The "Twentyone-Desakkar" (people of families of 21-Desam) refers to a community of more than 100 Namboothiri Illams spread over mainly in Kozhikode and Ernad Taluks. Earlier, it seems there were a few Illams - Cheruthayur, Pulaappetti and Kuzhippuram - in Wayanad Taluk also, though non-existent now. There are 21½ Desams, divided into eight "Yogams". Through another classification, they were also divided into 7½ and 14 groups. Kolody-Raamallur, Chathamangalam, Kaarasseri, Naalugriham (four) and the half-desam of Sreekrishnapuram (Pannikkote) constitute the 7½ and the rest 14. Apart from a Yogakshethram for each Yogam and a Desakshethram for each Desam, several illams have their own temples. It is said that an attempt to form a new "Graamam" was incomplete and thus it remained as 21-Desams.

All of them are "Krishna Yajurvedis" (and "Boudhaayanans"). In all the eight Yogams, annual "Othoottu" used to be conducted in one Yogam after the other, but skipping every sixth year during which the "Murajapam" was conducted at Thiruvananthapuram. The Othoottu was held either in the Yogakshethram or in one of the Desakshethrams. The very last one was held in ME 1131 in Nalloorpalli Ugrapuram temple near Areekode. In the book of poetry "Poornam Braahmanyam" written about a 100 years ago by Moothedathu Narayanan Namboodiri, it is stated that it was Sreemangalam Swaamiyar together with Sakthan Thencheeri who divided the community into 8 Yogams and also decided to hold Othoottu in the manner indicated earlier. In that case, it must have been about 250 years ago, ie., before Tippu's attack ("Patayottam").

As per information collected during 1967-68, details of the Desams, temples and Illams in each of the 8 Yogams are given below:

YOGAM	DESAM	TEMPLE	ILLAMS
1. Kolodi	Kolodi-Raamallur (near Nanmanda)	Kolodi Vaamanamoorthi Kshethram	1.Melpalli 2.Areekkara 3.Kolpuram 4.Kizhiyetam 5.Thencheeri 6.Panniyamvelli 7.Kuttamangalam 8.Kunnappuzhi Kuttamangalam 9.Chaathanaattu 10.Vayappuram 11.Etoli 12.Chekra
2. Chathamangalam	Chathamangalam	Chathamangalam Paarthasaaratthy Kshethram	1.Kuzhippuram 2.Kalpalli 3.Korampatta 4.Chokkur Puthuvaaratam 5.Kizhakke Puthuvaaratam 6.Patinjare Puthuvaaratam 7.Puthur Muthumana 8.Purankallu Muthumana 9.Kunnathu Kandamangalam 10.Cherillath Kandamangalam 11.Puzhakkal Kandamangalam 12.Areekkara
3. Kaarasseri	Kaarasseri & the half-desam Sreekrishnapuram (Pannikot)	Atithirikkovil Vishnu Kshethram	1.Thiruvaalur 2.Naageri 3.Kotakkat 4.Akkaarappalli 5.Mecheri 6.Moothedam 7.Vengeeri 8.Cheruthayur Kizhiyetam 9.Kizhiyetam 10.Mulamangalam 11.Manchara 12.Thelampatta 13.Meletam 14.Natuviletam 15.Cheruvakkat 16.Chuzhalippuram
4. Naalugriham	The four Desams near the present Mukkam: 1 Ravipuram (Thattayur) 2 Alli (Thavanur) 3 Natukil (Pulaappetti) 4 Aanayaamkunnu (Thaamarakkulam)	Ravipuram Siva Kshethram	(a) Thattayoor Griham 1.Thattaur Kizhiyetam 2.Kaanjirathatta 3.Ozhukil Thatta (b) Thavanur Griham 1.Thavanur 2.Kolangarakk- araat 3.Karaat (c) Pulaappetti Griham (Vizhaappetti Griham) 1.Mele Pulaappetti 2.Thazhe Pulaappetti (Poyilil Vizhaappetti) 3.Thekkeppat 4.Vadakkeppaat 5.Kottivattam 6.Elamana (d) Thaamarakkulam Griham 1.Thaamarakkulam 2.Maathatathu Thaamarakkulam 3.Kollotta 4.Kampalam 5.Kunnasseri 6.Aliyangal 7.Koyiliam 8.Parakkunnu 9.Vatakkiniyakam
5. Kizhakkaaru	Six Desams around Areekode: 1.Ugrapuram 2.Pathanaapuram 3.Unnimura 4.Koothrottu 5.Krishnaanandapuram 6.Bhakthapriyam (Pathappiriyam)	Nalloorppalli Narasimha Kshethram (in Ugrapuram Desam)	1.Chempaazhi 2.Naduvathetam 3.Kizhakkumpaat 4.Azhinjillath Chempaazhi 5.Koranjur 6.Perincheeri 7.Kaanthakkara Pulloormannu 8.Thalayazhi Thaamarakkulam 9.Koothrottu Pullankot 10.Pullankot 11.Kaarakunnathu Karippam 12.Vannilaa- parambathu Karippam 13.Puzhakkal Karippam
6. Padinjaaraaru	Six Desams around Kozhikode: 1.Nellikode 2.Koozhakode 3.Cheruvannur 4.Chalappuram 5.Iringallur 6.Kottooli	Koozhakode Vishnu Kshethram	1.Koleri 2.Vatur Chempaazhi 3.Maatam 4.Nechooli 5.Thirumangalam 6.Maniyancheri 7.Thaayaat 8.Chittati 9.Nellikode Chempakasseri 10.Kootallur 11.Kuniyan Veettil Keenippuram 12.Maadathil Keenippuram 13.Pullankot 14.Pulloormannu 15.Kurinjankot 16.Paandikkadavu 17.Painkatavu 18.Paathirisseri 19.Koozhakkode Chempakasseri 20.Paateri 21.Paarakkot
7. Parappur	Parappur	Neermangaat Narasimha Kshethram (in the vicinity of Kizhisseri)	1.Paalakkal 2.Pookkot 3.Vattappuzha 4.Kulangara 5.Kottakkat 6.Thencheeri 7.Mattham 8.Thalethodika 9.Kizhakkiniya- kathu Thencheeri 10. Thiruvaaloor 11. Naageri
8. Perumanpura	Perumanpura in the vicinity of Poovattuparamba near Mavoor	Perumanpura Narasimha Kshethram	1.Paalaancheri 2.Mangathaaya 3.Tharippa 4.Maalika 5.Edakramancheri 6.Mundakkasseeri Pulloormannu

The Gothrams to which the 21-Desakkar belong are:
Kaasyapan, Bharadwaajan, Aangirass Bharadwaajan, Gauthaman, Aangirass, Lomesan, Kaasyapa Pouratsyan, Bhaargavan, Viswaamithran, Vasishtthan, Haareethan, Sreevatsan, Goheethan and Aathreyan.

Melpalli Namboodiri is their Vaidikan and Smaarthan. The Namboodiris of Melpalli located in Pullaloor near Narikkuni in Kozhikode district have the title "Atithiripad". It is not received by doing "Agnihothram", as is usually the case. According to the present head, Chandrasekharan Atithiripad, the then Zaamoothiri is said to have brought Melpalli from Thaliparamba a few hundreds of years ago. Earlier, Perumpatappu Namboodiri (Thrissur), used to be the Vaidikan. Even now there is a Melpalli Illam in Thaliparamba, who used to observe "grihappula" (defilement) with the one in Pullaaloor, but cut off after the former was changed through a "Sarvaswa Daanam". Melpalli's Vaidikan is Perumpatappu. Vengeeri Illam in Kaarasseri Desam is also said to have had Atithiri. Even now, there is a temple named Atithrikkovil (Atithirikkovil).

For the 21-Desams, the sovereign is Zaamoothiri, priests (Othikkans) are Thekkeppad, Thirumangalam and Korampatta. Earlier, Puliyappatambu and Muthussara Mallisseri of Thaliparamba were Othikkans of Koozhakode Desam and Parappur Desam respectively. Other Desams also used to have Othikkans from Taliparamba Graamam. Swaamiyaar Mattham of 21-Desam is Thrikkaikkat Mattham near Tanur, which is one of the four Sankaraachaarya Matthams of Kerala. Panniyam Velli Bhattathiri of Kolodi-Raamallur Desam is the only Bhattathiri family in 21-Desam.

The 21-Desakkaar use a "Thaali" shaped more or less like "Nettippattam" (the caparison of the elephant) with the "Moonnu Muri Mani" rather than the usual "Cheruthaali"; silver bangles, not bronze; short-handled, wider palm-leaf parasol instead of the long-handled "Kaalkkoda". A few outsider Desams like Kaanjileri, Kavalaat and Kothamangalam, also use a similar "Muhurtha Thaali" and silver bangles. In Thaliparamba, silver bangles are used, but the Muhurtha Thaali is of a different design.

"Utsavam" or the annual temple festival is not performed in any of their temples. Before the start of Othoottu, it is a practice to light a five-wicked lamp in ghee at the "Vaathil Maatam" (entrance to the temple) and prostrate to the north towards Perumthrikkovil of Thaliparamba.

They celebrate the 11th day after childbirth instead of the 28th. After death, even if "Deeksha" (abstinence) is over on the 12th day, "Sapindi" is conducted elaborately. This practice appears to have started relatively recently.

These Illams are said to satisfy the last eight out of the following 10 Namboothiri criteria - Aatu (Yogam), Etu (Bhattavruthy), Bhiksha (Samnyaasam), Picha, Othu, Saanthi, Atukkala, Arangu (right to perform "Sanghakkali"), Panthi and Katavu. Many Swaamiyaars had obtained Samnyaasam into Thrikkaikkaattu Mattham - Naageri, Thirumangalam, Paalakkal (2), Moothedathu, Paandikkadavu, Kollotta (2), Kulangara, Keenippurath, Pookkot, Karippathu, Melpalli, etc. (list incomplete). The Thanthri families are Melpalli, Panniyampalli, Paateri, Paathirisseri, Chaathanaattu, Kizhakkumpattu, Chempaazhi, Cheruthayur, Thattayur and Vatakkiniyakam (Peringappurath Namboodiri).

Some of these Illams have "Sanghakkali" experts and officials. These are Vella, Paarakkottu (Koozhakkode Desam), Kizhinyaaru, Muthumana (Chathamangalam Desam) and Thiruvaalur (Kaarasseri Desam) belonging to Nenmini Chaathira Yogam.

The 21-Desam Illams belong to several Namboothiri Graamams. While Melpalli is of Thaliparamba Graamam, Paalakkal is supposed to have come from Peruvanam. Anyway, none of them is known to have retained links with their original Graamam through rites like "Vilakkathu Vekkal" (placing offerings before the lamp) and visiting and praying at the original Graamam temples.

In the Murajapam of Thiruvananthapuram, the 21-Desam had a special place, shed number 6 ("Nedumpura"). It is said that the Naageri Swaamiyar was responsible for this. Here, they sit with Thirunaavaaya Yogam. It may be remembered that Thirunaavaaya Yogam members are Rigvedi experts while 21-desam members are Yajurvedi experts.

The 21-Desakkaar married only from within. This tradition is said to have been broken once, some 140 years back when someone of Kollotta Illam married a girl of Baanathur Illam, which is outside the 21-Desam. Of course, now-a-days, no such parochialism is practiced at all.

"Bhadra Deepam", a book ("Granddham") on Astronomy ("Ganitha Saasthram") was written by one Edakramancheri Namboodiri of Perumanpura Desam belonging to 21-Desam. A hand-written copy (it was never printed) is available in the Manuscript Library at Thiruvananthapuram. Ulloor has made a reference to it in his "Kerala Saahithya Charithram" (Canto III, Ch. 36) and suggested that it was written around ME 840 (1664-65 AD). There exists even now a pit called "Bharathan Kundu" in Edakramancheri Illam, which is supposed to have been used by the author for astronomical observations. In the salutation poem ("Vandana Slokam") of the book, the following line is observed:

"Vandeham Perumaan Puraakhya Bhavane
Vaazhunna Naaraayanam"

One Unni Namboodiri of Muthumana Illam was well-versed and famous in martial arts. Thaamarakkulam Narayanan Namboodiri was a renowned musician of the Parassinikkatavu Kathakali Yogam. And there were quite a few Othans (experts in Vedam recitation). Paalaancheri Illam could boast of 11 of them at the same period, and nick-named "Ekaadasa Rudranmaar". Sankaran Namboodiri of Thalethotika Illam was also a very famous Othan. One Paalaancheri Damodaran Namboodiri was an expert examiner of Yajurvedam in the Murajapam at Thiruvananthapuram. He also used to conduct discourses on "Raamayanam" during Lakshaddeepam there. During the reign of Visaakham Thirunaal, Melpalli Narayanan Atithiripad, a Vedam and Sanskrit scholar, received the "Veera Srumkhala" and other special awards, and also special privileges at the Murajapam. He was a recipient of "Aarekkaalum Koppum" (a kind of honorarium) and was offered special accommodation in Krishna Vilaasam Palace. In Parappur Kolangara Illam, it is said that there was a great astrologer ("Jyothishi") and he used to have a large collection of "Grantthams" on Jyothisham, "Visha Vaidyam" (toxicology), etc. One of the annual meetings of the Yogakshema Mahaa Sabha during its heydays under the leadership of V T Bhattathiripad, and a "Misra Bhojanam" (Namboothiris sitting with other castes and eating, traditionally prohibited), was held at Parakkunnu Illam. The autobiography of "V T" makes references to the waves created in 21-Desam during the "Yaachana Yaathra". 13 Illams of Kaarasseri Desam have "Kaaraayma" to act as Keezhsaanthi in Guruvayur temple, and they continue this function.

The present-day (living) Othans of 21-Desam are: 1. Kaanthakkara Pulloormannu Raman Namboodiri, 2. Natuviletam Janardanan Namboodiri, 3. Paateri Sakran Namboodiripad, 4. Kotakkaatu Vasudevan Namboodiri, 5. Koozhakkottu Chempakasseri Raman Namboodiri, 6. Kanthakkara Pulloormannu Narayanan Namboodiri, 7. Kanthakkara Pulloormannu Vishnu Namboodiri, 8. Elamana Narayanan Namboodiri, 9. Elamana (Makan) Narayanan Namboodiri.

Elamana Narayanan Namboodiri (No.7) is an expert in "Changatha", "Padam" and Boudhaayana rituals ("chatangu"), as well as in Thaanthrika Kriyas though not from a Thaanthric family. He is also familiar with Aasoucham.

Chekra Krishnan Namboodiri of Kolodi-Raamallur Desam is a well-known scholar who has done research work for a long time in the University of Calicut on "Scientific thoughts in ancient Sanskrit literature". He was awarded "Dr S Vasudev award" of the Science and Technology Department of the Government of Kerala.

At present, the "21-Desakkaar" is dispersed all over Kerala and outside. They are all generally in the middle economic stratum. Very few are abroad too. A large percentage of women are educated and holds jobs. Vedam studies are practically non-existent. There are many who read old scriptures and "Puraanaas", and offer discourses on "Bhagavatham". There appears to be a decline of interest in Vedic and spiritual matters as is seen in the entire Namboothiri community. Although most of the traditional practices such as marrying only from within the 21-Desam circle, and Othoottu and other such get-togethers have long been discarded, one can still observe a certain feeling of closeness in this group, particularly among those past the middle age, but such a feeling is almost non-existent among the younger generation.