Valiathan, alternatively Vallyathan, is a title, and now family name, held by a group of Nair families, all branches along the matrilineal line of the main Valiathan family, who are known as the Vattaparambil Valiathan. According to legend, it is said that the Maharajah Marthanda Varma of Travancore sought the help of the Vattaparambil, later Valiathan, family in order to overcome the powerful clan of Ettuveetil Pillamar, the Lords of the Eight Houses. The Maharajah and his heir apparent, the popular Dharmarajah, therefore addressed the oldest, and most powerful, lady of the Vattaparambil House as Valiyamma. Later the lord of the Vattaparambil House died in battle against the Ettuveetil Pillamar, leaving the family without a head figure. When Marthanda Varma finally became king, he gave the title of "Valiathan" to the Vattaparambil family. The Vattaparambil family is based in Keerikad (Fort Vattaparambil). They also have branches in Thiruvalla and Pandalam. The Thiruvalla branch had marital relations with the

Nedumpuram Nedumpuram is a village in Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India.It Comes Under Thiruvalla Sub-District & Thiruvalla Constituency. Nedumpuram is the birthplace of Federal Bank. The Federal Bank Limited (the er ...

royal family there while the Pandalam family, known as Thottathil, had relations with the Royal Family of Pandalam. Today, these three families, known collectively as the Valiathans, constitute a

subcaste Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultural ...

of the Nair community. They are not permitted to intermarry as they are matrilineal branches of the same family under the

Marumakkathayam Marumakkathayam was a system of matrilineal inheritance prevalent in regions what now form part of the southern Indian state Kerala. Descent and the inheritance of property was traced through females. It was followed by all Nair castes, Ambalava ...

law.

Notable people

M. S. Valiathan Marthanda Varma Sankaran Valiathan (born 24 May 1934) is an Indian cardiac surgeon. He is a former President of the Indian National Science Academy and National Research Professor of the Government of India. He was awarded the Padma Vibushan i ...

(born 1934), an Indian cardiac surgeon *

V. S. Valiathan Vattaparambil Sankaran Valiathan (October 1919 – 21 June 2006), commonly referred to as Artist V. S. Valiathan, was an Indian artist from Pandalam, who was known for his classical style of painting in the Raja Ravi Varma tradition. His paintin ...

(1919–2006), an Indian artist {{surname Indian surnames