The history of Thiruvananthapuram temples, owned by the Madras Regiment and controlled by the Madras Regimental Center, is related to the history of Venad (later Travancore) and his army. The earliest known reference on Venad is found in Parantaka Neduncatain's Madras Museum plaques, the date of which was ascribed to 765 and 815 A.D.Throughout this time, Venad's royal family resided in various locations, creating five divisions (taavazhis) viz., Venad, Tiruvitaamkod, Trippaappoor, Chiravaayi, and Desingnad. Of these, the first three divisions took on duties to administer the principality. The supreme authority was Venad ruler who also used the title of Chiravaayi Mooppan. Trippappoor (or Keezhperur) Mooppan was considered the heir-apparent with distinct responsibility for administering, in particular, the Sree Padmanaabhaswaamy temple and other temples in the principality.At the time, Venad 's authority stretched over a tiny tract between Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam (Quilon). Nevertheless, it got independent status in the early twelfth century, after the Kulasekhara Empire 's fall in power in Kerala. By the end of the 13th century, Venad flourished as its capital, with Kollam (Quilon). At the beginning of the fifteenth century Venad 's capital was transferred from Kollam to Tiruvitaamkod (now in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district).Venad 's rulers continued to have their seat at Tiruvitaamkod until the palace at Kalkkulam was built at Darapakulangara. Venad's political scene underwent dramatic changes when he assumed Anizham Tirunal Veera Bala Marthaanda Varma as Trippaappoor Mooppan, and later ascended Venad 's throne in 1729 A.D. (904 M.E.) at age 24, after his uncle Veera Rama Varma died. His first big move was to remove his hostile feudal elements and to annex several principalities on north Venad viz. In addition to small territories, Attingal land, Desingnad, Elayadatth swaroopam, Kayamkulam, Ambalapuzha, Tekkumkoor, Vatakkumkoor belonged to the nobles.He thus became the first local Raja, whose jurisdiction extended from southern Kanyakumari to north Arookutti. He was further in charge of establishing a centralized administration. In 1744 A.D., Maarthaanda Varma (1729-58 A.D.) restored Palace Kalkkulam. And shifted his capital to a new position from Tiruvitaamkod and renamed Kalkkulam as Padmanaabhapuram. The united state was known as Tiruvitaamkoor (or Travancore in later records) from the time of Maarthaanda Varma.
Upon state unification, on 5th Makaram 925 M.E., he took a momentous step from Trippati Daaanam (dedication of the kingdom) to his tutelary deity Sree Padmanabhaswaamy of Thiruvananthapuram. That corresponds to 03 Jan 1750 A.D. Earlier he ruled Travancore as Padmanaabha-daasas or Sree Padmanabhaswaamy servants with his successors. The State belonged to the Lord through the idea of Trippati Daanam and it helped pave political peace in the State in the long run.
Following the establishment of a centralized military monarchy, Maarthaanda Varma took the initiative to reinforce his armed forces as Travancore became a major political power in southwestern India. In 1757, 30,000 Nairs (10,000 regular and 20,000 volunteer infantry) formed the Travancore Army. Because of a revived revolt within the army in 1809, Travancore 's entire military force was disbanded, with the exception of the First Nair Battalion and few mounted troops retained for State and ceremony purposes.During the reign of Raani Gouri Paarvathi Baayi (1815-29), a Second Battalion of Nair troops increased the strength of the army in addition to establishing a new artillery detachment The Nair battalion continued as early as 1809 A.D. The name of the army as Nair Brigade was revised only in the year 1830 A.D. In 1836 all British forces in Travancore were withdrawn, with the exception of one regiment remaining at Kollam, and the Nair Brigade took over the barracks at the Cantonment (Thiruvananthapuram), previously occupied by the British. They remained there until 1935 when the Nair Brigade was renamed State Forces and the headquarters of their station transferred to Pangode's present site.The State Forces were merged with the Indian Army in 1951, and were later part of the Madras Regiment. The temples controlled by them at Pazhavangadi and at Pangode were closely connected with all the officers and jawans who gloriously served the State Forces until 1956.