THEYYAM

THEYYAM- A RITUAL DANCE OF KERALA

Dr. KKN Kurup

Local History

The myths and legends of the Theyyam deities often related to the local heroes and heroines. Some of their songs reflect certain episodes from the local history. Most of them had been attributed divinity by the society.

The medieval heroes like Kathivannur Veeran and Tacholi Othenan were characters from local history. For their heroism, they were deified and worshipped by the masses as the here stones were installed in the Tamil Sangam age in favour of local heroes worshipped. This continuity of tradition makes the cult of Theyyam a living process related to social history.

The goddess Puthiya Bhagavathi like the goddess Makkam were heroines of tragic stories. Makkam was considered to be an immoral woman by here beloved brothers. The jealousy of their wives made her a victim of this suspicion. The brothers dropped her an her children in a deep well.

Later she was elevated as a goddess as she was a chaste woman. This episode from local family history provided a them for a Theyyam goddess. A local chieftain wanted to molest a woman who had lost here several children and she was so melodiously singing. Her protest made the chieftain to punish her for her supposed immorality by throwing her in a leaky country boat floated on a river. Burning fire-wicks were also placed on here head. Later the memory of this chaste woman was kept alive by the society who elevated her to a goddess. Now this new Bhagavathi is a disease-mother and the goddess of small pox. As she was a victim of a licentious and corrupt chieftain, the social consciousness of the society wanted to cherish her memory by elevating it to a goddess. Many other stories like this, could be traced from the myths and legends of several Theyyam gods and goddesses with deep roots in local history. As such the cult of Theyyam is a novel way of recording the local historical developments and events and perpetuating their collective memory through visual forms on particular occasions.

THEYYAM- A RITUAL DANCE OF KERALA

Historical Background

Classification of Sub Cults

Patronage By Brahmins

A Note On Performance

Meaning and Social Content

Dancers and Their Training

Training of the Artist

Caste and Agrarian Relations

Local History

Future of Theyyam