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The Kalakat Illam History and its generations !!!! Generations known = 6 generations from today
Ancient stories Aitheehyam related to Kalakat Illam
History
Reported to be one of the 7 Illams created by Parasurama which are extra-ordinary. They have the power of healing the
mental and physical ailments through the power of mantras and poojas. People from various parts of the world come over here
for their prayers and well conduct of their life. The deity, Bhagavathy worshipped by people, is said to be very powerful
and can bring goodness out of all the people who worships. Hence it can be lined that Namboothiris of this illam are the mediators
between the god and common people.
Kaliyattam
There is a practice of conducting a 3 day UTSAVAM(malayalam name for Festival), known as "KALIYATTAM" in KALAKAT
ILLAM. This is conducted on January 10th, 11th, and 12th of every year. People rush in to see the Theyyam, an ancient traditional
dance form of Northern Kerala, where people of selected caste (Vannaan, malayan etc) put costumes and face paintings to depict
the God's bhoothaganangal or gods itself.
Now lets know certain things in the following articles. The article can cover lot of other info which is regularly practiced
among the hindu temples and thanthric houses.
'Kaliyattam' in Northern Kerala and its significance
After a kshethram(temple) has been built and the "prathishta" has been done, in the presence of kshethra ooraalanmaar
(owner of the temple), bhaaravaahikal (Committee), and gramawasi (local population), kshethra aacharyan (thanthri of the temple)
will do Nithya-Nidaanam (daily worship like pooja, special pooja). In case of kalakat illam or similar illams the ooralanmaar
and the aacharyan will be the same. Later to commemorate the "prathishta" day every year, thanthri along with the
temple committee, with the support of gramawasis will celebrate Utsavam, or Kaliyattam in Northern Kerala or North Malabar.
This can be planned to organise on the star of the prathishta day on subsequent years. Or any day which is acceptable to all
the people in the village. In Kalakat illam, the prathishta was done years back that no one living now does know when did
the kaliyattam start. But its sure that, it is happening from the last 150 years. Kalakat Illam is not recognised as a temple,
but as another illam where there is a sanctum sanctorum. Now lets map the kalakat illam to a temple for a general overview
on a festival or utsavam. An utsavam or kaliyattam is celebrated to increase the "deva-chaithanyam" (a glow of eternal
peace)of the temple. In Kaliyattam as earlier mentioned the vannans or malayans would do artistic paintings on their body
and face. Also they wear ornamental costumes. With these costumes they perform a peculiar dance, which is accompanied by the
"pakka-melam"(explanation down the lane). Hence in North Malabar in Illams like Kalakat Illam or any other "Kavu"(also
known as Bhoothaalayam), synonym of temple, Kaliyattam is the main festival.
Theyyam The word meaning of theyyam is "Daivam" (a regional term for god). The name Theyyam had been derived
from the improper pronunciation of "Daivam" over a period of years. The Theyyam or Daivam is actually believed to
be the "Swaroopam"(image or embodiment) of the god that is being worshipped in that temple or Illam. According to
Hindu Mythology, a particular god can take different forms, and there are stories related to each of these forms. Hence in
places like Kalakat Illam, Kaliyattam is celebrated for 3 days, which is stuffed different forms of the "Bhagavathy"(the
regional name for goddess) of the illam and different storis associated with Illam and Bhagavathi. Theyyam in some parts of
south Malabar are known as "Kaulam" or "kolam". If the person who dressed up as Theyyam or kolam, the
devotees see the thayyams as the reincanated form of their Ishta-devatha. Theyyam is not only a believed to be a form of god,
but in certain places it's also a form of a human being who lived in the past. The human beings in certain places one who
possessed some kind of supernatural powers are called as a "veeran" or a stuff of legend. Later when they die their
their stories of fame are sung and forms are costumed as theyyam and remembered. Later down the lane of years this becomes
a worship. Hence for example in Kerala, people know about legendry heroes like Thacholi Othenan, Kadam kottu Maakkam, Kathivannoor
veeran(worshipped as Theyyam). This mode of worship is known as "Veera-Araadhana".
* The Practice of Theyyam at Kalakat Illam*
Kaliyattam is a 3 day long festival where each day different theyyams perform a rare combination of dance and music.The
start of a Theyyam is known as its "Purapaadu". Before the purapaadu of any theyyam, there will be "Thottam"
and "Vellattam". The Thottam is a song which is sung accompanied by a "Chenda" and an "Elathaalam"
(both are different type of instuments) by any of the members who puts up Theyyam. The language is not purely malayalam, Tamil
ia also mixed up here and there. A Thottam will have the evolution story of the particular deity or a hero as mentioned earlier,
which includes "Daivika Amsham" it is from, its birth, its legends and fame. It'll be like boasting a supreme hero,
who showed some supernatural deeds. If we carefully understand the lines of the 'thottam pattu(malayalam word for song)',
we can know from which "Devatha roopam" it is. Please refer [1] for better know-how on thottam. The major theyyams
in Kalakat Illam are Ucha-kutti shaasthan(1st day daytime), bhairavan, karivaal, kakra-bhagavathy, raktha chaamundi (throughout
1st day night), uchitta(manthra moorthi), karin-kuttishaasthan, bhootham, (2nd day), pottan, gulikan, oorpazhasshi, vettakorumakan(also
known as vettekkaran in some parts of kerala), prardhna kuttishaasthan, kurathi, vishnu moorthi, vellya mudi (bhagavathi incarnation
- The most important theyyam in the neighbouring villages except in Kalakat Illam, where kuttishaasthan is the most important
and sacred).
* Importance of Kuttishaasthan at Kalakat Illam*
As from the words in "thottam paattu": Years long back, when there was no child births at kalakat Illam, the
eldest member(karnavar-malayalam word for the eldest male member) of the Kalakat Illam, performed a homa or a yaga. Amidst
the Yaga a child appeared, and later this child showed lot of supernatural powers. Later this child was known as "Kalakatu
karinkutti shaasthan". Here in the Illam, Karin-kutti shaasthan is depicted as the vaishnava and the ucha-kutti shaasthan
as the shaiva amsham. There are other stories also related to the birth and forms of the kutti shaasthan. But the former story
is formally accepted.
* Instruments used*
The main instruments used are Chenda(most important instrument), kuzhal(like KURUM KUZHAL), a small elathaalam. No other
main instruments are used.
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