Theyyam

Theyyam is a worship form and a belief system in North Malabar. It is a unique combination of rtetuals,dance and geethams and chitra kala.Martial art also play an important role in the performance of theyyam.Mother worship is its root base.It includes all types of hero worship ,Nagaradhana, worship of martyrs and elders .Irrespective   of all these Theyyam historically carry an ingredient of protest against feudal land lords who were oppressing the backward toiling class.It up holds equality and social justice.It always opposed cast discrimination.These are the unique quality which gave theyyam a universal acceptability.
Theyyam is originated from bootharadhana which was prevalent in thulu nadu. The area under kasargode taluk and some adjacent northern district comprised thulunad.Our area was known as Kolathu nadu  ruled by Kolathiries from 13th centuries onwards and by Moozhika kings from second century onwards to twelfth century.
In fourteenth century Udaya verman kolathiri and Manakkadan gurukkal lived adjacent to present Karivallur jointly renovated theyyam and formulated "onnukuravu nalpathu theyyams. Even though there are more than four hundred theyyams now, the thirty nine theyyams formulated by koolatheries and Manakkadan gurukkal are considered as basic theyyams.
As we know Kathivannur veran, Chathamballi vizhakandan,Vettakkoru makan and Madiyan kshathra palan and Madayi kari gurukkal  are war heros. Pottan theyyam and kurathi amma represent down trodden caste and they are warriors who fought for social justice.Pottan theyyam ask to Sankarachariya "Nangalae kothiyalum chorayallai chovvarai. Neengalai kothiyalum chorayellai chovvarai. Pennaanthinu chovvarai vasam periunnu.?This is a universal question even relevant today where caste is trying to re emerge.
Some bagavathis are unique symbol of crusaders. Muchilottu bhagavathi, Thottum kara bhagavathi and Neeliyar bhagavathi include in that category.
Theyyam ,thottam, vellattam and komaram or velichappadu co exist.Velichapadu or komaram is the thiruvayudhakkaran . Through him also the bhavathi communicate with people. Thottam is the first form in theyyam which narrate the history of the the theyyam he may perform in detail.In some case like in marakalithilamma it takes three to four days to complete thottam. Usually the performance is for one hour or less. Eleam kolam and vellattam represent the  theyyam as a youngster where as the moothapothi or thiruvappana in its fully grown matured stage.
The pertinent question is whether theyyam will survaye during this ultra scientific period. My answer is yes. Theyyam is a thread to our past and a driving force of the present and a hope for unification of man kind irrespective of caste and religion. So long as it carries a universal message it will exist till we achieve such a social order. 

 - keecheri Raghavan