/ Yaagam/ Thiru.Yogam
8.Perumaangod	21.Paanakkaad	-do-	Kaasyapam	-do-	Vishnu Temple (Thiruvonam Rohini Vaarams)	Thirunavaya Yogam
.	22.Nediyedam	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-
.	23.Perumanam	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-
.	24.Kodanaad	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-	-do-
9.Thirunaaraayana- puram	25.Thirunaaraayana- purath Kizhiyedam	Peruvanam	Viswaamithram	-do-	Vishnu Temple (Velutha Dwaadasi Vaaram)	Yaagam rights/ Thris. Yogam
10.Pakaraavoor	26.Kurussaathamanna	Sukapuram	Kaasyapam	-do-	---	Yaagam rights/ Thiruna. Yogam
11.Kuruvattoor	27.Thenazhi	-do-	Viswaamithram	-do-	---	Aadhyan/ Thirunavaya Yogam
.	28.Cheleri	-do-	---	-do-	---	Only Bhattathiripad family in the whole 14-Desam; Thirunavaya Yogam
12.Atakkaputhoor	29.Kunnam	-do-	Kaasyapam	-do-	Siva Temple (Karutha Pradosham Vaaram)	Yaagam rights/ Thiruna. Yogam
13.Kalluvazhi	30.Kaplingaad	Peruvanam	---	Yajurvedi	Siva Temple	Thirunavaya Yogam
.	31.Valloor	-do-	Aangirasam	Yajurvedi	(Also Vishnu) (Velutha Chathurdasi Vaaram)	Paanenkali/ Thiruna. Yogam
14.Vellinezhi	32.Olappamanna	Sukapuram	Viswaamithram	Rigvedi	Kaanthaloor Vishnu Temple (Thiruvonam Vaaram)	Aadhyan/ Thrissur Yogam

There are about ten large temples, where Vaaram, Thrisandha and Utsavam used to be held till recently. Not any more, since temple revenues dropped drastically or ceased. The Pooja in two of the Bhagavathy temples (Naalisseri and Pariyanampatta) is performed by designated Nair families except during Mandalam period, when Namboothiris do it. There are no Thanthri families here. In times of need, outside help is sought from Andaladi, Eekkad or Panaavur Illams.

None from 14-Desam is believed to have taken up "Samnyaasam". Only five of the families have right to perform Yaagam, and one to do Aadhaanam. There is only one Bhattathiri family (Cheleri Bhattathiri). Vallur and Kizhakkedath are Chaathira Namboothiris. The families of 14-Desam belong mostly to Thirunavaya and some to Thrissur Yogam and participate, but housed separately, in Murajapam at Thiruvananthapuram.

The Pathinaalu Desam can boast of the Olappamanna family in it with the late Kunchunny Nambudiripad on whom the title "Rao Bahadur" was awarded by the British, and more recently the renowned scholar , the late O M C Narayanan Nambudiripad (Rigveda Bhaasha Bhaashyam in Malayalam), the famous poet laureate ("Mahaakavi") "Olappamanna" (Subrahmanian Nambudiripad) and the literateur Dr O M Anujan. In the Cheleri family there was one Bhattathiripad who was well-versed in Thachchu Saasthram (architecture). The Aattuthala and Vallur families are famous for their Aayurvedic expertise, especially in Visha Vaidyam (toxicology). Edamana had two Karnatic music exponents, one Ashtamoorthy Nambudiripad being a Veena Vidwaan and the other Brahmadathan Nambudiripad, a vocalist. Kanthallur temple and vicinity housed a Kathakali "Kalari" where the renowned Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon was the principal instructor ("Aasaan"), who followed the "Kalluvazhi Chitta" (school or tradition). Matambi Subrahmanian Nambodiri is a renowned Kathakali musician from Thottara Desam. The late Nedumpalli Krishnan Namboodiri was a great dancer and a contemporary of late Uday Shankar, and had performed around the world.