Kalakat Illam - Theyyam

Theyyam

The word meaning of theyyam is "Daivam" (a regional term for god). The name Theyyam had been derived from the improper pronunciation of "Daivam" over a period of years. The Theyyam or Daivam is actually believed to be the "Swaroopam" (image or embodiment) of the god that is being worshipped in that temple or Illam. According to Hindu Mythology, a particular god can take different forms, and there are stories related to each of these forms. Hence in places like Kalakat Illam, Kaliyattam is celebrated for three days, which is stuffed different forms of the "Bhagavathy" (the regional name for goddess) of the illam and different stories associated with Illam and Bhagavathi.

Theyyam in some parts of south Malabar like Kozhikode are known as "kolam". If the person who dresses up as Theyyam or kolam, the devotees see the theyyams as the reincanated form of their Ishta-devatha. At that stage there are paternal or fraternal relations. Theyyam is the god incarnate even for the biological father, and they don't talk anything casually. Theyyam is not only believed to be a form of god, but in certain places it's also a form of a human being who lived in the past. The human beings in certain places who possessed some kind of supernatural powers are called as a "veeran" or a 'stuff of legend'. Later when they die their stories of fame are sung and forms are costumed as theyyam and remembered. Later down the lane of years this becomes a worship. Hence for example in Kerala, people know about legendary heroes like Thacholi Othenan, Kadam kottu Maakkam, Kathivannoor veeran (worshipped as Theyyam) etc. This mode of worship is known as "Veera-Araadhana".