मामाङ्कम् was a very important national festival of केरल . This festival used to be conducted on the sandy beach of तिरुनावाय . It represented the crowning ceremony of the sovereign of केरल . There used to be a grand assembly of all the artistes of केरल . There was an exhibition of the arts, trade and commerce of the land attracting a huge crowd of people from different parts of भारत . Scholars believe that the word मामाङ्कम् is derived from the Sanskrit word " महामघा ". Some say that it was so called because it was conducted on the day of मघा in the month of माघ .

The festival was conducted under the auspices of the supreme power in मलबर् . For a long period पेरुमाल्स् were in power in मलबर् and so मामाङ्कम् was conducted under the control of the पेरुमाल्स् . The last of the line of पेरुमाल्स् handed over the right to the then mighty chief, the King of वल्लुवनाड् and for several years मामाङ्कम् was conducted under his auspices. The foreign traders who came to मलबर् , the Mohammadans and the Portuguese, persuaded सामूतिरि (zamorin) to take control of this festival and with the help of the foreigners सामूतिरि wrested from the King of वल्लुवनाड् the right of conducting the मामाङ्कम् . After some time the King. of वल्लुवनाड् made an attempt to get back the right from सामूतिरि . This enraged सामूतिरि and there ensued a fight between them resulting in much shedding of blood. An agreement was reached that after twelve years each would relinquish the right in favour of the other. So after twelve years सामूतिरि was compelled to relinquish his right but by resorting to many sly tactics he retained the right. The strength of सामूतिरि increased and he became a great power in मलबर् . He was bold enough to send away the Portuguese from the coast and सामूतिरि maintained his position till the advent of तिप्पु सुल्तन् to मलबर् in the year 1788 A.D. Every twelve years सामूतिरि had to show his might to retain the right of the मामाङ्कम् and those days of exhibiting strength were ghastly.

The place of this मामाङ्कम् was at तिरुनावाय in तिरूर् taluk. A शिव temple of historic fame stands on the shores of the river भारत flowing through तिरूर् taluk.

There was an expansive sand beach on its shores, become famous by being the scene of many socio-political events there. It was the venue of the mighty नम्बूदिरिस् of मलबर् to discuss matters of sociopolitical importance. Every year on the full-moon day in the month of माघ all the ruling chiefs of केरल would assemble there and on a special dais there सामूतिरि would sit with royal robes and a sword in his right hand presiding over the assembly. The sword was given to the सामूतिरिस् by चेरमान् पेरुमाल् and was considered the symbol of undisputed sovereignty of केरल . It was also a sanction to conduct the मामाङ्कम् . The सामूतिरिस् came prepared to give a fight if their authority was challenged by anybody. The ruling सामूतिरि would send an invitation to all chiefs of केरल . On either side of सामूतिरि would sit the relatives and friends of सामूतिरि . There would be an army of Nairs and Tiyyas ready outside and only after defeating them could anybody approach the dais of सामूतिरि . The dais was called निलपाट्टुतर .

The whole atmosphere would resound with drummings and shots from pop-guns. Majestic elephants adorned with golden headdresses would be arrayed there. The conference of the chiefs would last for twelve days and the festival for twentyfour days. The मामाङ्कम् attracted a huge crowd from far and wide because there were then many items of interest and information. The मामाङ्कम् commenced on a fixed day at an auspicious hour in the morning when the caparisoned elephants started moving to the accompaniment of drums and pipes. The last मामाङ्कम् was in 1755 A.D. By the time of मार्त्तण्ड वर्मा the centre of power shifted from Malabar to the south. Even today the memories of the same are brightening spots in the history of Malabar.