Know the Fascinating Story Of Muthappan (Parassinikadavu Muthappan)

Muthappan, a manifestation of Shiva’s Kirathamoorthy form, is extensively revered in North Kerala and other parts of India.

The following is the story of Muthappan, ( also known as Parassinikadavu Muthappan.)

Part 1: Kirathamoorthy Shiva blesses a childless couple with a child

Ayyankara Naduvazhi and Padikutty were a married couple from North Kerala. Because they didn’t have any children, the couple lived an unhappy life.

Padikutty, being a devotee of Lord Shiva, performed sacrifice as part of pooja for having a child

One day, Kiratha Shiva appeared to Padikutty at midnight and told her that she will be blessed with a child soon.

Several days later, she found a cherubic infant boy by the side of the river where she was having a bath.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing, and her joy knew no bounds. She took the infant to her house.

The parents were unconcerned about the child’s caste or creed and raised him as a Brahmin. His Upanayana sanskar was performed.

The rock where the boy was found is considered sacred and hence worshipped and was named Terunettikallu

Part 2: The Child Develops Into A Rebel

However, when the boy grew older, he began to venture into the forest and mix with people who were not Brahmins. He proceeded to hunt and eat animals and birds. He brought the hunted animals home and began cooking them.

The couple was mocked by other Brahmins in the neighbourhood. People in the family began to chastise the youngster, particularly his father. Angry, the youngster produced a third eye in his forehead and glanced about the house one day. All of the trees and vegetation in the area were destroyed by the fire.

Padikutty discovered that her kid was not a human being, but the Keerta Murthy Shiva avatar that she had been worshipping.

When Muthappan turned his gaze to his father, his mother pleaded with him to look away and covered his eyes with her hand. She requested that he adopt a kinder demeanour, with his ‘Vellikannu’ (silver eye) shedding his ‘Trikkanu’ (third eye).

Even today, the man who wears the mantle of Valiya Muthappan in Theyyam performance wears the ‘vellikannu’ in remembrance of this divine incident.

The child informed his mother that it was time for him to leave the house. After that, he went to Kunnathurpadi Mountain.

Part 3: Muthappan’s Journey To Free The Poor And Downtrodden

Muthappan and his companions walked out into the jungle with a large pack of hunting hounds, armed with bows and arrows. They arrived at the apex of a hill known as Kunnathur paddi. He brought the destitute people together and taught them how to worship.

The Name Muthappan Is First Uttered

During his visit to Kunnathur paddi, muthappan’s grew his fondness for a toddy. Chandan was a toddy tapper and he was aware of someone was stealing all his toddy. So, he sat to watch one night and caught an old man drinking his toddy. In great anger, he proceeded to shoot the old man with his bow and arrow. Chandan, however, fell unconscious before he could commit the act.

After a while, his wife came searching for him, and when she saw Chandan lying on the ground, unconscious, she called out to the old man still sitting atop the palm tree. She called him “Muthappa…”, meaning, grandfather, in the local language. She then prayed to God for her husband, and soon he was brought back to consciousness.

He then proceeded to Purali Mountain. Muthappan continued his triumphant trek here, uniting the poor and oppressed against the Brahmins’ authority.

Part 4: Muthappan Creates Places of Worship And Defeats Kings

He conquered the Ottawa King and annexed his land, where he built 308 Madappuras and numerous podikkalams, therefore reinforcing his control over the realm.

He pillaged a number of barns and donated the food to the destitute. He rallied the Harijans, Vannans, Thiyyas, and Angolans in a revolt against untouchability and isolationism, and made them fulfil many religious and ritualistic chores. He invited the Brahmins of the upper castes to observe the ceremony and asked for their blessings in sowing the seeds of a spiritual revolution.

Finally, he reached Parassinikadavu and made his home.

Some Fundamentals of Muthappan Worship

It’s worth noting that, according to certain sources, Muthappan is the Kali Yuga’s incarnation of Vishnu and Shiva. Thiruvappana, Vellattam, Cheriya Muthappan, Valiya Muthappan, Ambala Muthappan, Puralimala Muthappan, and other names for Muthappan.

Madappura is the name of Muthappan’s worshipping location. In North Kerala, there are many Madappuras. The most famous of these Malappurams is Parassinikadavu Madappura.

Madayan is the person who performs ‘pooja,’ or the sacred rite, in a Madappura. The eldest member of a Thiyya community’s ancestral home is always the one who honours the post of Madayan.