An inevitable constituent in a majority of the Kaliyattams is the performance of the Vishnumoorthi Theyyam. And its performance includes complicated rites and rituals. The peculiar drum-beats can be heard upto a distance of 2 km from where the performance of the Vishnumoorthi Theyyam takes place. The enactment involving the Narasimha Avatara of Lord Vishnu by the Koladhari especially thrills the devotees and the spectators as a result of the body movements involved in it. Historian Nandakumar Koroth in his work Vishnumoorthi, More than a Myth describes the origin, features, rites, centers of worship etc, of the Vishnumoorthi Theyyam.
Myth of Vishnumoorthi
The most popular part of the Vaishnava Theyyam is the depiction of Vishnumoorthi. It is associated with Nileshwar and 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 Nair. Without considering his age or the thirst for food, Kuruvat Nair and his bodyguards beat him and drove away from Nileshwar. After that incident, Palanthai Kannan went to 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 took rest in the Kanakkappalli Anikkil Tharavadu [situated near the Nileshwar bus stand, on the Koroth - N.H Road, and once up on a time famous as a center of martial arts and education]. Then he proceeded to Kundon Kadavu and leaving his Olakkuda[umbrella] and Churika[shield], went to Kadalikulam [a pond near Nileshwar Market junction] for taking bath. Within a short time the news of the arrival of Palanthai Kannan spread in the all across Nileshwar. Hearing the news, Kuruvat Nair and his men came to the Kadalikulam and killed Palanthai Kannan. The God Vishnu who accompanied his ardent devotee Palanthai Kannan was provoked and destroyed the Kuruvat tharavad. That time onwards, he became known as the Vishnumoorthi and began to reside in Vaikundeswara Temple, Kottappuram, Nileshwar.
More than a Myth
In Ottakolams, [meaning only one Theyyam] Vishnumoorthi Theyyam enters into the pyre and returns amongst the midst of the devotees [known as Agnipravesam]. It is repeated several times and its is believed that performing this act 100 times helped the Koladhari to became a Panikker. In April 2008, Ottakkolam was performed in a grand manner in Velu Vayal Ottakkuthiru, Nileshwar with the presence of thousands of devotees after a gap of 47 years. It is associated with Veethuveppu [a rite related to agriculture]. Four people take kayar [rope] from Vishnumoorthi and become Kayattukar. Their duty is to protect agricultural land from cattle. With the kayar [rope] and vadi [rod] they roam the area from Karyamkode to Thalachai and catch them with the kayar or drive them away using the vadi
Vishnumoorthi and Idus
Edus are semi-circular built mud platforms. An example of an Edu is in the East of N.H 17 near the Kovval bus stop in Cheruvathur. It is associated with ambeythu [archery]. It served as the target for shooting arrows and this place was a training ground or competition ground for men skilled in archery. Edus are seen in Nileshwar Eduvinkal, Elambachi near Payyannur, Kalanad near Kasargod, at Mannanpurath Kavu, Nileshwar, etc. Vishnumoorthi Theyyam [Ottakkolams] are performed in most of the Edus.
Vishnumoorthi temples
Visnumoorthi is very important Theyyam in most of the Kaliyattams. Kottappuram Sree Vaikundeswara Temple is the most famous among all Vishnumoorthi temples. This temple is considered as the seat of Vishnumoorthi. Every year, in the Malayalam month of Medam, 12 Vishnumoorthi Theyyams are performed in the Kottappuram Sree Vaikunda Temple in the presence of thousands of devotees. Vishnumoorthi Theyyam has become an inevitable Theyyam in most of the Kaliyattams. Another important Vishnumoorthi temple is in Cheemeni near Cheruvathur. Here the temple was installed by the famous Koroth Namboothiri [priests associated with the famous Koroth Naga Bhagavathy Temple and now residing in Chovva, Kannur]. People from several parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu attend the festival [Kaliyattam] of this temple regularly held in the Malayalam month of Medam. In the Koroth Tharavadu, the Vishnumoorthi Theyyam has been traditionally performed by the famous Kothorman. [ for more details contact nandakumarkoroth@gmail.com
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