THIRUVAPPANA MAHOTSAVAM DEVASTHANAM

Panchayath/ Municipality/ Panchayat Corporation

LOCATION District

Nearest Town/ Parassinikadavu Temple -150m Landmark/ Junction

Nearest Bus station Parassinikadavu Bus Station -175m

Nearest Railway Railway Station -11.7Km station ACCESSIBILITY

Nearest Airport Calicut International Airport -131 Km

Kunnathoor Padi Muthappan Devasthanam Payyavoor Kanjirakolli -670633 Contact: Parassinikadavu CONTACT Phone: +91-497-2780722 DATES FREQUENCY DURATION

TIME December-January (Dhanu-Makaram) Annual 1 Month

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth)

The Thiruvappana Mahotsavam is a month long festival at Kunnathoor Padi , a historic center for the Hindu folk deity Muthappan. There is no temple for Muthappan in Kunnathoor Padi. However, the place is known as ‘Aaroodam’ due the divine presence here. The festival is conducted in the natural settings of Udumbumala in the Sahyadri mountains. The `devasthanam' believed to be the original abode of Muthappan, transforms into a destination for thousands of Muthappan devotees from different parts of the region during the festival. During the festival season, a temporary Madappura called Sreekovil is erected in the middle of the forest. Priests carry out purifying rituals prior to the festival.

Local Over 3000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated)

Theyyam At Kunnathurpadi, Sree Muthappan is invoked from Thiruvappana Puralimala. On the first day of the festival four Vellattu appear at Padi - Puthiya Sri Muthappan, Puramkala Sri Pallivetta Muthappan, Naduvazhissan Daivam and Thiruavappana. Arulpadu

The concept of Vannan about Sri Muthappan is that of Eiver Muthappan (five Muthappans) – Puramkala Sri Muthappan, Puralimala Sri Muthappan (Thiruvappana), Nambala Sri Muthappan (Nambala is ant hill), Sri Muthappan (Vellattam), Thoovakkally Sri Muthappan and Andu Muthappan. Muthappan is considered to go for Pallivetta and accept veethu (madhu). One of the acts depicts the Lord’s writing (of Moola Mantras) on the granite stone with his arrow.

At Padi, Thiruvappana and Vellattam do not appear simultaneously as in many other Sri Muthappan centres. He comes at night and goes at night. After the divine dance is over, he sits on the platform and asks Nayanar also to sit in front of him. Sri Muthappan recites the pattola.

It is the history of the Lord and his relationship with the Vanavar. Bhandaram (coffer) is brought. However, devotees do not put anything directly into the coffer. Offerings are placed in the Lord’s hand, and he places it in the coffer. Arulpadu is the most important aspect of the festival.

The divine form of Sri Muthappan listens to the grievances of the devotees, consoles them and blesses them. It is after this that Vellattam appears.