BHAGAVATHI THEYYAM
The Bhagavathi is one of the
most common Theyyams of Malabar.The Bhagavathi is the manifestation of primal
energy.
She is the eternal yin. Divine
power of Theyyam is basically feminine.
There does exist the story of
a martyr in Bhagavathi Theyyam as well.
There lived a young girl and
she dared to participate in an open debate held in her school (no proper school
in those days, just a learning centre of sorts) at a place called ‘Perinjallur’.
The all-male participants were floored by the young girl and it was a huge blow
to their ego. She was made a social outcast, yes 'persona-non-grata', and
exiled to a far-off place.
However, the girl didn't take
the insult lying down. She made a funeral pyre and jumped into it!
Luckiy, we have a record of
the questions asked in the Males vs Single Female combat.
Deliberate ones to make her
feel embarrassed in public.
"Which is the most
sublime Rasa of all?"
Pat came the reply.
"Sringara of Kama".
"Which is the most
enduring pain of all?"
"Pain of delivering a
child".
The fake scholars were under
the impression that since the girl was not married, she would find it
impossibly difficult to answer their ticklish questions!
However, that was not going to
be the case.
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| Bhagawati Theyyam |
Bhagawathi Theyyams normally
performed in front of local Devi temples of the area, is a night-long affair.
Of course, there are long
intervals in between.
It takes six to eight hours
for the make-up. For creating the supernatural effect, the make-up has to be
laborious and exquisite.
After all, Bhagawathi Theyyam is a transmigration of a female
martyr into Mother Goddess.
The Theyyam dance begins as
soon as the spirit of the diety enters the performer and lasts until he comes
out of the trance-like mood.
Several years later, I was staying
at a place named 'Alavil' in Kannur district with my wife and son.
The 'chendamelam' (percussion
ensemble) beckoned me from afar. Time was around four in the morning. The
Bhagawathi Theyyam came to life while the small band of chenda players weaved magic
on their drums.
I moved towards the source
like a somnambulist!
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| Bhagawati - another view |
Bhagawathi was donning a skirt
made of tender coconut leaves. Coconut shells made up for her breasts and she
wore garlands of Crysanthus flowers. Her face was painted predominantly in red
but it looked thoroughly innocuous. The canine teeth protruded out through the
sides of the mouth looked rather attractive!
She danced with lighted
torches tied around her waist. The movements were ethereal and it cast a spell
on the villagers.
Once the drumming stopped,
anybody could take his or her woes to the Bhagawathi.
She listened to people
attentively and offered solutions.
I was watching all these
standing at a distance. I was, however, located by the Theyyam!
"Nobody is an
outsider" she said.
That was a signal for me. I
moved ahead reluctantly. The torches were still burning. The Bhagawati blessed
me.
"Bhakti irikkanam
tto......" (See that the bhakti stays).
She picked a few crysanthus
flowers from her garland and gave them to me.
I accepted it with reverence.
I was not sure whether her
blessings worked out to my advantage. Evenif it didn't, I wouldn't complain.
Blessings are not for personal
benefits, after all!
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