Theyyam is a Hindu religious ritual practiced in northern Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Theyyam is also known as Kaḷiyāṭṭaṁ or Tiṟa. Theyyam consists of traditions, rituals and customs associated with temples and sacred groves of Malabar. The people of the region consider Theyyam itself as a channel to a god and they thus seek blessings from Theyyam.
Muthappan is a deity commonly worshiped in the Kannur, Kasargod, Kozhikode, Malappuram region of Kerala and Coorg region of Karnataka in India. Muthappan is considered as the personification of two Hindu gods — the Thiruvappan or Valiya Muthapan (Vishnu) and the Vellatom or Cheriya Muthapan (Shiva).
Kunnathur Padi is the historic center for the folk Hindu deity Sree Muthappan. The center stands in Payyavoor Grama Panchayat, Kannur District of the Kerala state of India, 3,000 feet above sea level, on top of Udumbumala in the Sahyadri mountains. The region belonged to the kingdom of the Mannanar dynasty, the line of Muttappan. In 1902, Kunhikelapan Mannanar, the last king of this dynasty of Muthappan's clan, was killed and the British government seized the property of this dynasty, and Karakattidam Nayanar, a Nair landlord, got the right to manage Kunnathur Padi.
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.
Kannapuram is a census town and grama panchayat in Kannur district of North Malabar region in the Indian state of Kerala.
Pulluvan Pattu is a form of serpent worship performed by both the lower castes and higher castes, in addition to serpent temples. The pulluvar of Kerala are closely connected to serpents. They consider the snake gods their presiding deities and perform sacrifices and sing songs.
The village deities of Southern India are the numerous spirits and other beings venerated as part of the Dravidian folk tradition in villages throughout South India. These deities, mainly goddesses, are intimately associated with the well-being of the village, and can have either benevolent or violent tendencies. These deities are presently in various stages of syncretism or assimilation with mainstream Hindu traditions.
Karuppusamy, also known as Karuppu or Karuppannaswamy(Tamil: கருப்பண்ணசுவாமி Malayalam: കറുപ്പണ്ണസാമി ),(lit. 'Black God' or 'Black') is a Hindu god in Tamil Nadu, popular among the social groups of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and also Sri Lanka. He is one of 21 guardian deities of Ayyanar, and is one of 21 guardian deities in Dravidian folk religion.
Hinduism, in particular Vaishnavism and Shaivism, was the predominant religion in ancient Tamilakam. The Sangam period in Tamilakam was characterized by the coexistence of many denominations and religions: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Ajivika and later joined by Buddhism and Jainism alongside the folk religion of the Tamil people. The monarchs of the time practiced religious tolerance and openly encouraged religious discussions and invited teachers of every sect to the public halls to preach their doctrines. Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism were the three major religions that prevailed in the Tamil region predating the Common Era, as early as the Sangam period.
Madayikavu (Māḍāyik्kavu), also known as Thiruvarkadu Bhagavathi Temple, is a significant ancient Kaula Shakti shrine in Kerala, located near Pazhayangadi, Kannur. With a distinguished history spanning over two millennia, the Kavu was administered by various regional dynasties. The Bhagavathi was revered by these dynasties as their royal family deity, and they also carried out renovations of the Kavu at multiple junctures throughout history.
Sree Chirakkakavu Bhagavathi Temple is one of the oldest Devi Temples in North Kerala.
There are places of worship considered important in the Kannur district. Kannur District is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters, and gives the district its name.
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 or Bhuvaneshwari 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. 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.
Vishnumoorthy Theyyam is a Thiyya community temple ritual form of dance worship in Kerala and Karnataka, India. Theyyam consisted of several thousand-year-old traditions, rituals and customs. The performance includes complicated rites and rituals. The peculiar drum-beats can be heard up to a distance of 2 km from where the performance of the Vishnumoorthi Theyyam takes place. The enactment involving the Narasimha Avatar of Lord Vishnu by the Koladhari especially thrills the devotees and the spectators as a result of the body movements involved in it.
Muchilot Bhagavathi is the tutelary deity of the Vaniyas social class of North Malabar, in southwest India. Muchilot Bhagavathi is also worshipped as Eezhala Bhagavati, Kaniyal bagavathi and Maññaḷamma. There are 108 Muchilot temples spread across Northern Kerala resembling the 108 Shiva Temples mentioned in the Shivalaya Stothram .Muchilot Bhagavati, who is adorned with all beauty, is like a goddess of beauty and is widely considered as the most elaborate and gorgeous theyyam. Being in Swatika Bhava, Muchilot Bhagavathi has only very gentle movements.Anna dhanam(Serving Food) is very important in Muchilot Bhagavathi temples during the Kaliyattam festival.
Thirayattam is a ritualistic art form that is performed annually in the South Malabar region of the Indian state of Kerala. It is a tribal art form that combines dance, acting routines, songs, instrumental music, face writing, martial arts and rituals.
Sree Madiyan Koolom Temple is located near Kanhangad in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the most prominent Hindu temples in Kasargod district, and is some 500 years old. It is dedicated to deity Kshetrapalakan Eswaran, the mother Goddess known as Kalarathri Amma (Bhadrakali).
Avanangattilkalari Sree Vishnumaya Temple is a Hindu temple at Peringottukara, Thrissur District, Kerala state, India. It is dedicated to the god Vishnumaya in Kerala. The god is known also by the names Chathan.
Mappila Theyyams are a variant of Theyyam performed in North Malabar especially in Kasaragod district it is related to the Mappila Muslims of Malabar Coast. This Theyyam is deified by Mavilan, Koppalan and Vannan communities and is done with the cooperation of Hindus and Muslims. The characters of this theyyam are mostly spirits of Mappilas that are related to the local deities. The common names of male Mappila theyyams are Aali, Aandi, Mukri, Poker, Bappiriyan, Kunhali, Mammu, Mammad etc. Ummachi and Naithiyar are the common names attributed to female theyyams.The dialogues of Mappila theyyams have mentions about Islamic migration to Kerala in the 7th century and communal harmony.
