Theyyam (തെയ്യം) or Theyyattam or Thira is a popular Hindu ritual form of worship of North Malabar in Kerala state, India, predominant in the Kolathunadu area (consisting of present-day Kasargod, Kannur Districts, Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad and Vadakara & Koyilandy Taluks of Kozhikode) of Kerala state. As a living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions, rituals and customs, it embraces almost all the castes and classes of the Hindu religion in this region. The performers of Theyyam belong to the indigenous tribal community, and have an important position in Theyyam. This is unique, since only in Kerala, do both the upper-caste Brahmins and lower-caste tribals share an important position in a major form of worship. The term Theyyam is a form of Deyvam or God. People of these districts consider Theyyam itself as a God and they seek blessings from this Theyyam. A similar custom is followed in the Tulu Nadu region of neighbouring Karnataka known as Bhuta Kola.
There are more than 400 types of Theyyam, including Vettakkorumakan, Vishnumoorthy, and Sree muthappan Theyyam. The staging area of Theyyam is known as a kaavu. Kazhakam, Muchilottu, Mundiya, Sthaanam, Kottam are other names of this staging area. Theyyam provides a good example of the religious evolution and the subsequent different stages of modern Hinduism in Kerala. Different branches of Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Shaivism dominate the cult of Theyyam. On account of late revival of the Vaishnavism movement in Kerala, it does not have a deep impact on the Theyyam cult. Only a few deities are available under this category namely Vishnumoorthy and Daivathar. The main stream of Theyyam cult also includes practices like spirit worship, ancestor worship, tree worship and animal worship. In several centers, blood offering is also seen, and in such cases separate places outside the precincts of the shrine are selected for blood offering and for the preparation of the traditional ‘Kalam’ or ‘Vatakkan vaathil’.
Theyyam is popularized in ancient times by those communites who did not accept the Brahminical supremacy in temple workship. Despite this, many ruling clans also established their own shrines and kavus for theyyam deities where non sattvic rituals and customs were observed. Goddesses like Chamundi, and Gods like Vishnumoorthy are propitiated in these shrines. The rituals in these shrines are different from those of the Brahminical temples, and theyyam dancers appear during the annual festivals of Gods and Godesses. In some shrines, the Theyyam festival is conducted in intervals of twelve or more years. These kinds of festivals are known as Perumkaliyaattam.
The Kaliyaattam festival in the kottam included a Vellaattam (where two theyyams Vettakkorumakan and Oorppazhassi perform the rituals) followed by a Thira (again by same deities). The festival also had other Theyyam performances including Ilam kolam and Thaaypara devatha. The festival is then concluded by a Shudhi kalasam and the temple goes back to its daily worship rituals and the villagers waiting for the Kaliyattam the next year.
The deity in the temple is Vettakkorumakan. Lord Vettakkorumakan or Vettekkaran is a popular deity worshipped in North Kerala. Some devotees believe that the deity is Kirathamoorthy or Lord Shiva in the form of a hunter. Others consider Him as the son of Lord Kiratha (Shiva in tribal hunter form) and Goddess Kirathi (Parvathi in tribal huntress form). There is another view that Lord Vettakkorumakan is a form of Lord Ayyappa. The legend of Vettakkorumakan is connected with the Kiratharjuneeyam story in Mahabharatha.
During the fifth year of their exile, Arjuna went to the Himalayas to do tapas to obtain the Pashupata Astra, the divine weapon from Lord Shiva. Arjuna did penance for years. Lord Siva was deeply impressed by the austerity of Arjuna and decided to test his courage and devotion. Shiva appeared before Arjuna, assuming the form of Kiratha (hunter), with Parvathi also beside him, dressed as Kirathi (huntress). He causes an asura to disturb Arjuna’s penance in the shape of a large wild boar. Incensed at the boar, Arjuna chases it, and shoots an arrow at it to kill. At the same instant, another arrow from the bow of Kiratha also hits the boar. The hunter and Arjuna, from the pride of warriors, argue about whose arrow killed the boar. This leads to an intense duel between the two. Whatever weapon Arjuna cast was countered back by the hunter. Arjuna, who feels ashamed at this defeat, turns to the Shivalinga, that he has been worshipping during his penance, and offers it some flowers in prayer. Only to find that the flowers have magically appeared on the body of the hunter instead. Arjuna realizes the hunter’s identity, and falls at hunter’s feet. Immediately the hunter and the huntress vanished and they appeared in their true forms of Shiva and Parvathi. Shiva gave him the Pashupata Astra.
After giving Arjuna the Pashupata the divine couple wandered in the forest in the same form for some time. During this period they had a son born of extraordinary effulgence and that is Vettakkorumakan.
The boy was very mischievous. Although he killed many Asuras during hunting, he also gave endless trouble to the Devas and Rishis by the free use of his bow and arrows. Unable to bear his mischief they first approached Brahma who expressed his helplessness, as the boy was the son of Lord Shiva. Then they sought the help of Shiva Himself who however dismissed them by saying that he being a boy would be naturally naughty and he would be all right when he grew up. As a last resort they approached Lord Vishnu who took the form of an old hunter and went to the boy. Vishnu appeared before the boy with a golden churika. The churika was so beautiful that it attracted the boy and he begged for it. Lord Vishnu said him that he will give the churika under one condition. He should behave in a responsible manner by giving up his bow and should protect the people instead of harming them. The boy accepted the conditions and obtained the Churika from Lord Vishnu. Later Shiva send him to Kerala to protect the land. Vettakkrumakan crossed several mountains and forests and rivers and reached North Kerala where he first reached at Balussery and later visited other places.
Vettakkorumakan was the Paradevatha of Chirakkal, Neeleswaram and Kottakal royal families. The most famous Vettakkorumakan temple is the Balussery Vettakkorumakan temple. And throughout Malabar, there are many Vettakkorumakan kottams, including one that is our family temple.
It is believed that Vettakkorumakan and Oorppazhassi are close friends (Changathimar), and both visit the temple during the Kaliyattam period, and wish the villagers and the believers good health and luck and ensures their well being throughout the year. It is indeed a blessing that these customs and rituals are still followed in many parts of our lands even in today’s maddening world, and I do hope that such practices and rituals with good intentions continue forever…
-ajithnambiar.wordpres.com (with amendments)
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