Odanad (Malayalam: ōṭānāṭŭ, also known as Onattukara,Kayamkulam, Onad, Kallikoilon and Chirava Svaroopam) was a feudal state in late medieval Kerala.

It was established in the 11th century,[1] and disestablished in 1746 when it became part of Travancore after Venad King Marthanda Varma's northern expedition.

[1][3] Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran's Sanskrit work Mayura Sandesam describes Odanad as the land of vines.

Copper plate inscriptions in Thiruvalla, dated to the 11th century, mention Odanad and Mattom, then its capital.

In 1743, Odanad was bordered by the feudal states of Pandalam, Thekkumkur, Elayadath, Vadakkumkur, Purakkad and Thrikkunnapuzha, according to records left by Julius Valentin van Gollenesse, Commander of Dutch Malabar at the time.

[4] By 1746, Odanad had been persuaded by the Dutch to take up the leadership of a new confederation which included Chembakassery, Thekkumkur and Purakkad.

In this fourth war known as Battle of Purakkad between the states, Odanad was again defeated and its territories finally annexed to Travancore.

One among the strongest and brave army power, Kayamkulam provided mortal support to the surrounding local states and helped them to lead war against their rivals.

The identity Weapon was " Double side sharpen Sword" commonly called Kayamkulam Vaal.

It is believed to have been consecrated by Padmapadacharyar, a disciple of Adi Shankara, on the Uthrattathi day of Makara month in AD 823.

According to late Kandiyoor Mahadeva Shasthri, Samudra Bandhan, a leading courtier of Ravi Varman, an ancient King of Venad had visited this temple and wrote poems on Bhagavathi.

The myth behind the temple's origin is related to clash between local landlords and it is clearly mentioned in the kuthiyotta pattu.

According to local mythology, Agni deva, the Hindu god of fire, had been suffering from a severe stomach ailment.

Agni appeared in the form of a brahmin to seek the help of Krishna and Arjuna, who were visiting the area.

Lord Indra used thundershowers promptly but on Krishna's advice, Arjuna constructed a canopy of arrows to prevent the rain from disrupting Agni's consumption of the forest.

As a sign of thankfulness, Agni sought permission to install that murti in a new temple there to facilitate worship.

At last, an old Brahmana-devotee of the adjacent house, after taking a dip in the temple tank, entered the raging flames and brought out the Deity, safely.

It contained royal facilities such as security trenches atop the roof all around and underground drainage network to discharge the 'abhishka water' from 'Srikovil' to adjacent temple tank.

Vedic experts have confirmed the extremely rare divine presence of "Sri Chakra" on this deity.

Names of towns and villages in the Onattukara region carry the palli suffix, which was common usage in Pāli, the language of Hinayana Buddhism.

[citation needed] Karunagapalli, Karthikapalli, Pallickal, Pallippuram, Puthupalli are examples of such historical and present names of places in the Onattukara region.

After stealing the Sreechakram, sanctified at sanctum of Ramapurathamma, the then Trippappur king Marthandavarma and his Chief [Dalava] Ramayyan had conquered Kayamkulam .The absence of the most sacred Sreechakram rendered them powerless and it paved the way for Marthanda Varma to establish his supremacy over Kayamkulam dynasty .

Festivals in Odanad include the Jeevatha Nritham,[8] a traditional form of dance, and the Kettukazhcha, which has its origins in Buddhism.