Muthappan

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 of Kaalabhairavan) and the Vellatom or Cheriya Muthapan (Kaalabhairavan, the fierce form of Shiva, of Bhairava Tantra), worshipped in ancestral form.^[1] All the puja rituals and rites for Muthappan are performed by the Thiyyar community of Malabar, as Muthappan is regarded as the Kulapoorvikan (clan ancestor) of the Thiyyar community in Malabar.^{[2] [3][4]}

Muthappan
Thiruvappan or Valiya Muthapan Shiva during the creation of Kaalabhairavan on left and the Vellatom or Cheriya Muthapan Kalabhairavam on right
Weapon	Spear‚ Sword‚ Bow & Arrow
Mount	Wild Hound ( Hunting Dogs )

A shrine where Muthappan Is worshipped is known as a Madappura. The Parassinikadavu 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 where Panja-ma-kara are offered, sometimes including madyam (in this case,Toddy) and mamsam (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]

Myths and legends

Lord Śiva in the form of Bhairava accompanied by a dog.

Thiruvappana performing

Vellaattom performing

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 the Theyyamkaliyattem of the northern Malabar region. Though worshiped as a single deity, it is seen as representing 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]

Muthappan stories

Parassinikkadavu Muthappan

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 5 aramanas 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] 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 Lord Shiva.

Ayyankara Vazhunavar, was unhappy, as he had no child. His wife, Padikutty Antharjanam, was a devotee of Lord Shiva.^[11][12] 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 of Kunnathoor detained Him. He was also attracted by the toddy of palm trees.

Chandan (an illiterate toddy 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 local Malayalam language). She earnestly prayed to the God to save her husband. Before long, Chandan regained consciousness. She offered boiled gram (chickpea), slices of coconut, burnt fish 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 famous Kunnathoor 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 his Avataram. He shot an arrow upward from Kunnathoor. The shaft reached Parassini where the Parassini Temple stands today. The arrow, when it was found, was glowing in the Theertha (sacred water) near the temple. The arrow was placed on the altar. Since then, Lord Sree Muthappan has been believed to reside at Parassinikkadavu.^[13]

When Thiruvappan-Muthappan traveled through the jungle, he reached Puralimala near Peravoor. Here he met another muthappan; Thiruvappan called him cherukkan, meaning 'young boy', in Malayalam, and accompanied him. This second Muthappan is called Vellattam (or Vellatom). Thus, there is Thiruvappan - Valiya Muttapan (Vishnu) - called Muthappan; and a second Muthappan, called Vellattam or Cheriya Muthappan (Shiva).^{[citation needed]} The Theyyam for this utilises a round-shaped throne made of hay.^{[clarification needed]}

Sree Muthappan and dogs

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 the Prasad 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:

A few years ago, temple authorities decided to reduce the number of dogs inside the temple; so they took some dogs and puppies away. From that very day, the performer of the Sree Muthappan Theyyam was unable to perform; it is said that the spirit of Sree Muthappan enters the performer's body for the duration of the ceremony. But he probably refused to enter the Theyyam performer's body because the dogs had been removed. Realizing their mistake, the dogs were brought back to the temple by the temple authorities. From that day onwards, Theyyam performances returned to normal.^[14]

Festival procession

Tradition requires that the annual Ulsavam festival of the Muthappan Temple at Parassinikkadavu start by a procession led by a male member of the Thayyil clan of Thayyil from Thiyya community, Kannur from the family home to the main altar of the temple, where he offers a 'Pooja' (prayer) to the God.^[15]

Local traditions in Kannur and Kasaragod

Sree Muthappan Kalasam dance

Several Muthappan temples exist in Kannur and Kasaragod districts in Kerala and Coorg district in Karnataka and several temples have been built by migrated devotees in Coimbatore Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, and also in the Gulf countries^{[citation needed]} due to the popularity of the god among the people of North Malabar, Kerala and Coorg. Each Madappura has its own traditions.

One notable local tradition relating to God Muthappan is about the construction of the Nileshwar 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 of Ezhuthachan for his achievements as a teacher. Before drinking madhu, he would often pour a few drops on the nearby jackfruit tree as an offering for Muthappan. Several years after the death of the scholar, the locals experienced serious problems and called upon an astrologer for assistance in finding out the cause. The astrologer concluded that, as a result of the regular practice of giving madhu to God Muthappan, the God had started residing there. After the death of the scholar, he no longer got madhu 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 get Payakutti from the temple, and it continues to develop as a great centre of pilgrimage like the Sree Muthappan temple at Parassinikadavu.^[16]

See also

• Parassinikkadavu
• Muthappan temple
• Kunnathoor Padi
• Rajarajeshwara Temple
• Sree Muthappan Temple Nileshwar
• Altharakkal Sree Muthappan Madapura