| Uchitta Bhagavathy | |
|---|---|
 Uchitta Theyyam | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| Region | North Malabar, Kerala, India |
Uchitta Bhagavathy is a regional Hindu goddess worshipped in the North Malabar region in Kerala, India. Uchitta is worshiped and performed as Theyyam form. The main temples of this deity are spread over Kannur and Kasaragod districts in Kerala.
Uchitta Bhagavathy is a regional Hindu goddess worshipped mainly in the Kannur and Kasaragod districts in Kerala. Uchitta is also known as Adiyeri madathil Uchitta Bhagavathy (meaning Uchitta Bhagavathy of Adiyeri matha) and Vadakkinakathachi. [1] Uchitta Theyyam is performed mainly by the Malaya community of Kerala. [1] Velar community also perform this theyyam. [1]
Uchitta is a goddess much loved by women. Women pray to this goddess for a smooth delivery. [1]
It is said that, the goddess got the name Uchitta since she speaks loudly (Uchathil in Malayalam). [1]
There are different legends behind the origin of each Theyyam. Different stories are in circulation about the origin of Uchitta also.
One belief is that Uchitta was the goddess who was about to be killed by Kamsa, instead of Krishna. It is said that, when Kamsa tried to kill her, she called out loudly that Kamsa's killer (Krishna) was born on earth. [2]
Another legend says that Uchitta was born to Agni, the god of fire. An ember that fell from the body of Agni fell on the lotus which is the seat of the god Brahma and from it a beautiful goddess with divine lighted body was born and Brahma offered her to the god Shiva through the god Kamadeva and later on the request of the earth-goddess Bhumi she came to earth in the form of a human being for the maintenance of the world. [2] It is also said that because she is the daughter of Agni, Uchitta theyyam lies on the fire and plays with the ember.
It is also believed that Uchitta is another form of Goddess Parvati. [2] Another legend says that Uchitta is the daughter of Shiva. [2]
Being the daughter of Agni, the playful Uchitta Theyyam sits on fire, lies down and plays with embers. [1]
Apart from the shrines of Uchitta, Uchitta Bhagavathi Theyyam is also performed as part of the Perumkaliyatta Mahotsavam (major theyyam festival) in many temples in North Malabar. [3]
Kannur is one of the 14 districts along the west coast in the state of Kerala, India. The city of Kannur is the district headquarters and gives the district its name. The old name, Cannanore, is the anglicized form of the Malayalam name "Kannur". Kannur district is bounded by Kasaragod District to the north, Kozhikode district to the south, Mahé district to the southwest and Wayanad District to the southeast. To the east, the district is bounded by the Western Ghats, which forms the border with the state of Karnataka. The Arabian Sea lies to the west. Paithalmala is the highest point in Kannur District (1,372m). Enclosed within the southern part of the district is the Mahé district of the Union Territory of Puducherry. The district was established in 1957.
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.
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