Velichappadu

Last updated

Velichappadu in Malayalam translates as Revealer of Light, is the oracle or mediator between a deity and devotees at a Hindu Temple in Kerala. Prominent in Valluvanad, the Velichappadu, also known as Komaram in some parts, is an integral part of the rituals in a Bhagavathi temple. [1] There are both male and female Velichappadu and often belong to a particular family. People, in Kerala and beyond, have enormous respect for these mediating oracles when they’re in their trances and heed to their words. [2]

Contents

Appearance

As followers of Goddess Bhadrakali (Kannagi), they are seen dressed in red, body smeared with turmeric powder and adorned with heavy ritual ornaments and garlands. A heavy hooked sword or sickle-shaped sword, chilambu (anklet), and aramani (huge and heavy waist belt studded with bells) are a part of the ensemble. Often, as their identity, a Velichapadu grows long hair, which hangs loose on their forehead and back.

Performance

The Velichappadu makes their customary appearance in the temple after performing a puja. Here they perform a frantic dance called thullal, usually accompanied by beatings of drums and cymbals, and gets into a trance with the spirit of the presiding deity. The deity is believed to speak through him as the Velichappadu dances, delivering the frenzied forecasts. They may also predict solutions to problems put forward by devotees and hence the name which also translates as "the one who sheds light (on problems)". Their counsel, often delivered in incomprehensible words and abrupt gestures, is translated to the devotees by an assistant. During the thullal a Velichappadu may also cut his forehead with his sword offering his blood to the deity as a symbol of unshakable faith. [3]

Kodungalloor Bharani

Velichappadus from across the state flock to the annual Kodungalloor Bharani [4] event performing the frenzied dance, thullal, around the temple and singing Bharani Paattu.

Kakkarissi Natakam

Kakkarissi Natakam is a satirical dance-drama based on the puranic legends of Lord Siva and his consort Parvati when they assumed human forms as Kakkalan and Kakkathi [5] - a nomadic tribe of fortune tellers. The legend only serves as a skeletal framework for the play, which often turns into a subtle critique of contemporary society. The language is a blend of Tamil and Malayalam. The chief characters are Kakkalan, Kakkathi, Vetan, Velichappadu, Thampuraan and the ubiquitous Jester. The Dholak, Ganchira, Chenda and the Harmonium provide the background score. [6]

Movies

  1. Nirmalyam - M. T. Vasudevan Nair's movie adaptation of his short story "Pallivalum Kalchilambum"
  2. Utsavamelam
  3. Thilakkam
  4. Veeralipattu

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ottan Thullal</span> Recite-and-dance art-form of Kerala, India

Ottan Thullal is a recite-and-dance art-form of Kerala, India. It was introduced in the eighteenth century by Kunchan Nambiar, one of the Prachina Kavithrayam. The folksy performance, often laced with humour intended at criticism of society, is accompanied by a mridangam and/or the handy idakka besides a pair of ilathalam cymbals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theyyam</span> Ritual form of worship from Kerala, India

Theyyam are Hindu ritualistic dance forms 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.

Azhakodi Devi Temple is a Hindu temple in Thiruthiyadu, Thiruthiyadu, Kozhikode, Kerala, India. It is about 1.5 km away from the Mofussil bus stand and 2.5 km from the KSRTC Bus stand in the Kozhikode city.

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

Bhadrakali, also known as Mahakali and Kali, is a Hindu goddess.

Vavar, known reverently as Vavarswami, is a legendary figure from Kerala. He is the celebrated Muslim acquaintance of Hindu deity Ayappan. There is a shrine dedicated to Vavaraswami at Sabarimala, as well as Vavaraswami's mosque at Erumely opposite to an Ayyappan temple. This shows the religious and cultural harmony practised by Hindus in India.

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

Garudan Thookkamis 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">Pulluvan Paattu</span>

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.

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

Sree Oorpazhachi Kavu is a prominent Hindu temple in the Edakkad grama panchayat, a grama panchayats in Kannur District of Kerala state in southern India.

<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">Chettikulangara Devi Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple is one of the most renowned Hindu temples in Kerala. Main deity Sree Bhadrakali, The temple is located at Chettikulangara in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. The temple is situated about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of Mavelikkara town, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of Kayamkulam city on SH6. Bhadrakali, is an incarnation of supreme mother Shakthi devi, born from the third eye of Lord Shiva, to kill the demon king Daruka. 'Bhadra' means good and 'Kali' means goddess of time. So Bhadrakali is worshipped for prosperity and salvation. Devi is considered as the creator, protector, destructor, nature, power and Kundalini shakthi.Chettikulangara is located near Kayamkulam city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple, Valamchuzhy</span>

Sree Bhuvaneswary Temple, Valamchuzy is one of the oldest temples in Pathanamthitta, South India.

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 especially Malabar. 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.

<i>Nirmalyam</i> 1973 film by M. T. Vasudevan Nair

Nirmalyam is a 1973 Indian Malayalam-language film written and directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring P. J. Antony, Sumithra and Ravi Menon. P. J. Antony won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1974 for his performance as a velichappadu in this movie. The film received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and Kerala State Film Award for Best Film in 1974. It is one of the classics in Malayalam cinema.

<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.

Sarpam Thullal or Nagakalam Pattu, is a unique form of mystical ritual associated generally with ancestral temples or tharavadus predominantly in state of Kerala. From ancient times many family houses in Kerala have special snake shrines called Kavu or Pambin Kavu where this exotic and spectacular ritual performance is associated to, it is generally conducted to appease the snake gods and thereby to bring prosperity to the family.

Azhakiyakavu Devi Temple is situated at Kallisseri in Chengannur taluk of Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. It is a Hindu template dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali and is one of the 30 temples in Central Travancore area where the ancient Dravidian ritualistic art form of Padayani is performed annually. The temple is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Chengannur Railway Station and Bus Stand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avanangattilkalari Vishnumaya Temple</span> Hindu temple in India

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanadikavu Shree Vishnumaya Kuttichathan Swamy temple</span>

The Kanadikavu Shree Vishnmaya Kuttichathan Swami temple is an ancient and holy Vishnumaya temple located 20 km southwest of Thrissur, Peringottukara, the cultural capital of Kerala, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kodungallur Bharani festival</span>

Kodungallur Bharani festival is a yearly festival dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali of Kodungallur Kurumba Bhagavathy temple held between the Bharani days of months Kumbham and Meenam of the Malayalam calendar. This period usually falls between the months of March and April in Roman calendar. This festival traditionally involves sacrifice of roosters, dance of oracles, lighting the traditional lamp, singing of libelous ballads (Bharanippattu) and smearing of the image of the goddess with sandalwood paste.

References

  1. ↑ "Kerala: Mystical land of oracles". DNA India. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  2. ↑ el-sawy, tewfic. "Velichappadu". Medium. Medium. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "Velichappadu – Mediator between dieties and devotees". 31 May 2012.
  4. ↑ "Kodungalloor Bharani". Kerala Tourism(Govt. Website). Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  5. ↑ Laxman Varadpande, Manohar. History of Indian Theatre, Volume 2. Abhinav Publications. p. 227. ISBN   81-7017-278-0.
  6. ↑ "Ritual Arts". ourkeralam. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.