Mudiyett

Last updated

Mudiyettu
Mudiyettu at Kezhoor kavu 02-02-2013 2-04-33.JPG
Mudiyettu at Keezhoor shrine in 2013
MediumRitual theatre and folk dance
Originating culture Kerala
Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
Country India
DomainsPerforming arts
Reference 00345
Region Asia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2010 (5th session)
List Representative
Mudiyettu muttiyeerrrr.jpg
Mudiyettu
kooli - a character who helps Kali appear as a comedian Kooli Mudiyett kuulli muttiyeerrrr.jpg
kooli - a character who helps Kali appear as a comedian

Mudiyettu is a traditional ritual theatre and folk dance drama from Kerala that enacts the mythological tale of a battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika. The ritual is a part of the bhagavathi or bhadrakali cult. The dance is performed in bhadrakali temples, the temples of the Mother Goddess, between February and May after the harvesting season.

Contents

In 2010 Mudiyettu was inscribed in the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, becoming the second art form from Kerala after Koodiyattam. [1]

The Kali - Darika myth

Darika was a demon who received a boon from Brahma which granted that he would never be defeated by any man living in any of the fourteen worlds of Hindu mythology. This made Darika immensely powerful and arrogant. Armed with this boon, Darika went on to conquer the world defeating even Indra, the king of the gods. As his atrocities became intolerable, the sage Narada requested Shiva to contain Darika. Shiva agreed, circumventing Brahma's boon by declaring that Darika would be killed by the goddess Kali, she being a woman and one not to be counted among men from fourteen worlds.

Features of Mudiyett

Mudiyett is a village ritual performed by members of the Marar and Kuruppu communities in Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki districts of Kerala. However, the entire community contributes to and participates in it. Mudiyettu is performed annually in ‘Bhagavati Kavus’, the temples of the goddess, in different villages along the rivers Chalakkudy Puzha, Periyar and Moovattupuzha [2]

There is no rehearsal or preparation involved in playing Kali. The performance is a natural progression from Lord Shiva, Narada, demons Danavan and Darikan to Kali. A complete Mudiyettu performance requires a total of 16 persons— including percussionists, Kalamezhuthu artists, vocalists. [3] There are also evident regional differences in the attire and performance styles of Mudiyettu. Thus, in the Koratty style, Kali exhibits a bare torso, covered only by a breast-shaped plank while in the Kunnayckal,Keezhillam and the Pazhoor styles, she wears a full upper body dress. Similarly, in the Koratty style, Darika's mudi resembles the Kathakali crown and his face paint the Kathi Veshas of Kathakali. This points to how the two forms have become interlinked even though Mudiyettu predates Kathakali, with epigraphists tracing its evolution as an art to even the 9th or 10th century AD. [4]

The role of the community

Mudiyettu is a communal undertaking in which each caste of the village plays a specific role. The bamboo artefacts and leather hides for drums are provided by the Parayan caste while the Thandan caste brings the areca nut fronds that are required for the masks and headgears. The Ganakan community paints the masks while the Kuruvan community keeps the country torches burning. It is the Veluthedan (Patiyan) caste that washes the clothes used for making the deity’'s dress while the Maran caste readies the torches and keeps them supplied with oil.[ citation needed ]

Thus each caste in the village contributes to the festival according to its traditional caste role. Mutual cooperation and collective participation of each caste in the ritual instills and strengthens common identity and mutual bonding in the community. [5]

Transmitting and conserving Mudiyett

Being a community based art form it is the community that has traditionally encouraged and trained the next generation to preserve the art form. There is no school or institution to give training in this art form and its survival depends almost exclusively on direct transmission through the Guru-Shishya Parampara. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohini</span> Hindu goddess of enchantment, the only female avatar of Vishnu

Mohini is the Hindu goddess of enchantment. She is the only female avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. She is portrayed as a femme fatale, an enchantress, who maddens lovers and demons, sometimes leading them to their doom. Mohini is introduced into Hinduism in the narrative epic of the Mahabharata. Here, she appears as a form of Vishnu following the Churning of the Ocean, a mesmerising beauty who distributes the amrita to the weakened devas (gods) and depriving it to the dominant asuras (demons), allowing the former to defeat the latter with their newfound immortality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhadrakali</span> Hindu deity

Bhadrakali is a Hindu goddess. She is considered to be the auspicious and fortunate form of Adi Shakti who protects the good, known as bhadra.

Kollur Mookambika Temple is located at Kollur in Byndoor Taluk of Udupi District in the region of Tulunadu and in the state of Karnataka, India. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess known as Mookambika Devi. Mookambika is the union of Adipara Shakthi and Parabramha as the Linga has integrated on its left side "Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswathi". It is situated in the foothills of Kodachadri hills, on the southern bank of Souparnika River. Being situated in the land between Gokarna and Kanyakumari, believed to be created by sage Parashurama. The main deity of the temple is a swayambhu (self-born) jyotirlinga with a golden line cutting it into half, in which the left half represents Tridevis, and the right half represents Trimurtis. Along with this, a four-handed panchaloha idol of Goddess Mookambika is also installed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devi Kanya Kumari</span> Hindu goddess

Devi Kanya Kumari is a manifestation of the Hindu goddess Mahadevi in the form of an adolescent girl. She is variously described by various traditions of Hinduism to either be a form of Parvati or Lakshmi. She is also worshipped as an incarnation of the goddess Bhadrakali by Shaktas, and is known by several names such as Shrī Bāla Bhadra, Shrī Bāla, Kanya Devi, and Devi Kumari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garudan Thookkam</span>

Garudan Thookkam is a ritual art form performed in certain Kali temples in some Central Kerala districts in south India. The people who dress up as Garuda perform the dance. After the dance performance, the hang-designate dangle from a shaft hooking the skin on his back. In some places, the ritual is performed colorfully with Garudas taken in a procession on bullock carts or boats or hand pulled carts. It will be available in Devi temple during the festival of Meena bharani and Pathamudayam in Thiruvanchoor in Kottayam district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thirumandhamkunnu Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Thirumandhamkunnu Temple is a historically significant Hindu temple in Angadipuram, which was the capital of Valluvanad Rajavamsham, in Malappuram district, Kerala state, South India. The temple deity, Thirumandhamkunnil amma, was the paradevatha of the kings of Valluvanad, the local feudal kings ruled the area in the Middle Ages. The Nair warriors of Valluvanad king set out from this temple to Thirunavaya, to participate in the famous Mamankam festival. A memorial structure called the chaver thara can be found in front of the main entrance of the Thirumanthamkunnu Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarkaradevi Temple</span> Bhadrakali Temple

Sarkaradevi Temple is one of the most important temples in South India. It is situated Chirayinkeezhu town in Thiruvananthapuram district. Tradition accords a remote antiquity to this temple. Its main deity is Bhadrakali. The Sarkaradevi Temple assumed a significant status for many reasons and rose to historical importance mainly with the introduction of the famous Kaliyoot festival by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the Travancore sovereign, in 1748. The Sarkaradevi Temple have some basic attachment with Nakramcode Devi Temple which located in Avanavanchery, Attingal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poothan and Thira</span> Indian folk dance

Poothan and Thira is a ritualistic folk art performed mainly in the Valluvanad region of central Kerala in India, in which people dance in costumes representing Poothan is the lieutenant of Kali, and Thira, the goddess Kali, to the accompaniment of drummers. Thudi a small drum using for poothan, and heavy drum para accompanying thira.

Eravikulangara Bhagavathy Temple is an ancient Hindu temple in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India, dedicated to Bhagavan Sivan and Bhagavan Ayyappan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madayi Kavu</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Thiruvarkadu Bhagavathi Temple is the mother temple of all Bhadrakali shrines of Kerala. The deity is the Fierce form of Bhadrakali. The Bhagavathy is addressed by tantrics in the vicinity as Tiruvarkkad Achchi due to this. The temple administration is Malabar Devaswom Board. The temple is a revered shrine of Chirakkal Royal Family and a shrine of Chirakkal devaswom before. The temple is situated in Madayi, Payangadi, hence prominently known as Madayi Kavu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kummattikali</span>

Kummattikali or Kummatti Kali is the famous colorful mask-dance of Kerala, prevalent in Thrissur District, Palakkad District and parts of South Malabar. During the festival of Onam, Kummattikali performers move from house to house collecting small gifts and entertaining people. Kummatti dances are rampant in the Thrissur district during Onam. Pristine or original form of Kummattikali can be seen in the Bhadrakali temple in Palakkad district. Kerala

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darika</span>

Darika is a character in Mudiyettu, a ritualistic dance from the Bhagavathi or Bhadrakali worship, usually performed only in the Kali temples of Kerala. The story is also known as "Darika vadham", or "killing of Darika".

Theeyaattam also known as Theeyaattu (Tīyāttu) is a traditional temple dance form of Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple</span> Hindu temple in Thrissur, Kerala

Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kerala state, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali or simply Durga or Aadi Parashakthi worshipped and significantly revered in Kerala. The goddess is known also by the names "Sri Kurumba"". This temple is the head of 64 Bhadrakali temples in Kerala. This Mahakali temple is one of the oldest functioning temples in India. This is attested by numerous Tamil poems and inscriptions of different times. The goddess of the temple represents the goddess in her fierce ('ugra') form, facing North, featuring eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the demon king Daruka, another a sickle-shaped sword, next an anklet, another a bell, among others. Routine worship at the temple every day at 03:00 and ends at 21:00 local time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padayani</span>

Padayani, also known Padeni, is a traditional folk dance and a ritual art from the central portion of the Indian state of Kerala. A ceremonial dance involving masks, it is an ancient ritual performed in Bhagavati temples. The dance is performed in honor of Bhadrakaali. Meaning, a 'row of warriors', Padayani is an art form that blends all music, dance, theatre, satire, facial masks, and paintings. It is part of worship of Bhadrakali and is staged in temples dedicated to the goddess from mid-December to mid-May. Padayani is unique to central Travancore, comprising the Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts of Kerala. It is also performed in adjoining regions of Kollam, Alappuzha districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vellayani Devi Temple</span> Bhadrakali Devi Temple

The MajorVellayani Devi Temple is a highly revered shrine in Kerala, India, dedicated to goddess Bhadrakali. The shrine is situated in Vellayani 1.5 km west of Vellayani junction, 12 km southeast of Thiruvananthapuram on the eastern bank of Vellayani Lake. The temple is under the management of Travancore Devaswom Board. The temple structure has a bronze roof with traditional art work and carries Dravidian architecture. The temple has eastern and northern towers called Gopurams with statues of different Gods sculptured in them. The Gopurams function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayalappuzha Devi Temple</span> Bhadrakali temple in Kerala, India

Malayalappuzha Devi Temple is a Bhadrakali temple situated at Malayalappuzha in Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India. Nearest Railway station is Chengannur railway station It is believed that the temple was built more than 1000 years ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Parumala Valiya Panayannarkavu Devi Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Sri Badrakali and Lord Shiva, situated on the banks of the Pampa river at Parumala of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala state in India. The Panaynararkavu Temple is one of the three most important Bhadrakali temples in Kerala. Thirumandhamkunnu Temple in Malabar, Kodungallur Temple in Cochin and Panayannarkavu Temple in Travancore is almost equally important. References to this temple are found in Aithihyamala of Kottarathil Sankunni and Unnuneeli Sandesam, the classics of Malayalam Literature. According to folklore, sage Parashurama has installed the idol of Lord Shiva and devi idol installed by sage Durvasa and Narada in the Treta Yuga. The temple is a part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala.

Ninabali is a ritualistic performing art form popular in Kannur, Kozhikode districts of northern Kerala, India. It is a folk art performed by the Malaya community. This art form, which is performed in homes as part of Hinuist exorcism ceremonies, depicts the battle between Bhadrakali and the asura Darika.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaliyoottu</span> Indian folk play

Kaliyoottu also known as Kali natakam is a ritualistic performing art popular in Thiruvananthapuram Kollam districts of southern Kerala, India. It is a folk art related to the battle between Bhadrakali and the asura Darika.

References

  1. "UNESCO recognition a boost to Mudiyettu| http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/26/stories/2010112651080200.htm". The Hindu . 26 November 2010.
  2. "UNESCO - Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala".
  3. "Girls too must inherit the tradition: Mudiyettu exponent| http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article906982.ece". The Hindu . 23 November 2010.
  4. "UNESCO recognition for an age-old art". The Hindu . 17 November 2010.
  5. 1 2 Nomination File No. 00345 For Inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. UNESCO, 2010.