VARAMBALLIES are varamballies and only varamballies and no comparison with varamballies.  As a Sanskrit sloka says: “Gaganam, gaganakaram, Sagaraha sagaropamah Rama Ravana yor udda, Rama Ravana yoriva.” No written documents are available.  Whatever is written is from various sources; say, from records, hearsay and so on. Hence there is every scope for correction, suggestion and change in this text.

There is one version that these varamballies are the descendants of Rajaguru, Drona Acharya and they were called DRONAMBALLIES which term later converted into VARAMBALLY because of their position in Raja Aastana.  In Kerala they are called DRONAMBALLY  NAYAKARU. “AGRATHAHA CHATUROVEDAHA, PRASTATHAHO SASHARADHANUHU, EDAM BRAHMAM EDAM KSHATRAM SHAPADAPI SHARADAPI “  means all the four Vedas were used to precede Dronacharya while bows and arrows used to follow him.  Front is Brahmathejas and back (followed by)Kshathrathejasu, thus Acharachya had the power to bless/curse and also power to fight through arms and weapons.  That is the heritage of these varamballies.  

Varmballies have no Guru or Gurupeeta because they themselves are Gurus.  But they are having shishya vrinda. [Disciples] Nairys, Shettigars. Varamballys are VASHISTA gotra people and they are the followers of bhagvatha vaishnava sampradaya. Bhagavathah aayam bhaaghavatha [mind is always concentrated in Vishnu] Bhagavathi Bhaktaha Bhagavatha or [in the beginning Gopichandana, then agnikarya and other rituals after that Bhasmadharane, finally after the pooje one has to do Ghandadharane.] They had special position in the society as well as in Raja Aastana. Some of them are hagalu divatige aadda pallaki and so on.  

Ancestors were Raja Gurus and were having very good position in the aastana of  Trivendrum maharaja. Up till recently on Vijayadashami day of every year a representative of varamballies who is considered as Rajaguru; by Trivendrum maharaja used to award him fifty two varahas.[one varaha means four silver. belly coins}  i.e. at the rate of one varaha per week fifty two weeks in a year.  Hence their surname has become VARAMBELLY MEANS VARAKKE ONDU BELLY and VARAMBALLY.  

These varamballies are having landed property in Vaikam, Nedumudi, Alleppey and even in Trivandrum. Ancestors’ vrindavana can be seen in Vaikam, landed property and Bhagavathi temple in Nedumudi of Alleppy district and a house in Trivandrum near the Further the present varambally village of Udupi  taluk of Udupi District was once the own property of these Varamballys.  Later the land was distributed to various category of people (given as oombaly) based on their position and connection with this royal family and finally whatever the remaining land has gone to the tenants under the declaration respecting the law of the land.

In the earlier days there was insufficient income from the land and whatever agricultural income earned was distributed to their tenants and there was scarcity of money. Time became such hat these varamballies had no sufficient fund to pay the land revenue to the British Government, consequently they had to face severe punishment from the British Government and the punishment was 1 to stand in one leg near the road under hot sun during daytime so that others  also have to see the punishment, 2 in one of the punishment days one of the government official will come and keep a red hot iron bar on the buttock of the person so that the burnt mark Symbolizes the punishment awarded to the person. This was the punishment awarded to the Yejamana of varambally family. Fortunately during this time, a Bunt family of Guddebettu [present guddethattu], near Haladi, along with their followers were on their pilgrimage to Tirupathi, by chanting Govinda govinda”.  They saw this Brahmin who is under British punishment.  They asked this varambally the reason for the punishment.  He told the yathris that as he has not paid the land tax the punishment was awarded to him and he is so poor that even though he owns such a big village, he is not having sufficient money to pay the land revenue, further he cant replace the biras[bath towel] if they keep the burnt rod on the buttak hence he kept the bairas up.  Now the bunt yathris told varambally that they are having sufficient money to pay the tax since they have collected money as they are going to Tirupathi yatre and they will pay the tax amount so that the punishment awarded to the Brahmin will be cancelled.  But varambally did not accept their offer and told them that he is ready to accept the punishment awarded to him but will not take the money because it will become a”runa”. indebtedness.  

Now the yejamana of the bunt family told the Brahmin that unless and until he accepts the money they will not proceed to the yatre. Under this circumstance, the varambally told that he will accept the money, but there is a condition that during their return they have to meet him and whatever he gives to them as a compensation they have to accept it. So both agreed and the brahmin has accepted the money, finally paid the tax.  Thus the punishment was withdrawn from the government. Later,Varambally was waiting for this family near the road  anticipating their arrival from the  tirupathi yatre.  After some months  these yatris returned from their yathre and varambally welcomed them with all  formalities.  He told them because of their timely help, he was rescued from the punishment and as a  token of good gesture, he is offering them some landed property the present Guddebettu.  After thorough discussion, both the parties have agreed and the present Gudebettu area of varambally village was given to these Bunt family  in addition to this, one statue..vigraha..of sri durga parameshwari was also given to the bunt family and asked them to celebrate special pooja during Navarathri further. Threedays and five days, ame, sutika against birth and death, between these two Families;

For all religious function the head of the bunt family has to come to the varamballys house and take the leadership [mukteshwari]. Such a bond was established between these families and which is being followed till As stated these varamballies were/are having landed property in kerala especially near/around the palace of Trivandrum Mhahraja.  Every year they used to go to Trivandrum to look after the property and participate in the function of maharaja. On the way, since they used to go by walk, they used to stay in certain places, say Pangala, first day, Hejamadi second day and talapady third day and so on. During that time they used to do pooja in these places as they were carrying golden vigraha of sri chandkikadurga parameshwari.  Even now these durgaparameshwari temple/garadis are there in the places where Bunt people are celebratig the pooja. These Varambally fmily was the chief trustees of Mahathobar Mahalingeshwara Temple, Brahmavar and  thus without a member of this family any religious function was not allowed to conduct in that temple. Once, as usual, the elder brother of the family went to Kerala and before starting he informed his younger brother that, he would come for the annual car festival of the Mahalingeshwar temple and without him it must not be allowed to proceed. But unfortunately, while he was coming it was delayed and hence the younger brother permitted the authorities to continue the car festival. In the meantime, the elder brother came from kerala and saw that the festival was conducted against his wishes, got angry and immediately , without any second thought, he told his brother that since you went against my wishes and order, he will break the relation and thus, the land was also divided and TWO FRAGMENTS  OF VARAMBALLY FAMILY WAS ESTABLISSHED. One is called moodu garadi and the other is called the padugaradi.  

The present Govekatta stream has become the border of these two fragments, the eastern portion is called the moodugaradi and the western portion  is called the padugradi and in the junction a piece of land was given to GADIYAR   ..gadi means border. to look after the border. In the later dates the land whatever they had was distributed to various category of  people, to some other brahmis for doing the pooja and other rituals, to Bhandaries for the hair cuttings and so on as umbalie free for doing certain future work.  Finally whatever the land was there was either sold out or have gone under tenant act. The PADUGARADI  varamballies are worsiping CHANDIKA DURGA PARAMESHWARI in a place called GARADI.  It is called Garadi and not temple nor mutt.  In addition to this godess other parivara ganas,  Bobbarya are in the surroundngings of the garadi and Panjurli, Nandikeshwara Naga brahma are in the vicinity. There is no sanctum sanctorum, or garbhagudi. A wodden bimba made up of red sandal wood, [raktachandana] of about 5 feet hight is established on the south-west corner of 20 x 60 ft rectangular hall facing north east rather a unique position. The building is of Kerala style and the timber used is only Teak wood imported from Kerala. Originally, it was thatched with coconut leaves, later shifted to hay and during 1970s shifted to Mangalore tiles.  

The garadi is unique because no such garadies are existing except its own links{it is said that there are 8 other branches of this  but all were linked to this]. The hall of the garadi was a place where war/fights, kustis were taught during earlier days. There is a balcony like structure from where the fightings/kustis were viewed.  On the front of the temple there is mukamantapa which is also unique   and is of Kerala style. The pariwar  ganas are, 1 Guru 2 Ganapathi facing north, 3 Vatukabairava, 4 Sastara, 5 Nandikeshwara  6 Virabhadra 3 to 6 facing west and [all eastern side and 7 Rakteshwari western side facing east .    

Mahakali’s position is, outside on the northern side of the steps. As already mentioned in the first Para, no solid background paper/document is available. If anybody knows or has document about the family he can inform. Any suggestion, addition, deletion is accepted. In short VARAMBALLY is a historically important, royal family with a very good social status, cultural richness, but now That CHANDIKA DURGAPARAMESHWARI is the only resort.