Edakkad is part of the Kannur Municipal Corporation in Kannur District of Kerala state, in India. History Edakkad grama panchayat of Kannur in ancient times was referred to as Madhya-adavi (in Sanskrit Madhya means middle and Adavi means forest). Similarly Eda means middle and kadu means forest. Thus the Malayalam derivative "Edakkad" is an adaptation of its original Sanskrit name. Edakkad also was historically referred to as Prashnamargapuram (town of Prashnamargam treatise in horary astrology) . This honorary name evolved due to the seminal horary astrological treatise called Prashna Margam being written by Panakkattu Namboodiri (1624-1694 A.D.) around 1649 A.D. at the Lord Narasimha temple (Edakkadappan temple) in this panchayat. The author's first disciple, according to tradition, was a poet known as Kukaniyal, his real name was Sankaran kaniyar who belonged to the Kaniyar community who lived in his family house (Kaniyan Kandiyil) also situated in Edakkad. Kukaniyal of Edakkad is accredited to have later written another astrological treatise Prashna-Ritti. Sree Oorpazhachi Kavu A prominent temple in the Edakkad grama panchayat is the Sree Oorpazhachi Kavu (Ooril Pazhakiya Eachil Kavu or Ooril Pazhakiya Achi Kavu) situated at Nadal. The name of this temple renders itself to two etymological interpretations. The former meaning pazhakiya (ancient) kavu (grove) surrounded by Eachil (a herb) and the latter meaning pazhakiya (ancient) achi (mother goddess) kavu (grove). Irrespective of the interpretation of Oorpazachi Kavu, it is the presence of this temple at Edakkad that imparts historical significance to the area. One finds reference to this famous temple in the Malabar Manual by William Logan, the British collector of Malabar. The main deity at Oorpazhachikavu is Oorpazhachi Dhaivam locally known as 'dhaivathareeswaran' who was the deified feudal Nair warrior 'Meloor Dayarappan'. North Malabar Folklore has in its collection of traditional songs described the ferocity of Meloor Dayarappan as the 'veeran' [hero] who had killed sixty four within the age of thirtysix including his teacher who beat him during teaching even when Meloor Dayarappan was a boy. The lengthy lore known as 'Oorpazhachi Thottam' further narrates that Meloor Dayarappan with his dearest friend Vettakorumakan and twelve thousand friends resided at Oorpazhachi Kaav where Meloor Dayarappan ruled as a kshathriya king for twelve years over a territory extending from ancient Kannur to Wayanad.Meloor dayarappan, Khshethrapalan, Veerabhadran, and Vettakorumakan were deified nair warriors who were friends. They occupy place among the thirty five important 'Theyyams' known collectively as 'Muppathaivar'