Angakkaran

Angakkaran (see Nov5, Thulam 19 Theyyam calendar) in Malayalam means ‘Fighter’. The story related to the battle in Payyur hills in which the hero Angakkaran defeated the Marutola (enemy) named Kelu. After the defeat, the enemy went to hiding thrice. The last time he was found, and was killed by Angakkaran. In theyyam performance, the Marutola is represented by another man with a sword in his hand and a red head dress. In the fight the sword of the Marutola is taken by Angakkaran and he acts, as if, he were stabbing the defeated. The very terms Angakkaran means a person who conducts Angam or duel fight in the traditional manner of Payatu (fight). People worship this deity for success in evil and criminal suits and for the recovery of stolen or lost articles like ornaments. As this theyyam relates to a warrior, the performer has to undergo training in Kalari Payatu, a trditional warfare of Kerala state.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vishnumoorthi Theyyam

Image
Story of Vishnumoorthi Vishnumoorthy Theyyam The most popular part of the  Vaishnava Theyyam  is the depiction of Vishnumoorthi. It is associated with  Nileshwar and  Jeppu Kudupady - Mangalore . It tells the story of Palanthai Kannan, a great devotee of  Lord Vishnu . Palanthai Kannan, a native of  Nileshwar  in his boyhood, tried to pick mangoes from a mango tree owned by Kuruvat Kurup. Without considering his age or the thirst for food, Kuruvat Kurup and his bodyguards beat him and drove away from Nileshwar . After that incident, Palanthai Kannan went to  Jeppu Kudupady - Mangalore  and took shelter in a  Vishnu temple there. When there, he obtained the blessings of  Lord Vishnu  and years later, he returned to his homeland, Nileshwar . On the way, Palanthai Kannan stayed one day in Moolapally in the house of a black smith [now near the railway line] and rested in the Kanakkappalli Anikkil  Tharavadu  ...
Read more

Theechamundi theyyam – ritual fire dance of Malabar

Image
This variety of Theyyam, the ritual dance performance, is presented during the night.  An offering to Lord Vishnu’s incarnation- Narasimhavathra – part lion part man- this ritual dance is an awe inspiring one and it is believed that the performer of this gets possessed by the spirit of the god. Thee Chamundi Theyyam performance is based on the mythological story of Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha and his disciple Prahlada.  Story Hiranyakashipu (the king of Asuras), is a demon in Hindu myths. His younger brother, Hiranyaksha was killed by Vishnu, during his Varaha incarnation. Enraged at this, he decided to kill Vishnu by acquiring magical powers from Brahma by performing a penance for him. At last he succeeded in securing a boon from Brahma that he would not die on earth or in space, or in fire or water, not during the day or night, not inside or outside and not by the hand of a human, god, animal or any other animate or inanimate species.  Hiranyakashipu is the un...
Read more

GULIKAN THEYYAM

Image
Guligan Theyyam  is worshipped as the  Lord Shiva . In every Kaliyattam, the performance of Guligan Theyyam is inevitable. Among the Guligan Kavus, the most famous and most powerful one is situated at  Nileshwar  popularly known as the Benkanakavu [Venganakavu]. This Benganakavu is situated at the nerve centre of Nileshwar . Guligan The 'Kanhiram' tree with the supposed weapons of Guligan and Padinhare Chamundeswari, in the premises of Benkanakavu, is believed to shower blessings on thousands of devotees in and around  Kasaragod district . Devotees from  Tulunadu  to the Valapattanam  river pay their respects to the Kavu for its immense power. The mysterious lamp of the Kanhiram tree that surrounds the tree is brightly lit up on every Tuesday and Friday after 10 pm. The prosperity of the people in the neighbouring places is believed to be on account of the presence of the God Guligan in Benkanakavu. The adjacent Koroth Nair  T...
Read more