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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian folk dance}}<br />
{{Infobox dance<br />
| name = Malavazhiyattam<br />
| image = <br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = <br />
| native_name = മലവാഴിയാട്ടം (Malayalam)<br />
| etymology = <br />
| genre = Indian folk dance<br />
| signature = <br />
| instruments = [[Chenda]], [[Elathalam]]<br />
| inventor = <br />
| year = <br />
| origin = [[Kerala]], India<br />
}}<br />
'''Malavazhiyattam''' also known as '''Malavayiyattam''' '''Kariniliyattam''' or '''Cheruniliyattam''' is a ritualistic folk art of the [[Paraiyar|Paraya community]] in [[Kerala]], India. It is music and drama performed to please Malavazhi, a mother goddess worshiped by the Parayas and installed in their homes.<br />
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==Myth==<br />
During the [[Hindu mythological wars|Devasura war]], the defeated [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] took shelter of Lord Shiva. One of the [[Asura]]s shot an arrow at Shiva who was performing penance for the victory of the devas.<ref name="Malayala Pacha">{{cite book |last1=t |first1=susmitha |title=പറയ സമുദായത്തിന്റെ അവതരണ കലകളും സാംസ്കാരിക സത്വവും (Performing arts and cultural essence of Paraya community) |date=August 2015 |publisher=Malayala Pacha Magazine |pages=68–75}}</ref> Malavazhi and Mookan Chatan are siblings who emerged from the [[third eye]] of Lord Shiva, who opened his eyes in anger at the interruption of his penance.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> Malavazhi is also called Cherunili and Karineeli and Mookan Chatan is called Mani and Muthappan.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> <br />
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Karineeli and Mani, who went to the [[devaloka]] to find out who their father was, were chased away by the devas.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> They left devaloka and spent their childhood in Kalladikode Malavara, famous for ancient magic. Walking around there, once they met Shiva requested him to accept their paternity and show them the way of life. At first Shiva was not ready for that, but when they showed their divine power he accepted and blessed them as children.<ref name="sivadas">{{Cite web |last=Sivadas |first=C.D. |title=മലവാഴിആട്ടം |date=17 August 2011 |url=https://www.puzha.com/blog/nattariv-cd_sivadas-purattu_jan7/ |access-date=2023-03-02 |language=ml |archive-date=2023-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302134653/https://www.puzha.com/blog/nattariv-cd_sivadas-purattu_jan7/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later, they travel westward and after wandering around in different places in the country, they finally built a black fort and a cave with black stone at Kallatikod Karimala.<ref name="sivadas" /> After building a temple on the Kallatikotan hill, it is believed that these deities wandered all over Kerala, taking grain from a Pulaya woman of the Kuttadan field and bullocks from Kongan Chetti as vehicles for travel.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/><br />
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Another myth says that Malavazhi and Kalladi Muttappan, who are among the thirty-three crore sub-deities of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]], were born to Shiva and Parvati.<ref name="Keralakaumudi">{{cite news |last1=Daily |first1=Keralakaumudi |title=വിളക്കാട്ടുപാടം ആറുക്കണയിൽ മലവായിആട്ടം ഭക്തിസാന്ദ്രം |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=771291&u=local-news-thrissur |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=ml |access-date=2023-03-03 |archive-date=2023-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302043741/https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=771291&u=local-news-thrissur |url-status=live }}</ref> It is believed that the ancestors of the Chempath Vatiri clans of Valakkattupadam settled the deities in Pavaratti in Valakkattupadam.<ref name="Keralakaumudi"/><br />
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It is also believed that Malavazhi or Malavarathamma is the presiding deity of ''Mala'' (the mountain) and she is the worship idol of all the ''Muthappans'' (a demigod).<ref name="puzha1"/> One can become a ''Muthappan'' only by serving Malavazhi and mastering [[Mantra|mantras]] and illusions.<ref name="puzha1"/><br />
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According to another popular myth Malavarathamma and Kalladi Muthappan were born to god Udipanath Udi [[Bhagavan]]'s (also known as Nallachan) third eye. Goddess Muthi (Malavazhi) and Muthan, who bought the boons from Nallachchan, settled in a beautiful shrine in Tirumala, Kalladikode.<br />
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==Ritual dance drama==<br />
Malavazhiyattam is a ritualistic dance drama performed once a year by the Paraya community of [[Thrissur district|Thrissur]] and [[Palakkad district|Palakkad]] districts in Kerala, India.<ref name="puzha1">{{cite web |last1=Varavoor |first1=Prashanth |title=അവതരണങ്ങളിൽ അപമാനിക്കപ്പെടുന്ന അനുഷ്ഠാനകലകൾ |date=August 2011 |url=https://www.puzha.com/blog/magazine-prasanth_varavoor-essay1_nov3/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |archive-date=2023-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302043738/https://www.puzha.com/blog/magazine-prasanth_varavoor-essay1_nov3/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Malavazhi is the mother goddesses who are installed in the homes of the Parayas and worshiped by them. Malavazhiyattam is performed to please the deities through music and drama.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news |last1=M |first1=Athira |title=Malayalam docu-fiction 'Thevan' pays tribute to folk artiste Thevan Peradipurathu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/docu-fiction-on-folk-artiste-thevan-directed-by-najma-naseera-majeed/article65254898.ece |work=The Hindu |date=24 March 2022 |language=en |access-date=3 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302043739/https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/docu-fiction-on-folk-artiste-thevan-directed-by-najma-naseera-majeed/article65254898.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> It starts at night and continues till the next morning.<br />
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===Character and costumes===<br />
There are two main characters namely Malavazhi and Mookan Chathan. Malavazhi is a female character and Mani or Mookan Chathan is male. In Malavazhiyattam ritual dance both have equal importance.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/><br />
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Malavazhi's costume in is characterized by a crown made of coconut leaves and a flower garland.<ref name="Keralaliterature">{{cite web |title=മലവാഴി |url=https://keralaliterature.com/mudrakal-%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%82-%E0%B4%B8%E0%B4%82%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A6%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%B3/malavazhi-h-k-l-r%C2%A2/ |website=Keralaliterature.com |date=14 October 2017 |access-date=3 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302050748/https://keralaliterature.com/mudrakal-%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%82-%E0%B4%B8%E0%B4%82%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%A6%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%B3/malavazhi-h-k-l-r%C2%A2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> While performing in the concept of Malavazhi, as a ritual the performer bites a chicken and drinks some drops of its blood.<ref name="Keralaliterature"/><br />
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Malavarathamma's form is described as wearing a sword in her right hand, a stick in her left hand, and [[Silambu|silamb]] on her feet.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> Malavazhi has similarities to the characters in ritual dances like Karinkali and Thira of central Kerala.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> Red, black and white silk cloths are squeezed and a metallic waist ornament aramani is worn over it.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> Other ornaments include traditional breast ornaments like Marthali, Marvattom, and Mulakkut.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> On both sides of the ears, wooden ears are worn, metallic fang like tooth and traditional bracelets are also worn.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> In addition to the silk costume, peacock feather is also worn on the head.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> Face art is done with rice powder, turmeric powder and charcoal powder.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/><br />
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Mookan Chathan, the comic character, has a beard made of fibers (''vanchis'') and sometimes a mask (''poymukha'') on his face.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> He also wears red silk and wears aramani over it. There will be a bundle on the head and two sticks in the hand.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> If there is no mask then face arts are done with rice powder or turmeric powder.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> Mani's main job is to entertain the audience by singing songs that make them laugh.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> Mani's comedy and songs often give way to subtle social criticism.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/><br />
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===Instruments===<br />
Leather percussion instruments like [[Chenda]], small type of flute and an ancient instrument known as maram is used in Malavazhiyattam.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> Metallic instrument [[Elathalam]] is also used.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/> The player keep the chenda tilted and strike the left and right sides alternately.<ref name="Malayala Pacha"/><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
*[http://dspace.christcollegeijk.edu.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/123456789/1346/16/CCATMHI020.pdf A Special Reference To Malavazhiyattam of Paraya's In Thrissur]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}<br />
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{{Culture of Kerala}}<br />
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[[Category:Ritual dances]]<br />
[[Category:Dances of Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Hinduism in Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Regional Hindu gods]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala folklore]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu folk deities]]</div>RichyCapy