Theyyam is one of the most
outstanding and popular ritual arts of northern Kerala, particularly the area of Kolathunadu of the present Kannur and Kasargod District. As a living
religious group with centuries old traditions, rituals and customs, it embraces
almost all castes and classes of Hindu religion. The term Theyyam is
a distorted form of 'Dhaivam' or God. It is a rare combination of dance and
music and reflects important features of a tribal culture as a whole. This folk dance is believed to be a divine
expression and the local residents of Kerala invoke the blessings of God
through this dance form. This custom is also followed in the area of Tulu Nadu
in Karnataka.
Theyyam dance, being an ancient tribal dance boasts of a widened scope
which also includes the religion of Islam. 'Bhagawathi' or the
cult of Mother Goddesses plays a significant role on this dance form. Besides
Goddesses, other cults of Theyyam include serpent -worship, tree-worship, ancestor-worship, 'masathi'-worship, animal worship, Goddess
of disease, spirit-worship and worship of village deity or 'Gramadevataa'.
'Shivani'or Durga, 'Vaishnavi' or Lakshmi and 'Brahmani' or Saraswati are the major Goddesses
worshipped through Theyyam. The Theyyam deities who are worshipped by a cock
sacrifice are not allowed to enter shrines. During the 13th century,
Vaishnavism was a popular theme of Theyyam, in Tuluva region, under the reign
of Vishnuvardhana belonging to Hoysala Dynasty. Shaktism and Shaivism are the other important categories of Theyyam. To know more read:
http://www.indianetzone.com/1/theyyam_kaliyattam.htm
