Myths from Northern Kerala
(Part 4)

Kotakkaththara Amma’s Ablution

‘Kotakkathara’ is an old place of worship in Velloor district in Kerala. Here during the month of Dhanu (5^th month in Malayalam Calendar) there has been a practice to conduct a music festival for seven days. At this occasion Kaniyas (a tribal sub caste) used to sing and malayas (a tribal sub caste) used to beat the rhythmic drums; the songs included light music and Thullal paattu (a dance form). This entertainment that used to start late in the evening continued almost till daybreak. It used to be believed that Devi’s (goddess) blessings were confirmed by the speed with which the drumbeaters continued.

During the festival period on 5^th and 7^th nights, when there was still time for day break, the Velichchappatu used to get an inner message and started dancing in fast rhythmic steps, carrying handful of raw rice and flowers; in between he would run towards the well at the southern side of the temple precincts. A little later he would return fully drenched in holy water. People believed that there is some thing special for this dip in the well water.

The belief goes like this. When Velichchappatu offers rice and flowers into the well, the well water foams and rises up to the brim. The worshippers used to believe that Velichchappatu would jump into the holy foams and comes out of the well after taking a dip himself. But there was a condition: no one should witness this event. Those who override this condition would suffer - their family would be diminished to ruins and there won’t be any survivors in the family clan. As people believed in this, no one dared to experiment. Next day after the Velichchappatu’ s dip into the well one could see the raw rice and flowers scattered around the well. Similarly when Velichchappatu stands near the well for the dip, the sound of water rising up and lowering down could be heard near the area of the well. Considering the holiness of the event, it had even become a practice to clean up the well before the music festival.

Once someone ventured to test the Bhagavathi (Goddess). With out any one’s knowledge two sharpened wooden pieces were hidden inside the well. Velichchappatu is supposed to have realized this as soon as he got the inner call from Goddess. But with out any hesitation he jumped into the water and came out with the hidden wooden pieces in both the hands. He placed them infront of the deity and uttered aloud. "Oh! You test me? Thought of measuring me? From now on the family of "Cherutti Theeyyan" who ventured to test me shall start encumbering all sorts of losses. Let this be a lesson to everyone!"

The public allegation is that Velichchappatu’s words became true to the point and Cherutti Theeyyan’s entire family diminished to nothing with out loss of time.

As this belief continued its stay, after that episode no one dared to experiment with Truth. The descendants of people, who witnessed the Velichchappatu’s return after completely getting drenched in the well water, are still believed to be alive.

English translation by
Lakshmy N

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