Muthappan Temple, also called Parassinikadavu Muthappan
temple is a Hindu temple, dedicated to Sree Muthappan, a manifestation of two
mythical characters called Thiruvappana and Vellattam. The temple is located at
Anthoor Municipality on the banks of the Valapattanam river about 10 km from
Taliparamba and 16 km from Kannur Corporation in Kannur District, Kerala.
Location Kerala, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram
Legend
The ruler of Ayyankara Brahmin family in Payyavoor village
and his wife, Padikutty Antharjanam were childless. Antharjanam was an ardent
devotee of Shiva. One day, when she was coming back after a bath in the river,
she found a baby floating in a basket of flowers in the river. She took the
baby from river and decided to take care of him as her own son and considered
it as the blessing of Lord Shiva, and so did her husband. The
child grew up. He always stood for the benefit of
downtrodden and poor people. Later, much to the agony of his family, he
practiced hunting, and also started eating flesh, which were not allowed for a
Brahmin. Unable to bear the indictments from his family, the boy decided to
leave home. Padikutty Antharjanam attempted to stop him, but he looked at her
in fury and appeared in his godly figure. Antharjanam bowed down before her
son.
She requested him to cover his eyes with a Poikannu, a type
of shield for the eyes, since she was afraid that such a fiery look on another
occasion may cause to emanate the cosmic force, Shakti, that could change the
entire world. Wearing a shield on his eyes, he left the family, and passed
through various villages in Malabar.
Another legend says that a toddy tapper named Chanthan
stopped Muthappan from having toddy from the tree and Chanthan was cursed by
Muthappan. The chieftain of nearby village, Kunnathurpadi, who belonged to
Karakattidam family, came to know about this incident and
invited Muthappan to his family. Hence the people of Kunnathurpadi village also
started performing rituals to propitiate Muthappan.
Architecture
Muthappan Temple is not a temple in its conventional terms,
but it is a madappura.
Culture
Kannur has got a vibrant and rich political history. It also
has got an illustrious history in social revolutions.
Darsan Info
The Parassinikadavu Muthappan temple opens at 5 AM till 8 AM
and evening at 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
the temple is open to all, irrespective of caste, creed and
religion and therefore there are devotees to Shree Muthappan from all religious
beliefs.
Darsan Dresscode
No specific dress code to visit Parassinikadavu Muthappan
temple.
Famous Festival
The festival is associated with the harvest celebration of
the local people. It is the time when the local people celebrate their joy
after their harvest season, and celebrate their "puthari". It is the
ritual when the local people will harvest their crops, and the grains are
submitted to Sree Muthappan. The grains (rice) submitted to the Madappura are
chopped and converted into rice, and makes a grand ceremonial feast and Sree Muthappan
will take part in the feast along with his devotees.
The festival would begin with Muthappan 'vellattam'
performance in the evening of the day one. 'Kalasam ezhunnallath' at night
would be followed by fireworks at midnight. The 'Muthappan Thiruvappana' would
begin at 5 a.m. on the next day. Colourful processions, traditional percussion
concert, a Kathakali performance and other cultural programmes would also be
organised in connection with the festival.
Temple Rituals
Rituals of the Parassinikadavu Muthappan temple is unique in
that it does not follow the Satvic Brahminical form of worship, as in other
Hindu temples of Kerala. The main mode of worship is the a ritual enactment of
both the characters of Muthappan, through a traditional dance known as
Muthappan Theyyam.
Special Rituals
Valiya Muthappan appears as Thiruvappana and Cheriya
Muthappan appears as Vellattam before the devotees and bless them. Though Shree
Muthappan is a single incarnation of God, it represents two Godly figures -
Lord Vishnu (with fish shaped crown) and Lord Shiva (acres cent shaped crown).
Additional Info
Parassinikadavu Muthappan temple provides free lunch and
dinner to all devoties. Lunch and dinner includes chor (boiled rice), sambar
and thayru (a curry made of curd). Lunch starts from 12.30 PM and dinner starts
from 8.00 PM.
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