Muchilot Bhagavathi
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Bhagavathi Bhagavatī (Devanagari: भगवती, IAST: Bhagavatī), is an Indian epithet of Sanskrit origin, used as an honorific title for goddesses in Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, it is primarily used to address the goddesses Sarasvati, Lak ...
Is The Tutelary Deity Of great caste Vaniyar Community in
North Malabar North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala State, Kerala's present day Kasaragod district, Kasaragod and Kannur district, Kannur districts, Mananthavady taluk of the Wayanad District, Wayanad distr ...
. There Are 108 Muchilot Temples Spread Across Northern Kerala Resembling The
108 Shiva Temples 108 Temples of the Hindu god Shiva are mentioned in the hymn ''Shivalaya Stotram''. Background According to Hindu beliefs, the god Parasurama created the land between Gokarna, Karnataka, Gokarna and Kanyakumari. It is said that Kerala was re ...
Mentioned In The Shivalaya Stothram. Muchilot Bhagavathi‚ Who Is Adorned With All Beauty, Is Like A Goddess Of Beauty And Is Widely Considered The Most Elaborate And Gorgeous Theyyam. Being In Swatika Bhava, Muchilot Bhagavathi Has Only Very Gentle Movements. Anna Dhanam (Serving Food) Is Very Important In Muchilot Bhagavathi Temples During The Kaliyattam Festival.


Legends

Various legends on the origin of Muchilot Bhagavati begin with her as a
Brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...
woman born in Maniyottu
Mana Mana may refer to: Religion and mythology * Mana (Oceanian cultures), the spiritual life force energy or healing power that permeates the universe in Melanesian and Polynesian mythology * Mana (food), archaic name for manna, an edible substance m ...
, a
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
associated with the highest caste in the village of Peringellur, near
Taliparamba Taliparamba (also known as Perinchelloor and Lakshmipuram) is a Municipalities of Kerala, Municipality and List of taluks of Kerala, Taluk of Kannur district in Kerala state, India. The municipal town spreads over an area of and is inha ...
, Kerala. The popular oral lore states that following the end of her studies and before her betrothal, the elder teacher of Peringellur (Peringellur Mootha Gurukkal, a Brahmin) and his disciples challenged her authority on Vedic matters.She defeated them in all kind of debates and afterwards jealous of her wisdom, they asked the girl what the greatest pain and greatest pleasure were. She replied that they were, respectively, giving birth and love-making. The Gurukkal then challenged her virginity, arguing that she could not know this without experiencing it. She was expelled from her house and took refuge at the temple in Karivellur and promptly resolved to meet the great god
Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
through suicide. While standing on a bed of burning coals, a member of the vāṇiya caste was passing through and was carrying thuthika(Oil pot) for supplying oil to the rayaramangalam temple, She requested him to pour coconut oil over her and cause her
immolation Immolation may refer to: *Death by burning *Self-immolation, the act of burning oneself * Immolation (band), a death metal band from Yonkers, New York *'' The Immolation'', a 1977 novel by Goh Poh Seng *'' Dance Dance Immolation'', an interactive ...
. With the blessing of Shiva, she returned to the world as a goddess and began wandering the earth. According to the narratives, the Muchilot Padanayar—a Vaniya of the Muchilot clan and a soldier of King
Kolathiri Kolathiri or Kolathiri Rājā () (King of KolathunāduA. Shreedhara Menon (2007), ''A brief History of Kerala'', DC Books, Kottayam or King of Cannanore in foreign accounts) was the title by which the senior-most male along the matrilineal lin ...
—and his wife, Padanayathi, were able to feel her presence.History of Muchilotu Bhagavathi http://www.thekeralatemples.com/templeinfo/bhagavathy/karivellur_muchilottukavu.htm The wife of Padanayar was drawing water from the housewell and saw an apparition of Muchilot Bhagavathi in the well. Afterwards, the pot which held the oil that burned the girl began to levitate. The next day, Muchilot Padanayar saw that the palm tree in front of his house had died; when he decided to cut the tree down to make weapons, the goddess made her presence visible to him. Padanayar then had a vision that the soul of the virgin had been sent back by
Lord Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. Shiva is known as ''The Destroyer' ...
to abide in him. They placed the goddess in a silver chest in the western chamber of the house, therefore being associated with the vāṇiya community. Muchilottu Vaniyan and others in his community started worshipping the goddess as their family deity. Thus the goddess came to be known as Muchilot Bhagavathi. But according to the holy manuscript (Pattola) of Muchilot Bhagavathi, Muchilot Bhagavathi is the kaliyuga avatar of Sita devi of treta yuga, Maya Devi of Dwarapa era, and Gaiyatri Devi who appeared before Viswamitra Maharishi. Lord Shiva created this powerful goddess for the wellbeing of humans and sent her to the Earth in a golden chariot called "Otta thanden". While travelling on the Earth, she rested at the padippura of Muchilot Pada Nair, who was a soldier belonging to the Muchilot clan among the vāṇiyas. There are more than 108 Muchilot temples spread across North Kerala, most of them in
Kannur Kannur (), formerly known in English as Cannanore, is a city and Municipal corporation (India), municipal corporation in the state of Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Kannur district and situated north of the maj ...
District. Among these 108 temples the first seven temples are considered as "Aroodam" or Most revered.


References


External Links

* * * {{citation , url=http://www.theyyamcalendar.com/ , title=Theyyam Calendar Theyyam Arts of Kerala Hindu goddesses