Thrissur has traditionally been a centre of learning. With the decline of Buddhism and Jainism due to the growing supremacy of Brahminism during the revival of Hinduism, Thrissur became an important centre of Sanskrit learning[citation needed]. It is believed that the great Hindu Saint, Adi Shankara, was born in answer to the prayer made by Arayambal and Sivaguru at Vadakkunathan temple.For a brief period, Thrissur was the capital of the Kochi kingdom. The Shaktan Thampuran palace, which was the abode of the Cochin king, Raja Rama Varma, also referred to as Sakthan Thampuran, was recently renovated by the Archeological Survey of India. The entire credit for the rise of the modern city of Thrissur goes to Raja Rama Varma, who ascended the throne of the state of Cochin in 1790 Raja Rama Varma rebuilt Thrissur from destruction after attacks from the Tipu Sultan's army.
Thrissur city has played a significant part in the political history of South India. Even as early as 1919 a committee of the Indian National Congress was functioning in Thrissur. In the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1921, several people in the city took active part and courted arrest.
Thrissurites have played an important part in the history of Kerala ands in particular Kochi. The famous Shaktan Thampuran, the most important ruler in Kochi history married into the Kuruppath family of Thrissur. The consort of the Maharaja, Parukutty Neithyaramma was from the Kuruppath clan.
