Tharavad is administed by a Karnavar, the senior most male member of the family, who would be the eldest maternal uncle of the family.  The head of the matrilineal joint families, known as Tharavadu and was called Karnavar. The authority of the Karnavar in a family is unquestionable. Even after the decline of Matrilineal system, the word is used to denote authority, and elderly person.​
  Presently our karanavar is kollanarambathu “MADHAVAN”. The members of the Tharavad consisted of mother, daughters, sons, sisters and brothers. The daughters husbands had only a minimal role to play in the affairs of the Tharavad. It was a true matrilineal affair. The Karanavar took all major decisions, however, the consent of the eldes. The eldest  female member of the family was obtained before implementing the decisions. This eldest female member who took the veedu thalapoli at thira uthsavam. As joint families grew and established independent settlements, the Shakhas (Thavazhi) modified the names in such a way that the main Tharavad names are identifiable, yet the Shakha (or Thavazhi, i.e. Thay Vazhi which means Through Mother) had a distinct name. The honorific plural Karanavar is used for the community point man in the Bhagavathi temples. In old days, Koil Thampuran would nominate him.