THEYYAM- A RITUAL DANCE OF KERALA

Dr. KKN Kurup

Patronage by Brahmins  

When the cult of Theyyam borrowed liberally from Brahmanism or it was super imposed by the Brahmanical legends and myths, the Brahmins with their social and caste superiority, also patronized the Theyyam gods and goddesses.

They even established their own shrines and kavus (groves) for Theyyam deities where non-brahmanical rituals and customs are observed. The goddesses like Rakteshwari, Chamundi, Someshwari, Kurathi, and the gods like Vishnumoorthi are propitiated in these house-hold shrines. There, the scheduled caste Theyyam dancers appear during the annual festivals of gods and goddesses.  The rituals in such shrines are different from those of the Brahmanical temples. Such a cultural fusion or inter-action between the ‘little’ and ‘great’ cultures makes Theyyam an interesting field of research for social scientists. The impact of this cultural fusion could be traced on social organization based on caste system and in the agrarian relations. Once the cult is patronized by the Brahmins, the highest authority of Hindu religion, the intermediary and lower castes also took it as a major religious practice. IN fact the cult has become the religion of the masses.  

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