VETTEKKARAN PATTU
Hindus worship, irrespective of castes, the Deity Vettakkoru makan (short form – 'Vettekkaran'), since ancient days. The mythological story behind this Deity is related to Lord Shiva. In Mahabharatha, Arjuna, the mid- Pandava, wanted to get the most valuable weapon (arrow), 'Pasupathastram', from Lord Shiva. He started doing thapas (meditation concentrating on Shiva) for this purpose, until Shiva appeard in person before him. Finally,Shiva decided to appear. But Shiva wanted to test Arjuna's sincerity and worthiness to possess such a powerful weapon. So, Shiva and Parvathy appear in front of Arjuna, attired as forest dwelling hunters. After testing Arjuna to their satisfaction the weapon was presented with certain conditions. The story has it that a son was born to Lord Shiva and Parvathy while they were in this forest people's attire. This son is called Vettakkoru makan (A son for hunting).
Another version is that Lord Shiva himself (in the hunter attire) is Vettekkaran. That form is referred as 'Kirathan' (Kiratha Moorthy).
The rituals of the offerings to Vettekkaran is generally conducted by a particular community belonging to Hindus in Kerala, called Kurupu community. They have a collection of old songs in Malayalam, depicting the history of Vettekkaran, which are sung during the rituals. In these songs, Vettekkaran is a great warrior lived in the forest area called 'Nambumala kotta' near Gudallur (presently in the border of Kerala and Karnataka States). Being in the middle of forest, the dwellers there were afraid of wild animals and robbers. Vettekkaran organized the tribal people and formed a group of soldiers to fight these enemies. This volunteer soldiers were known as 'Elagirivilli chekavar'. They, under the leadership of Vettekkaran hunted and killed animals throughout the forest area covering places like Wynad, Kurumbanad, etc. He met the Kings and other chief personalities of the area, and held discussions. He chose Balussery as his head quarters and operated from there, providing protection to the people. The old songs further describes that Vettekkaran travelled up to Thrikkalangode, near Manjeri, took bath in a pond called 'Kuttankulam' before worshiping the Goddess of Valliyankavu and hunted animals in the neighbouring forests.
Vettekkaran, who is simultaneously considered as a hero of historical importance and as a personality of divine halo, is installed and worshiped both at Balussery and Thrikkalangode. Several people, around the State of Kerala, worship Vettekkaran as their family Deity. Major offering to this Diety is the 'Kalam Pattu' (Members of Kurupu community draw a large sketch of Vettekkaran using five colours made out of natural materials and conduct rituals singing the history of Vettekkaran). The Kalam Pattu is accompanied by breaking of coconuts. In special occasions breaking twelve thousand coconuts are offered as part of this 'Pattu'.
On a slightly elevated stage (or in a leveled platform), a rectangular area will be marked with pillars of about six feet height, fixed at the four corners. These pillars will be joined each other with long wooden rods on all the four sides, such that a rectangular shape is formed above the plat form. Length-wise three pieces of long clothes will be spread above this as roofing, the central piece will be black in colour where as the other two will be white ones. The laying of the central piece is done ceremoniously after a small 'pooja' (worshiping the God) and asking the permission of the person offering this Vettekkaran Pattu. This is done in the morning, on the day the function is held. Before noon another small pooja (called uccha pooja) will be there for the Deity. These poojas will be held by a priest while the members of the Kurupu community render songs praising the Deity. (The song will be supported by a background music using 'Nanduni', a local string instrument generally used only for these type of rituals). Occasional drum beating also will be there, in between devotional song rendering.
Afternoon, the decoration and drawing the colourful sketch of Vettekkaran (called 'Kalam varakkal' or 'kalamital'), inside the rectangle, begin (see photo). Five different coloured powder are used for making the diagram. The colours used are black, white, yellow, green and red. Rice powder is taken as white, burned rice husk for black, turmeric powder for yellow, powdered green leaf for green and the mixture of turmeric and calcium chloride for red. The diagram drawn will be very beautiful and consist of all features of a true hunter. Tender coconut leaves will hung around the rectangular structure, supplemented with flower garlands.
At the topside (near the head of the diagram), on a stool, an idol of the Deity garlanded with flowers will be placed (see photo). A small sword also is kept together with this. The worshiping by the priest start by the sun set, after the opening 'Keli' (a combined rhythmic presentation using different types of drums, cymbals, a type of flute, a blowing horn, etc.).
At the beginning a worship is done outside the house, a little away from the site, which is called 'Mullakkal Pattu'. After that the sword is handed over to the 'Oracle' (velicchappatu'), the symbolic representative of the Deity, by the priest. Then with detailed 'Melam' (a systematic and rhythmic rendering of all drums and other instruments), the Deity and the Oracle are taken to the site where the diagram is drawn and arranged for poojas (worshiping).
The priest sits at the bottom (near the feet of the Deity – see photo) for conducting the ritual worshiping. This worship takes a long time, with supporting devotional songs by the Kurups and occasional drum beating. Once the priest's worship is over the oracle appears and do a sort of dancing around the diagram. This dance form is called 'Eedum koorum chavittal'. In this dance the oracle takes different steps according to the drum beating and the devotional songs. Again, the priest does certain worshiping.
After this the devotional songs by the Kurups continue, with one among them doing a special worshiping, called 'Kalam Poli'. After this the Oracle appear again and starts dancing according to the devotional songs. Drum beating also will be there in between the songs. This time the Oracle enters into the diagram for dancing. Further, he sits on a stool and moves the stool, pushing with legs, in side the diagram of the Deity (called the 'peetom nirakkal'- see photo). Because of this, naturally, the diagram gets destroyed almost. After this the Oracle comes out and start breaking the coconut (see photo).
Generally thousand or more coconuts will be there, as offering, for throwing. But in a special cases the offerings will be twelve thousand coconuts. The Oracle has to throw and break all these nuts sitting in the same position and without break. This may last for three hours (depending on the experience and health of the person, the time may be less or more). Rhythmic drum beating, with cymbals accompanied, will be there as background music. The oracle generally sits on some coconuts taken from the windrow of twelve thousand nuts kept behind him. The story behind this coconut breaking is that the deity's thirst after hunting is remedied by giving coconut water. Another version is that it is for removing the anger of the deity.
After the breaking of coconuts the Oracle comes back to the place of worship and perform a little more dancing, and distributes small bundles of betels to the person who has offered this Vettekkaran pattu, and also to others. After dance, oracle sits on the stool, while the Kurups start singing devotional songs. After finishing this the oracle completely removes the diagram using the tender coconut leaves available there. The powder mix collected from the floor will be offered to all present as 'prasadam' (remnants of offerings to the deity). This powder is pasted by the devotees on their forehead. Some use this as a medicine for certain diseases.
This type of Vettekkaran pattu is being held in selected temples as well as in houses, with Vettekkaran as their family deity, mainly in Malappuram, Kozhikkode, Palakkad and Thrissur districts (In southern districts of Kerala also occasional offerings of this type are reported).
To make the function more colourful and attractive, additional items such as Thayampaka (a special rhythmic drum beating accompanied with cymbals), Pancha vadyam (another combination of five different percussion and blowing instruments), etc. Earlier members of a particular family called 'Karor Panikkar' were having the rights to become the Oracle in Vettekkaran Pattu. Later when this family became extinct certain Nambudiri (Kerala Brahmins) families took up this role. Now, a couple of Nambudiri families are attending to this rituals.
courtesy of indiastudychannel
OUR LORD VETTAKORUMAKAN'S BIRTHDAY IS ON JANUARY 15. Expecting all of you at our Temple at Aroli, Kannur on that day.
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