Concerning the recreations and pastimes of the Nambutiris, Mr. Subramani Aiyar writes as follows. "During the intervals of Vedic or Puranic recitations, the Nambutiri engages himself in chaturangam or chess. When the players are equally matched, a game may last five, six, or even seven days. Another amusement, which the Nambutiris take a great interest in, is the Yatrakali, which is said to be a corruption of Sastrakali, a performance relating to weapons. This is a unique institution, kept up by a section of the Nambutiris, who are believed to represent the Brahmanical army of Parasu Rama. When, at a ceremony in the Travancore royal household, a Yatrakali is performed, the parties have to be received at the entrance of the Maharaja's palace in state, sword in hand. The dress and songs are peculiar. In its import, the performance seems to combine the propitiation of Siva and Parvati in the manner indicated in a tradition at Trikkariyur with exorcism and skill in swordsmanship. It is generally believed that, in ancient days, the Brahmans themselves ruled Kerala. When they found it necessary to have a separate king, one Attakat Nambutiri was deputed, with a few other Brahmans, to go and obtain a ruler from the adjoining Chera territory. The only pass in those days, connecting Malabar and Coimbatore, was that which is now known as Nerumangalam. When the Nambutiris were returning through this pass with the ruler whom they had secured from the Chera King, a strange light was observed on the adjacent hills. Two young Brahmans of Chengngamanat village, on proceeding towards the hill to investigate the source thereof, found to their amazement that it was none other than Sri Bhagavati, the consort of Siva, who enjoined them to go, viâ Trikkariyur, to Kodungngnallur, the capital of the Perumals. Seeing that the sight of Bhagavati foretold prosperity, the king called the range of hills Nerumangalam or true bliss, and made an endowment of all the surrounding land to the Brahman village of Chengngamanat, the members of which had the good fortune to see the goddess face to face. When they entered the temple of Trikkariyur, a voice was heard to exclaim "Chera Perumal," which meant that into that town, where Parasu Rama was believed to be dwelling, no Perumal (king) should ever enter--a traditional injunction still respected by the Malabar Kshatriyas. At this place, the sixth Perumal who, according to a tradition, had a pronounced predilection for the Bouddha religion (Islamism or Buddhism, we cannot say), called a meeting of the Brahmans, and told them that a religious discussion should be held between them and the Bouddhas, in view to deciding their relative superiority. The presiding deity of the local Saiva shrine was then propitiated by the Brahmans, to enable them to come out victorious from the trial. A Gangama saint appeared before them, and taught them a hymn called nalupadam (four feet or parts of a sloka) which the Nambutiris say is extracted from