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| Muthappan | |
|---|---|
 Thiruvappan or Valiya MuthapanShiva during the creation of Kaalabhairavan on left and the Vellatom or Cheriya MuthapanKalabhairavam on right | |
| Weapon | Spear‚Sword‚Bow & Arrow |
| Mount | Wild Hound ( Hunting Dogs ) |
Muthappan is a deity commonly worshipped in the Northern Region of Kerala in India. Muthappan is considered as the personification of two gods Thirvappan or Valiya Muthapan (Shiva, during the creation ofKaalabhairavan) and the Vellatom or Cheriya Muthapan (Kaalabhairavan, the fierce form of Shiva, ofBhairava Tantra), worshipped in ancestral form.[1] All the puja rituals and rites for Muthappan are performed by theThiyyar community ofMalabar, as Muthappan is regarded as the Kulapoorvikan (clan ancestor) of theThiyyar community in Malabar.[2][3][4]
A shrine where Muthappan Is worshipped is known as a Madappura. TheParassinikadavu Madappura is the most important temple to the deity.[5]
Practices in Muthappan temples are quite distinct from those in other Hindu temples of Kerala.The rituals are related to Shakteyam wherePanja-ma-kara are offered, sometimes includingmadyam (in this case,Toddy) andmamsam (generally flesh, in this case fish). Muthappan is worshipped in the form of Theyyam and is not represented through a traditional prathishta (consecrated idol). As such, Madappuras, the shrines dedicated to Muthappan, do not contain idol forms or structures such as the kodimaram (temple flagstaff), which are commonly found in conventional Hindu temples.[6]
While most temples in Kerala traditionally restrict entry to non-Hindus, Muthappan temples are known for their inclusivity, allowing entry to devotees regardless of caste or religion. In the Malabar region, festivals held at Muthappan Madappuras often see enthusiastic participation from Muslims, symbolizing a spirit of secularism, communal harmony, and humanism.[7][8]
Muthappan is believed to be the personification of two divine figures: Thiruvappana and Vellatom. The dual divine figures, Thiruvappana and Vellatom, are similar to those of theTheyyamkaliyattem of the northernMalabar region. Though worshipped as a single deity, they represent an integrated or unified form of two gods: Shiva, during the creation of Kaalabhairavan (static) and Kaalabhairavan, the fierce form of Shiva (kinetic).
Sri Muthappan's Theyyams are performed year-round whereas other Theyyams are seasonal (lasting October to May).[9]
The Muthappan cult is believed to have originated in Eruvessy, a village located in the hilly eastern region of Kannur district, in northern Kerala. Eruvessy lies in the remote valley hills of the Kodagu (Coorg) mountains in the Western Ghats. A significant site associated with the origin of the cult is the Paddikutty Devi Temple, where the goddess is revered as the foster mother of Sree Muthappan. This temple is situated near the palaces of Mutedath Aramana and Elayidath Aramana, which belonged to the anjaramanakkal (of 5aramanas or royal house)Mannanar dynasty of Eruvessy, believed to be the last Thiyya dynasty in Kerala. Ruins of this palace are still visible today along the banks of the Eruvessy River.[10][11]The traditional narrative associated with Parassinikkadavu Muthappan, one of the most prominent shrines dedicated to the deity, recounts the divine origin of Muthappan. Ayyankara Vazhunavar, a nobleman, was distressed by the absence of a child. His wife, Padikuttyamma, was a devout follower of LordShiva.[12]
Ayyankara Vazhunavar, was unhappy, as he had no child. His wife, Padikutty Antharjanam, was a devotee of LordShiva.[13][14] She made a sacrifice to Shiva for children. One day in her dream she saw the Lord. The very next day, while she was returning after a bath from a nearby river, she saw a pretty child lying on a rock nearby. She took the child home and she and her husband brought Him up as their own son.
The boy used to visit the jungle near their house for hunting with His bow and arrows. He would then take food to the poor and mingle with local communities. As these acts were against the way of brahmin life, his parents earnestly requested he stop this practice, but the boy turned a deaf ear to their warnings. Ayyankara Vazhunavar became very disappointed.
Ayyankara Vazhunavar decided to take the matters into his hands and admonished him. The boy then revealed his divine form (Visvaroopam, or Viswaroopa, his Cosmic All-Pervading Form) to his parents. They then realized that the boy was not an ordinary child, but a god. They prostrated themselves in front of Him, surrendering themselves to Him. The moment he left his house, everything that Muthappan saw burned and turned into ashes due to his sadness in having to leave. His mother told him that he should not destroy every creation in the world and so Muthappan pierced his eyes so that nothing would be disintegrated by his vision. Thiruvappana is depicted as blind for this reason.
He then started a journey. The natural beauty ofKunnathoor detained Him. He was also attracted by thetoddy of palm trees.
Chandan (an illiteratetoddy tapper) knew that his toddy was being stolen from his palm trees, so he decided to guard them. While he was keeping guard at night, he caught an old man stealing toddy from his palms. He got very angry and tried to shoot the man using his bow and arrows but fell unconscious before he could let loose even one arrow. Chandan's wife came searching for him. She cried brokenheartedly when she found him unconscious at the base of the tree. She saw an old man at the top of the palm tree and called out to Him, saying "Muthappan" (muthappan means 'grandfather' in the localMalayalam language). She earnestly prayed to the God to save her husband. Before long, Chandan regained consciousness. She offered boiled gram (chickpea), slices ofcoconut, burntfish and toddy to the Muthappan. (Even today, in Sree Muthappan temples, the devotees are offered boiled grams and slices of coconut.) She sought a blessing from Him. Muthappan chose Kunnathoor as his residence at the request of Chandan. This is the famousKunnathoor Padi.
After spending some years at Kunnathoor, Sree Muthappan decided to look for a more favorable residence so that he could achieve his objective of hisAvataram. He shot an arrow upward from Kunnathoor. The shaft reachedParassini where the Parassini Temple stands today. The arrow, when it was found, was glowing in theTheertha (sacred water) near the temple. The arrow was placed on the altar. Since then, Lord Sree Muthappan has been believed to reside atParassinikkadavu.[15]
When Thiruvappan-Muthappan traveled through the jungle, he reached Puralimala nearPeravoor. Here he met another muthappan; Thiruvappan called himcherukkan, meaning 'young boy', in Malayalam, and accompanied him. This second Muthappan is calledVellattam (orVellatom). Thus, there is Thiruvappan - Valiya Muttapan (Vishnu) - calledMuthappan; and a second Muthappan, calledVellattam orCheriya Muthappan (Shiva).[citation needed] TheTheyyam for this utilises a round-shaped throne made of hay.[clarification needed]
Sree Muthappan is always accompanied by a dog and large numbers of dogs reside in and around the temple.
There are two carved bronze dogs at the entrance of the temple that are believed to symbolize the bodyguards of the God. When thePrasad is ready, it is first served to a dog that is always ready inside the temple complex.
Local legends enhance the importance of dogs to Sree Muthappan, such as the story that follows:
Tradition requires that the annual Ulsavam festival of the Muthappan Temple atParassinikkadavu start by a procession led by a male member of the Thayyil clan ofThayyil fromThiyya community,Kannur from the family home to the main altar of the temple, where he offers a 'Pooja' (prayer) to the God.[17]
Several Muthappan temples exist inKannur andKasaragod districts in Kerala and Coorg district in Karnataka and several temples have been built by migrated devotees inCoimbatoreBangalore,Mumbai,Ahmedabad,Delhi,Chennai, and also in the Gulf countries[citation needed] due to the popularity of the god among the people ofNorth Malabar, Kerala andCoorg. Each Madappura has its own traditions.
One notable local tradition relating to God Muthappan is about the construction of theNileshwar Muthappan Madappura. An elder member of the Koroth family regularly visited the site that now houses the Muthappan temple and drank madhu (toddy). He was a famous scholar and held the title ofEzhuthachan for his achievements as a teacher. Before drinkingmadhu, he would often pour a few drops on the nearbyjackfruit tree as an offering for Muthappan. Several years after the death of the scholar, the locals experienced serious problems and called upon anastrologer for assistance in finding out the cause. The astrologer concluded that, as a result of the regular practice of givingmadhu to God Muthappan, the God had started residing there. After the death of the scholar, he no longer gotmadhu and, in a fit of pique, began creating disturbances. Thus, the locals erected a Muthappan temple on the site with the Koroth family as the patrons of the temple.
The temple has developed as a famous centre of pilgrimage and hundreds of people visit it daily. There is a strong belief that the God can cure all diseases and will bestow prosperity on his devotees. The devotees getPayakutti from the temple, and it continues to develop as a great centre of pilgrimage like the Sree Muthappan temple at Parassinikadavu.[18]
