Theyyam is a Hindu ritual that is practised commonly in northern Kerala and parts of Karnataka. This ritual is also known as Kaliyattam or Thira. The ritual consists of certain traditions and customs that are associated with specific temples and sacred groves of the Malabar region.
To the inhabitants of northern Kerala, Theyyam is considered a channel of communication that connects the people directly to the gods from whom they seek blessings. Theyyam in Kerala is celebrated by the Northern Malabar region, which consists of
Theyyam starts in Thulam. Thulam is a month on the Malayalam calendar that usually falls during October. Theyyam starts on the tenth day of Thulam and can last up to seven months till the middle of Edavam—which typically falls between late May and early June. The final Kaliyattam of the Theyyam season is usually performed at Madai Kavu and Kalarivathukkal Bhagavathy Temple, both of which are Kolathiri royal family shrines.
The Keralolpathi goes into detail about the inception and early history of Kerala. Lord Vishnu’s sixth incarnation, known as Parasurama, was the entity that recovered a large landmass from the depths of the ocean. This landmass became known as Kerala. Once Kerala was created, Parasurama sanctioned a variety of dance forms like Puravela, Kaliyattam, Daivattom, and Theyyattam for the devotees of the North Malabar region.
It is believed that Theyyam evolved from earlier forms of Kaliyattam. Parasurama blessed the indigenous tribes like Malayar, Pana, Velan and Vannan tribes with the responsibility of carrying out the Theyyam dance. This ensured that these marginalised tribes were seen and heard at religious gatherings due to their significance to this ancient ritual.
The Nambiars and Thiyyas (Ezhava) were charged with the patronage of Theyyam. At one point in time, every Tharavadu had their own Theyyam festivals during auspicious moments during the year. Offering patronage for the dances was the only action permitted by Parasurama’s decree on members of the higher caste—Nairs were prohibited from performing the Theyyam dance.
Nairs were still required to participate in the ritual as spectators, honouring the deities as they took form within the tribal artists who performed the dances and rituals. In a way, the Theyyam dance offered solace to people from all walks of life as an equaliser that transcended the limitations imposed by caste and creed.
In total, there are around 456 different forms of Theyyam. Each type has its own variations and themes. Depending on story and tradition, both men and women can take up forms of Theyyam; many Theyyam forms celebrate Shiva, but others also include deities like Vishnu, Yama, the Goddess Shakti, and more.
The Key forms of Theyyam that have the greatest significance are:
Theyyam dances seldom take place on a stage. That is not the purpose of the art form. The intent of the ritual is to pay respects to specific deities while passing down their stories to the next generation. It is oral storytelling steeped in ancient traditions that precedes much of known Indian history.
Usually, Theyyam dances take place around the village shrine. Devotees of all castes and creeds gather around the artists and serve as spectators to rituals that can last anywhere between 12 to 24 hours.
As trained drummers find their rhythm in traditional drums, the Theyyam dancer will recite a unique ritual song. The song is crafted to eloquently talk about the myths and legends of the deity that is enshrined in the village. As the ritual goes on, other folk instruments will join in to complement ritual harmony.
Due to the long duration of the Theyyam ritual, short intervals are placed between various acts of the story. After a short interval, the Theyyam dancer will appear, covered in traditional Theyyam makeup that consists of specialised patterns like kozhipushpam, vairadelam, kattaram, kotumpurikam and prakkezhuthu.
The dancer will approach the shrine in their new makeup. Ritual music begins to play, and the positive energy offered by the performers passes through the Theyyam dancer. The artist will then slowly transform into the village deity. This will prompt them into highly energetic and ritualistic dance. The dancer will make his way around the shrine multiple times, acting as the avatar of the shrine deity.
Theyyam is meant to connote a human vessel for ‘Deivam,’ meaning God. It is believed that during the performance of the ritual, God enters the body of the performer. That is why, during Theyyam, the performers are considered visible manifestations of the deity and their blessings. The Theyyam dance begins as soon as God enters the performer. The performance continues until the performer comes out of their trance.
Theyyam starts with an invocation known as thottam. As per tradition, it is believed that after thottam has been invoked, the performer will gradually transition into the respective shrine deity and dance with vigour to the beat of folk instruments like perumbara, kuzhal, chenda, ilathalam, veekni and chermangalam.
The art form of Theyyam is an illustrious part of the Keralian legacy. A major aspect of Theyyam artistry is the elaborate folk painting done on the face and body of the performer. Typically, the colour of the face paint is orange with red accents to make it stand out at night. Let’s take a closer look at the aspects of Theyyam's artistry:
Ritualistic invocation: Before the performance can start, another ritual needs to take place. Handled with extreme care and artistry, the performer undergoes a purification ceremony that seeks to bestow blessings upon the performer. This ceremony is also crucial to putting the performer in the right state of mind to channel the gods.
Characters: Palanthai Kannan, Kuruvat Kurup, Lord Vishnu
The story of Vishnumoorthi Theyyam is closely associated with the town of Nileshwar. The story follows a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, named Palanthai Kannan. As a boy, he grew up in Nileshwar. One day, he picked mangoes from a tree belonging to Kuruvat Kurup, a member of a higher caste.
As punishment for his acts, Kuruvat Kurup had Palanthai Kannan harshly beaten by his guards. This prompted Palanthai Kannan to leave his hometown. He fled his village and sought refuge in a Vishnu temple in Mangalore, where he resided for 12 long years.
Eventually, Lord Vishnu urged Palanthai Kannan to head back in search of his hometown of Nileshwar. The devotee made his way back home. Once he reached Nileshwar, Palanthai Kannan bathed in a pond reserved for the upper caste. Kuruvat Kurup and his followers were enraged when they heard the news. They assaulted Palanthai Kanna, and the attack led to his untimely death.
Enraged by Kuruvat Kurup’s actions, Lord Vishnu brought down disasters in the area surrounding the Kuruvat Tharavad. Kuruvat Kurup was frightened and consulted an astrologer for answers. The astrologer recognised the presence of Lord Vishnu and instructed Kurup and his family members to build a shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu. From that moment on, he became known as Vishnumoorthi, and the deity is said to reside at Vaikundeswara Temple in Nileshwar.
Theyyam takes place in many temples across Northern Kerala. This string of temples, known as the ‘Theyyam Belt.’ stretches from Kasargod to Vadagara. Theyyams do not have a fixed location. They move from place to place. According to local beliefs, the smaller shrines follow traditions much closer than those under Brahmanical patronage.
Theyyams are also a mainstay in many traditional Kerala homes. They can take place during auspicious occasions on any open stage. For tourists looking to maximise their Theyyam experience, here are a few key locations where you can immerse yourself in the art form.
Plenty of auspicious Theyyam rituals take place at this location. The theyyams performed here include Wayanattu Kulavan (Thondayyan), Vishnumoorthi Theyyam, Vallar Kulangara Bhagavathy, and Sree Bhootham. Theyyam rituals take place at this temple around early December.
This temple is located in a sacred grove that has its own unique customs and rituals. This holy place is maintained in a conventional style. The theyyams performed here include Kannikkorumakan, Kuttisasthan, Bhairavan, Raktha Chamundi, Angakulangara Bhagavathy, Madayil Chamundi, and Vishnumoorthy. Theyyams take place here in early December as well.
This holy ground is the home of Guliyanka Bhagavathy, who is a prominent deity of this family. The theyyams performed here include Guliyanka Bhagavathy, Vishnumoorthy, Chamundi, Bali, Kundoor, and Kurathi.
Theyyam dances are a matter of pride for the people of Kerala. With a rich legacy and countless influential stories, the practice of Theyyam has had a profound impact on Kerala culture and tradition.
At MemoryTrain, we commemorate age-old Keralian traditions. In order to spread awareness and protect the stories of the state, we offer various handcrafted memorabilia that are great conversation starters. Our Kerala collection offers tokens of deep connection to the state in the forms of mugs, ornate chess boards, figurines, sculptures, and more.
If you have a story to tell about your time in Kerala, you can find the right vessel for those stories in our online gift shop.
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