Authors note – This story is written in remembrance of my dear, late father who was the one who first introduced me to this amazingly colourful, intriguing and powerful God – Lord Muthappan. Muthappan has been a significant and vital part of my life ever since I was first told his story. I continue to owe gratitude to Lord Muthappan for his beneficence and my father for transferring his faith in Muthappan to me.
Lord Muthappan, an incarnation of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, is said to have been born in Kali Yuga – our present Yuga. He was born at a time when the Aryans dominated the Dravidians in Kerala. So great was their domination that all the temple propertie
s and even the rights of worship were reserved only for Brahmins. The creation of the dreadful caste system had been established so rigidly that all the “so called” low-caste and backward caste people were disallowed all temple duties. It was at this time when life for the poor, needy and “untouchables” was at its worst that Lord Muthappan took birth.
There lived a couple Ayyankara Devan and Padikutty Anthrajan of the famous Ayyankara Illam - a Malayali Brahmin family, of North Malabar. A devout and loving couple, their only sorrow was that they had no children of their own - even after several years of marri
age.
Padikutty never lost faith. She continued to pray to Lord Shiva for an offspring. One morning she went to the river for her bath. Stepping into the river she dipped down into the water. As she arose from the waters, she heard the distinct gurgling of a baby. Surprised she looked around. She saw there on a flat rock comfortably lying on a leafy mat was a gorgeous baby boy kicking his tiny legs and happily gurgling to himself. Padikutty was delighted to see this little baby and immediately lifted him up into her arms. She was sure that God had finally blessed her with a child. She took the healthy, happy infant back home. Her husband too was ecstatic with joy as now they had a child of their own to care for and love.
Adopted by a Brahmin family the boy grew up studying the Vedas and followed all the norms and rituals prescribed to Brahmins. Even the Upanayana, the sacred thread ceremony, was performed for the child. His parents and all his extended family loved this child dearly.
However, as the child grew, he started behaving rather differently to other little Brahmin boys. He hated being confined to the house and always wandered about in the neighbouring areas and even in the forests. Much to his family’s displeasure he would mix with those who his parents and other Brahmins regarded as “low-caste”. Worse still he would invite these people to his home defiling the sacred Brahmin household. Then matters got completely out of hand when the pride and joy of Ayyankara and Padikutti’s life picked up a bow and arrow and started hunting animals. He would then bring his kill back to the house to cook and eat. The vegetarian, sattivik food consuming Brahmin household was aghast. This was simply the last straw for his indulgent father. He ranted with rage, “How dare you disrespect our old and ancient Brahmanical traditions. You have broken all the religious laws of our people. You have brought disrepute to your parents and family. You have polluted our home with untouchables. Now you bring dead meat into our house – a house that has been sanctified with prayers and yagnas (fire sacrifices).”
Unfortunately, Ayyankara’s harsh word did not have the desired effect on his son. Instead of repentance Ayyankara’s only son turned his rage filled eyes upon all the vegetation around the house. With just one glance all the banana, mango and coconut trees were burnt to smithereens. Next he turned towards the bushes and shrubs and ins
tantly they too turned to ash. With his next glance he would have faced his father but before he could do so he heard his mother’s pleading voice as she rushed to cover his eyes, “No my beloved son. Do not look at your loving father with anger in your eyes. I beg you wear a gentler look.”
Hearing his mother’s voice, the boy lowered his eyes and his anger abated. It was on that day that he revealed to his foster parents his cosmic form. Speaking in a hushed voice and with love he said to his parents, “I have revealed to you my true form. I have taken birth to protect the rights of the poor and downtrodden. Hence, it is time now for me to leave you and serve those who have been neglected and ostracized by society. I am here to liberate them from the tyranny of the Brahmins.”
But before leaving he promised his mother that he would wear a shield in front of his his eyes so that his fiery look would never again burn down anything or anyone.
His parents were sad to see their beloved son leave but they accepted that it was inevitable. Witnessing h
is supernatural powers and cosmic form, they knew that he had been born for a far greater purpose than just as their son. Their baby boy who had grown into the strong, handsome, young man that stood before them was in fact a divine being, a God, who they had been blessed to care for. With tears in their eyes, they watched their son leave their home. He walked away taking with him only his hunting bow and arrows. Following behind him was his faithful pet dog. He walked into the forest and for several years continued his wanderings, helping the poor, feeding the hungry and caring for all those who had been abandoned. Finally, he reached the pinnacle of a hill named Kunnathur Padi. All around were toddy palms. Each tree had earthen pots hung at the top to tap the toddy. Despite his age he climbed the palm with agility. Once at the top he drank some of the toddy from the earthen pot. As he had enjoyed the liquor, he would often climb up and steal the toddy from the pa
lms. Chandan, a toddy tapper, noticed that someone was stealing the toddy from the pots that he left hanging on the trees. Chandan decided to keep a watch all night in order to catch the thief red-handed. Sure enough he saw an old man climb the tree and very nonchalantly drink the toddy. Livid Chandan yelled out to the old man, “Hey you thief. Get down before I come up there and drag you down and give you the thrashing of your life. Get down you old fool.”
Then, as there was no reaction from the old man, Chandan picked up his bow and arrow to shoot the man. But before he could do so he fell unconscious.
Next morning Chandan’s wife finding her husband missing rushed off to the toddy farm to search for him. She was horrified to see him lying unconscious at the foot of one of the trees. She searched frantically for some help. Then she looked up. There on top of one of the toddy palms was a great divine form emanating a brilliant light. Falling on the ground, in reverence, she cried out, “Muthappa (grandfather)! Help me. Save my husband. He is the only support I have in my life. Please I beg you grant me his life.” She prayed fervently to Muthappan for her husband’s life. Her prayers were answered. Slowly her husband’s lifeless body stirred and within moments he was once again alive and well. In gratitude she offered Muthapp
an boiled grams, slices of coconut, burnt fish and toddy that he heartily consumed. The first person to call him Muthappa was the “low caste” wife of a mere toddy tapper. Though he grew up with several names it is by this name Muthappa that all his devotees and worshippers pray and worship him. Also, to this day it is boiled grams, slices of coconut, burnt fish and toddy that are the offerings at all Muthappa temples.
From Kunnathur Muthappan headed on to Puralimala and continued his efforts of organizing the poor and downtrodden against the domination of the Brahmins. He fought battles against unrighteous rulers -annexed their lands to provide places for the poor to live and eat. He looted the barns of the rich and greedy landowners who hoarded their grain and distributed the grain to the starving. In his fight against untouchability, he had people of lower castes perform religious duties. He invited high caste Brahmins to witness these events and sought their blessings in an endeavour to create brotherhood and a feeling of equality between everyone. Even today
every Muthappan temple in North Malabar is open to people of all races, castes and religions.
Muthappan was never seen without his faithful dog. At all his temples you will find a statue of a dog on both sides of the entrance. His faithful companion stands guarding his master’s abode. Legend has it that at one Muthappan temple a priest chased off a stray dog that had entered the temple confines. From that day on Muthappan’s presence was no longer felt in that temple. Devotees’ prayers and pleas were never again heard by Lord Muthappan at that temple.
The rituals performed at a Muthappan temple are as colourful and exciting as the deity himself. Worship of Muthappan is unique and entirely different to the forms normally practiced in temples in Kerala. Offerings to Muthappan include toddy and fish. A spectacular part of the daily prayers is the Theyyam. At Theyyam, performers in colourful costumes, heavy makeup and ornate masks narrate through dance, music and mime, stories of the heroic deeds of our Gods and Goddesses. Perhaps the most intriguing part of this performance is that the performer is said to be in a trance with the powers of the God within him. Devotees throng the temple during such performances to voice their grievances to him. His replies are rapid and need time to comprehend but are incredibly accurate. His responses to devotees ar
e punctuated by a distinctive, loud laugh. At times he picks out a devotee from a crowd and gives him a special message – often it is a message that will comfort and tide him/her through a difficult time.
Devotees of Muthappan also turn to him if they ever lose something of value. The hunter God, Muthappan, has retrieved many a lost item usually from the unlikeliest of places. Once the item has been regained, the devotee expresses his gratitude in cash or kind at one of the Muthappan temples in North Malabar.
Lord Muthappan of north Malabar
had a colourful life. A life that transformed the lives of many poor and illtreated people. He brought a reformation that is still in practice at his temples. He was so empathetic to the poor and downtrodden that he even emulated their habits and lifestyle. He believed riches, knowledge and material benefits were granted to us only to be shared.
It so happened that the collection box at one of his temples was placed outside the temple. The box was kept locked. One day temple authorities found the lock broken and all the money stolen. Rushing to the chief priest they said, “All the donations we have received have been stolen. A thief seems to have broken the lock and emptied the bhanaram (collection box).”
The priest, a true devotee of Lord Muthappan, replied, “The fault is ours. We locked the box. The money was not ours. It was for the needy. The Lord has ensured that someone in great need has received our aid. We are truly blessed. From now on there will be no lock on the bhanaram.”
Next time you visit God’s own country, Kerala, do travel to pristine North Malabar and visit Muthappan. Maybe you will be fortunate to watch the Theyyam and even have the Lord bless you with a very special message.
LIFE LESSONS
1. Like Lord Muthappan let us be caring and respectful of everyone regardless of their religion, wealth or practices.
2. Like Lord Muthappan let us help those less fortunate than us.
3. Like Lord Muthappan let us raise our voice against injustice.
4. Like Lord Muthappan let us be generous.
5. But unlike Lord Muthappan let us not steal or develop bad habits. Lord Muthappan, as the incarna
tion of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, is all knowing. His behaviour is not dictated by our norms. We after all are only human.
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