THEYYAMS OF MALABAR - MY EXPERIENCES # 7

 

Kathivannur Veeran

 

Years back, while travelling to Kannur I chanced to meet Rajesh who was a Theyyam artist himself. Though his clan didn't perform Kathivannur Veeran, he broke me the news that near to the hotel where I was to stay at the city-center, there would be a performance of Kathivannur Veeran at night. The first thing I did after checking into my hotel was to change into casuals and rush to a small temple where the Theyyam would make his appearance. As expected, the thottam (pattu) was going on. The place was illuminated by decorative lamps and a lot of arm-chairs were spread on the sides. Usually, I had seen people standing by the arena. There was a public-address system too.  It was a new experience for me. The audience was thin. I must say that I was a bit disappointed.

A part of thottam that belonged to Pottan Theyyam kept repeating in my mind,

“Ravu Karuthalum, Ravinteullilu

Surianundu;

Puthiyoru Surian”

Chemmarutti thara before performance

That was a great solace. It meant,

Agreed, the ongoing night is black,

Still, don’t get disheartened, friend

There is a new sun inside the dark

 I went back to the hotel, had food and made a quiet exit back to the Theyyam site.

The percussion ensemble of chenda players were at their high.

The style was a bit different. There was a reason for the crescendo. The theyyam was about a young acrobat with mustache and beard who knew sword-fighting as well as martial-art, kalari.

He did acrobatics performing rhythmically in kalarippayattu steps simultaneously swaying his miniature sword and shield. The dance was quite magical.

His antecedents were befitting to a warrior. He was born in Mangattu to Kumarappan

and Chakkilamma and was named Mandappan. (Mangatt was a place between Kannur and Thalipparamba). The guy was bit of a rebel and was always at loggerheads with his father. Mandappan joined the local kalary to learn martial-arts and he was an acrobat par excellence. His other interests were hunting and archery. Upto the age twelve, he had rigorous training but loitered around without a vocation. Naturally, the clash between father-son duo also increased manifold. Mandappan had become a drunkard too.

Feet of the Kathivannur Veeran

“Don’t give him ‘rice & milk’” ordered his father. However, Mandappan’s mother, like

any other mom, gave him food on the sly. And, Kumarappan found it out.

 So much so that Kumarappan broke the bow and arrows of his son and asked him to clear out from the house.

Luckily, the son had an idea in mind. Several of his friends were doing business at the Kudaku (now, Coorg) Hills and Mandappan joined them. Truly speaking, they were not exactly happy with their mercenary friend because Mandappan was not having an acumen for any kind of business. Just to avoid him, they gave him booze and by the time he was drunk the friends left him under a Strychnine tree at Mangatt itself! However, Mandappan was determined not to return. His uncle was staying at a distance, at Kathivannur. He was staying with his wife and son. Mandappan had a liking for them and started staying at his uncle’s place. He aunt gave him an idea to start oil business and uncle donated half his wealth towards the purpose. The business grew at a steady pace and Mandappan opened three branches including one in Veerarajendra Petta (modern-day Virajpet).

 

Meanwhile, he met a girl named Chemmaratti whom he liked. No idea whether they had fallen in love. Anyway, they got married and Mandappan relocated to her house.

Mandappan, however, was not a family man. He used to come late and Chemmarutti was getting suspicious. One of those nights, she didn’t open the main-door for him.

Hey, give me ‘milk and rice ‘, pleaded Mandappan.

Drink up your own blood and eat away your brain.

That was the retort from the wife!

Suddenly, a battle-cry raised-up in the air.

Okay, let me honour it, let your words come true.

Mandappan bowed to his weapons and donned the battle-gear. On his way to “Kudakumala”, Mandappan had to encounter so many ill-omens. The forebodings of  forthcoming disaster started showing.

Mandappan fought the war with bravado and won it. However, his wedding-ring along with the finger that worn it, had been lost in the sword fight. He was so high-spirited that he knew about it only on his way back home.

He returned immediately to the battle-field to recover the lost items.

The defeated ones were hiding there knowing that Mandappan would come back and using treachery, they killed him without a direct encounter.

Almost simultaneously, the ring and the chopped finger landed up at Chmmarutti’s place on a plantain leaf!

Chemmarutti was driven by grief and by the time Mandappan was cremated, Chemmarutti jumped into the funeral pyre and sacrificed her life.

The uncle and his son, Annukkan had a revelation soon after saying that Mandappan

had become a “Daivakkaru” (godhead) and hence should be elevated and celebrated as Theyyam.

Kathivannur Veeran came into being, then on.

Kathivannur Veeran at Chemmarutti thara

Chemmarutti had a special space during such performances.

64 kalams (squares having tantric significance) are made out of natural colours, plantain stems & tender coconut leaves and 32 torches made out of cloth are lighted up. Kathivannur Veeran’s movements are gravitated towards the kalam and burning fire.

Meanwhile, he honoured at least a dozen people by inviting each, sometimes grasping their hands and blessed.

I thought (by my previous experience with Bhagavati Theyyam) that I would also be called up for the honour. That was not to be. Somebody explained to me that the organisers were being facilitated by Kathivannur Veeran.

The final act was flabbergasting.

The Theyyam was beheading fully grown roosters, at least six of them, in a cruel way. He removed the feathers around its neck in a rugged style and there wasn’t any protest from the chicken. I didn’t know if they were drugged. Then he severed the heads with his tiny sword half-way and literally pulled it out in a most repulsive manner.

I couldn’t stand the sight much longer. While making an exit, I saw a bevy of beautiful girls sitting among the front rows watching the fiery scenes cool!

They were praying to get healthy, handsome and macho husbands and believed that

Kathivannur Veeran would take care of their wish.

 

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