[The thirtyfive] in the Theyyam FolkLore of northernmost Malabar. The Folklore scholars C M S Chanthera, Professor Vishnu namboothiri, the famous Theyyam performer Manakkadan Gurikkal has written about this Deity and on the lengthy and extensive 'OorpazhachiThottam'. according to Professor K.K.N. Kurupp Vice-Chancellor Calicut university 'Oorpazhachi Dhaivam' presided over 18000 sthanams [seats] in Kolathunaad alone. Dr.Sanjeevan Azhikode son of C M S Chanthera also has done extensive study of caste connotations in the Theyyam ambit and states that the title as 'The ruling warrior' was conferred on Meloor Dayarappan by the rulers of 'Nediyirippu swaroopam'known later as the Zamorins of calicut area. Ooralar In the pre-British era and to some extent through the British era local political and judicial administrations were performed through hereditary village assemblies and temple committees called Ooralar. The term Oor means village and Ooraalan (Ooraalar, if joint partnership) means master (masters) or proprietor in these villages. The Sree Oorpazachi Kavu temple was the seat of such a socio-political body that enjoyed partial autonomy and administered the region. Nine prominent Nambiar families were Ooraalar and constituted the village and temple assembly that arbitrated local administration. They belonged to a further endogamous denomination among Nambiars called Randu Illam Vargam (As they derive their ancestry from Mullapalli Illom and Velloor Illom). After the Land Reforms Ordinance was enacted by Kerala State Government and the breaking of Janmi- kudiyan (feudal tenancy relationship) system Sree Oorpazhachi Kavu and the Ooralar families do not have any socio-political influence in the area. However the eldest-male from these matrilineal families still perform their role as de facto Ooralar in the Sree Oorpazhachi Kavu temple administration during ceremonial events. Like most villages in Malabar, Edakkad has also suffered extensively during the invasion of Tipu Sultan. Edakkad Bathakka Traditionally the Edakkad area was famous for its local variety / landrace of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus, Family Cucurbitaceae) referred to as Edakkad Bathakka. Demographics This grama panchayat has a mixed population of the Hindus (mainly Thiyyas and Nambiars) and a minority Muslim population. Transportation The road to the east connects to Mysore and Bangalore and South connects to Thiruvananthapuram via Calicut - Thrissure - Cochin and Alappuzha. The nearest railway station is Thalassery and Kannur Main on Mangalore-Palakkad line (NH 66). There are airports at Kannur , Calicut and Mangalore International Airport. Local information Sathyan Edakkad is a Policeman of Kerala Tourism Police. He is a well known