Vasoorimala is a female deity worshiped in many parts of

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

and

Kodagu Kodagu district () (also known by its former name Coorg) is an administrative List of districts of Karnataka, district in the Karnataka state of India. Before 1956, it was an administratively separate Coorg State at which point it was merged ...

region of

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

. She is worshipped as an ''Upa Devata'' (sub-deity) in

Bhadrakali Bhadrakali (IAST: Bhadrakālī; ) is an important goddess, mainly worshiped by Hindus, and is a form of Kali. She is considered to be the auspicious and fortunate form of Adi Shakti or Durga, the supreme mother who protects the good, known ...

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 ...

temples. Vasoorimala is believed to be a deity that prevents contagious diseases like

smallpox Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by Variola virus (often called Smallpox virus), which belongs to the genus '' Orthopoxvirus''. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (W ...

chickenpox Chickenpox, also known as varicella ( ), is a highly contagious disease caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV), a member of the herpesvirus family. The disease results in a characteristic skin rash that forms small, itchy blisters, which ...

, and

measles Measles (probably from Middle Dutch or Middle High German ''masel(e)'', meaning "blemish, blood blister") is a highly contagious, Vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by Measles morbillivirus, measles v ...

. In

North Kerala North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala's present day Kasaragod and Kannur districts, Mananthavady taluk of the Wayanad district, the taluks of Vatakara and Koyilandy in the Kozhikode district, ...

, Vasoorimala is worshipped and performed as Vasoorimala Theyyam. According to myths, Manodari, wife of

Asura Asuras () are a class of beings in Indian religions, and later Persian and Turkic mythology. They are described as power-seeking beings related to the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhist context, the wor ...

named Darikan was later named as Vasoorimala.

Etymology

''Vasoori'' is the

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

word for the disease smallpox. ''Vasoorimala'' literally means a chain of pox pustules.

Background

In ancient times it was believed that diseases were caused by the wrath of God. Therefore, they worshiped gods who sowed diseases and gods who healed. Vasoorimala is believed to be the deity of communicable diseases like smallpox, chickenpox, measles etc. Vasoorimala is worshipped as a sub deity in temples in Kerala including

Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple (alternatively Kodungallur Kav) is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kerala state, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of Kali, Mahakali worshipped and significantly revered i ...

, Valiyakulangara Devi Temple, Mahadevikad, Sri Porkili Kavu, and Vasoorimala Devi Temple, Mavelikara.

Myth

Wife of Darikan

The story of

is very prominent in Indian mythology, and goddess Bhadrakali is worshipped all over India. According to the

Markandeya Purana The ''Markandeya Purana'' (; IAST: ) is a Sanskrit text of Hinduism, and one of the eighteen major Puranas. The text's title Markandeya refers to a sage in Sanatana Dharma, who is the central character in two legends, one linked to Shiva and oth ...

, there was an

named Darikan (also spelled as Darukan) and goddess Bhadrakali appeared from the third eye of Lord

killed him in a battle. The story of Vasoorimala from Kerala folklore is mentioned in

Aithihyamala Aithihyamala or Ithihyamala () (''Garland of Legends'') is a collection of century-old stories from Kerala that cover a vast spectrum of life, famous persons and events. It is a collection of legends numbering over a hundred, about magicians and ...

written by

Kottarathil Sankunni Kottarathil Sankunni (born Vasudevan, 1855–1937) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. Best known as the author of Aithihyamala, an eight-volume compilation of century-old legends about Kerala, Sankunni's writings cover prose and poet ...

. During the war between Bhadrakali and Darikan, when it was almost certain that Darikan would die in battle with Bhadrakali, Manodari, wife of Darikan approached Kailasa and began intense penance to please Lord Shiva. Satisfied with her adoration, Shiva wiped the sweat from his body and gave it to her and blessed her and said that if she spray it on the bodies of the people, they would give her everything she needed. Manodari saw Bhadrakali, who won the battle, coming with her husband's head. On anger she sprayed that sweaty water on Bhadrakali's body, and as a result smallpox appeared on Bhadrakali's body. Bhadrakali pierced Manodari's eyes, named her ''Vasoorimala'' and made her a companion of herself.

Others

Another myth says that Vasoorimala arose from the Shiva consciousness when Lord Shiva contracted smallpox. Vasoorimala can also be seen as a follower of Kurumba (Bhadrakali) in killing Darika.

Vasoorimala Theyyam

Vasoorimala Theyyam is a

theyyam Theyyam is a Hindu religious ritual practised in the North Malabar Region of Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Theyyam is a ritual performance involving extended chanting of mantras and ceremonial preparations that typically span 8 to 10 hou ...

performed in temples in

. When the smallpox epidemic broke out, it is believed that people started worshiping smallpox in the form of theyyam to get rid of the disease. Now this theyyam is being performed for the cure of diseases.

References

External links

* {{commons category-inline Regional Hindu goddesses Theyyam Kerala folklore Hindu folk deities Diseases and disorders in India Smallpox deities Chickenpox Measles Health goddesses