Dear readers this time i would like to share the story of `theyyam' the art form which i have been seeing from my childhood days onward. The rethymatic beats of drums and the "thottam" song awaken me last time when i had been to home. Its a signal giving to the people residing near by temple that chief dancer is ready to perform the "theyyam" after a short interval.
It is an art form with a rare combination of dance accompanied by musical instrument chenda, which reflects the very existence of tribal culture. During our chidhood days we childern, especilly me who is good imitator received lots of clasp from my friends for presenting special performance (in a child way) to them. My brother was the drumer and sister used to sung the song the exact words either she nor me a performer were not known. Golden days it was.
It a very popular and outstanding ritual art form of northern Kerala especially now found in the boarder district of Kasaragod and kannur is usually performed during kaliyattam, which starts in the month of November or December. As a living culture with centuries old beliefs, rituals and customes, it embraces all most all the classes of the Hindu religion.
Being a lover of this art form me landed in tracing the origin of this cult. Based on the sangam literature its origin traces back in to1500 years. It has also got mentioned in Jaina and Buddhism texts. Under the Aryan myths it had gone radical changes, a large number of brammanical gods and goddesses had infiltrated a separate cult in to theyyam. According to famous historical book "Kolathiri", Parasu Rama sanctioned the festival kaliyattam to the people of Kerala that lasts for three to four days. It is he who assigned the responsibility of theyyam to the indigenous communities like Velan, Panan, Malayan and Vannan.
Theyyam is generally performed during the occasion of Kaliyattam in front of the Tharavadu or Joint family house and in Thanam or the village shrine. Usually it is performed in the open theatre. Before the performance as a part of ritual the chief dancer who propitiates the central deity has to observe vegetarianism and must reside inside the "aniyara"or the green room and he has to finish his supper before the sun set as a legacy of Jainism.PerformanceThere are different stages in a theyyam performance. The first part is generally starts with " Vellattam" which is performed in the night with less make up and without heavy costumes. Only a small headdress is worn on the chief dancer head. During this occasion the dancer along with the drummers recites the song, which describes the myths and legends of the deity on which he, is going to perform. These songs often related to the local history. Narration includes the heroism and tragic tale of these deities. For instance Makkam was considered to be the tragic and immoral women by her beloved brothers.. The jealousy of their wives made her a victim of suspicious and made them to dump her into a deep well and later she was elevated as a chaste woman. After finishing this primaristic ritualistic part the dancer returns to the green room.After a short break he reappears with proper make up which includes read or green colored costumes and face paintings. These costumes includes leaf dress and some of them made from the tender coconut leaves, tazha Adai, muti or headdress and other body decorations and these are to be prepared by a craftsman who must possess a good knowledge about primary and secondary colour.Then the chief dancer comes in front of the shrine called as "sthanam " and gradually metamorphoses as the particular deity of the shrine. After observing certain rituals it is the time to put the headdress on his head. The he dances with the rhythms of music instruments like chenda, kozhal tuti. Normally the central deity is accompanied by a number of dancers who dance with him with shield and sword as a continuation of the culture of weapon.The dance has different types of steps known as " Kalasams" and each Kalasam is repeated systematically. A theyyam performance includes the combination of vocal recitation, background musical instruments, dance and totally different make up and costumes.
To become a good performer one has to master the skill of dancing. It is imparted through Gurukula System in a very early age of seven to eight years. Morning hours are used for instruction. Good training in "Kalaripayattu"is must for the artist who performs the role of hero deities. The eminent dancer teaches his sons, nephew and relatives. In certain dance items like Muchilot Bhagavathi, Kankattu Bagavathi the dancer has to wear burning wicks around his waist and observe fire walk. In that case he ahs to master the method of weight distribution by moving the legs, shoulder and hands.As a powerful social instrument theyyam is mainly intended to propagate Hindu mythology among the rural masses.This continued patronage of its ritualistic observation still makes it one of the most popular ritual art form of the northern Kerala especially Kasaragod.
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It is an art form with a rare combination of dance accompanied by musical instrument chenda, which reflects the very existence of tribal culture. During our chidhood days we childern, especilly me who is good imitator received lots of clasp from my friends for presenting special performance (in a child way) to them. My brother was the drumer and sister used to sung the song the exact words either she nor me a performer were not known. Golden days it was.
It a very popular and outstanding ritual art form of northern Kerala especially now found in the boarder district of Kasaragod and kannur is usually performed during kaliyattam, which starts in the month of November or December. As a living culture with centuries old beliefs, rituals and customes, it embraces all most all the classes of the Hindu religion.
Being a lover of this art form me landed in tracing the origin of this cult. Based on the sangam literature its origin traces back in to1500 years. It has also got mentioned in Jaina and Buddhism texts. Under the Aryan myths it had gone radical changes, a large number of brammanical gods and goddesses had infiltrated a separate cult in to theyyam. According to famous historical book "Kolathiri", Parasu Rama sanctioned the festival kaliyattam to the people of Kerala that lasts for three to four days. It is he who assigned the responsibility of theyyam to the indigenous communities like Velan, Panan, Malayan and Vannan.
Theyyam is generally performed during the occasion of Kaliyattam in front of the Tharavadu or Joint family house and in Thanam or the village shrine. Usually it is performed in the open theatre. Before the performance as a part of ritual the chief dancer who propitiates the central deity has to observe vegetarianism and must reside inside the "aniyara"or the green room and he has to finish his supper before the sun set as a legacy of Jainism.PerformanceThere are different stages in a theyyam performance. The first part is generally starts with " Vellattam" which is performed in the night with less make up and without heavy costumes. Only a small headdress is worn on the chief dancer head. During this occasion the dancer along with the drummers recites the song, which describes the myths and legends of the deity on which he, is going to perform. These songs often related to the local history. Narration includes the heroism and tragic tale of these deities. For instance Makkam was considered to be the tragic and immoral women by her beloved brothers.. The jealousy of their wives made her a victim of suspicious and made them to dump her into a deep well and later she was elevated as a chaste woman. After finishing this primaristic ritualistic part the dancer returns to the green room.After a short break he reappears with proper make up which includes read or green colored costumes and face paintings. These costumes includes leaf dress and some of them made from the tender coconut leaves, tazha Adai, muti or headdress and other body decorations and these are to be prepared by a craftsman who must possess a good knowledge about primary and secondary colour.Then the chief dancer comes in front of the shrine called as "sthanam " and gradually metamorphoses as the particular deity of the shrine. After observing certain rituals it is the time to put the headdress on his head. The he dances with the rhythms of music instruments like chenda, kozhal tuti. Normally the central deity is accompanied by a number of dancers who dance with him with shield and sword as a continuation of the culture of weapon.The dance has different types of steps known as " Kalasams" and each Kalasam is repeated systematically. A theyyam performance includes the combination of vocal recitation, background musical instruments, dance and totally different make up and costumes.
To become a good performer one has to master the skill of dancing. It is imparted through Gurukula System in a very early age of seven to eight years. Morning hours are used for instruction. Good training in "Kalaripayattu"is must for the artist who performs the role of hero deities. The eminent dancer teaches his sons, nephew and relatives. In certain dance items like Muchilot Bhagavathi, Kankattu Bagavathi the dancer has to wear burning wicks around his waist and observe fire walk. In that case he ahs to master the method of weight distribution by moving the legs, shoulder and hands.As a powerful social instrument theyyam is mainly intended to propagate Hindu mythology among the rural masses.This continued patronage of its ritualistic observation still makes it one of the most popular ritual art form of the northern Kerala especially Kasaragod.
Hope next time too i will get a chance to witness this cult.
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2 comments:
Informative write up.
good picture
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