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{{short description|Hindu deity}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = File:Muthappan.jpg
| caption = Thiruvappana or Valiya Muttapan([[Vishnu]]) on left and the Vellatom or Cheriya Muttapan([[Shiva]]) on right
| name = Muthappan
| god_of = 
| affiliation = [[Hinduism]]
| mantra =
| weapon = [[Spear]], [[Bow and arrow]] and [[sword]]
| consort = 
| children = 
| abode = Kunnathurpadi
| mount = [[Wild hound (hunting dogs)]]
}}

'''Muthappan''' ({{lang-ml|ശ്രീ മുത്തപ്പൻ}}, {{lang-kn|ಮುತ್ತಪ್ಪ್}}) is a deity commonly worshiped in the [[Kannur district|Kannur]], [[Kasargod district|Kasargod]], Kozhikode, Malapuram region of [[Kerala]] and [[Coorg district|Coorg region]] of [[Karnataka]] in [[India]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Muthappan devotees gather for festivities |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/campus-reporter/2019/01/09/sree-muthappan-theyyam-devotees-festival.html|date=9 January 2019 |newspaper=Manorama News |department=City: Thiruvananthapuram |agency=TNN |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/career-and-campus/top-news/2019/01/09/sree-muthappan-theyyam-devotees-festival.amp.html|title=Muthappan devotees gather for festivities}}</ref> Muthappan is considered as the personification of two Hindu gods — the Thiruvappan or Valiya Muttapan ([[Vishnu]]) and the Vellatom or Cheriya Muttapan ([[Shiva]]).<ref>{{cite news |title=Muthappan devotees gather for festivities |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/campus-reporter/2019/01/09/sree-muthappan-theyyam-devotees-festival.html|date=9 January 2019 |newspaper=Manorama News |department=City: Thiruvananthapuram |agency=TNN |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>

The shrine where Muthappan is worshipped is called Madappura.The [[Muthappan temple|Parassinikadavu Madappura]] is the most important.<ref>{{cite news |title=Muthappan devotees gather for festivities |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/campus-reporter/2019/01/09/sree-muthappan-theyyam-devotees-festival.html|date=9 January 2019 |newspaper=Manorama News |department=City: Thiruvananthapuram |agency=TNN |access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>

Practices in Muthappan temples are quite distinct from those in other Hindu temples of Kerala.The rituals are related to Shakteyam where [[Panchamakara|Panja-ma-kara]] are offered, sometimes including ''madyam'' (in this case,Toddy) and ''mamsam'' (generally flesh, in this case - fish). The main liturgy is a ritual enactment of Muthappan, performed daily at the Parassinikadavu temple. Most temples in Kerala do not allow non-Hindus to enter; Muthappan temples are said to be much more liberal in this regard.{{fact|date=September 2022}}

Muthappan is the principal deity in the ritualistic [[Theyyam]] dance (Muthappan Theyyam) performed in the Parassinikkadavu temple. The ritual performers of Muthappan Theyyam belong to the Vannan community of Kerala. The puja rituals and rites for Muthappan are performed by the [[Thiyyar]] community<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.experiencefestival.com/theyyam_-_sree_muthappan_theyyam |title= Theyyam - Sree Muthappan Theyyam|website=www.experiencefestival.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108065703/http://www.experiencefestival.com/theyyam_-_sree_muthappan_theyyam |archive-date=January 8, 2011}}</ref>

==Myths and legends==
[[File:Thiruvappana closeup - 1.JPG|thumb|Thiruvappana performing]]
[[Image:Muthappan vellaattam.jpg|thumb|right|Vellaattom performing]]

Muthappan is believed to be the personification of two divine figures — Thiruvappana and Vellatom. The dual divine figures Thiruvappana and Vellatom are similar to those of the [[Theyyamkaliyattem]] of the northern [[Malabar region]]. Though Sree Muthappan is worshiped as a single deity, it actually represents an integrated or unified form of two gods: [[Vishnu]] (with a fish-shaped crown) and [[Shiva]] (with a crescent-shaped crown).

Sri Muthappan's Theyyams are performed year-round whereas other Theyyams are seasonal (lasting October to May).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.experiencefestival.com/toddy_-_toddy_from_coconut_or_palm_tree |title= Enlightenment - the Experience Festival|website=www.experiencefestival.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091219135418/http://www.experiencefestival.com/toddy_-_toddy_from_coconut_or_palm_tree |archive-date=December 19, 2009}}</ref>

===Muthappan stories===
====Parassinikkadavu Muthappan====
The traditional story of Parassinikkadavu Muthappan describes the background of the deity.

The Thiyya King [Mannan ] Raja called as [[Mannanar]] (ruler) of [[Eruvessi]], in [[Kannur district|Kannur]], Ancharamanaykkal Vazhunnavar, was unhappy, as he had no child. His wife, Padikutty Amma, was a devotee of Lord [[Shiva]].<ref name="12rr">{{Cite web|last=വി.ലിസ്സി മാത്യു| url=https://keralabookstore.com/book/kathivanoor-veeran/12272/|title=കതിവനൂർ വീരൻ|access-date=2020-11-07|language=en|page=90-91}}</ref> She made a sacrifice to Shiva for children. One day in her dream she saw the Lord. The very next day, while she was returning after a bath from a nearby river, she saw a pretty child lying on a rock nearby. (There is, even today, a rock, believed to be this one, still visited and venerated.) She took the child home and she and her husband brought Him up as their own son.

The boy used to visit the jungle near their house (''mana'') for hunting with His bow and arrows. He would then take food to the poor and mingle with local communities. As these acts were against the way of life, His parents earnestly requested Him to stop this practice, but the boy turned a deaf ear to their warnings. Ancharamanaykkal Vazhunavar became very disappointed.

Ayyankara Vazhunavar decided to take the matters into his hands and admonished him. The boy revealed His divine form (Visvaroopam, or Viswaroopa, or Cosmic All-Pervading Form) to His parents. They then realized that the boy was not an ordinary child, but God. They prostrated themselves in front of Him, surrendering themselves to him. The moment he got out of his house, everything that came under Muthappan's vision burned and turned into ashes due to his sadness in leaving the house. His mother told him that he should not walk all the way destroying every creation in this world. Muthappan pierced his eyes so that nothing shall be disintegrated with his vision. Thiruvappana is depicted as blind because of this.

He then started a journey from Ancharamanaykkal. The natural beauty of [[Kunnathoor]] detained Him. He was also attracted by the [[palm wine|toddy]] of palm trees.

Chandan (an illiterate [[toddy tapper]]) knew that his toddy was being stolen from his palm trees, so he decided to guard them. While he was keeping guard at night, he caught an old man stealing toddy from his palms. He got very angry and tried to shoot the man using his bow and arrows but fell unconscious before he could let loose even one arrow. Chandan's wife came searching for him. She cried brokenheartedly when she found him unconscious at the base of the tree. She saw an old man at the top of the palm tree and called out to Him, saying "Muthappan" ({{lang|ml|muthappan}} means 'grandfather' in the local [[Malayalam]] language). She earnestly prayed to the God to save her husband. Before long, Chandan regained consciousness. She offered boiled gram ([[chickpea]]), slices of [[coconut]], burnt [[fish]] and toddy to the Muthappan. (Even today, in Sree Muthappan temples, the devotees are offered boiled grams and slices of coconut.) She sought a blessing from Him. Muthappan chose Kunnathoor as His residence at the request of Chandan. This is the famous [[Kunnathoor Padi]].

After spending some years at Kunnathoor, Sree Muthappan decided to look for a more favorable residence so that He could achieve His objective of His [[Avatar]]am. He shot an arrow upward from Kunnathoor. The shaft reached [[Parassini]] where the Parassini Temple stands today. The arrow, when it was found, was glowing in the [[Theertham|Theertha]] ([[Sacred waters|sacred water]]) near the temple. The arrow was placed on the altar. Since then, Lord Sree Muthappan has been believed to reside at [[Parassinikkadavu]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shree Muthappan Seva Samithi, Surat |title=Story of Parassinikkadavu Muthappan |url=http://www.shreemuthappansurat.com/Story%20of%20Muthappan.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021092342/http://www.shreemuthappansurat.com/Story%20of%20Muthappan.html |archive-date=October 21, 2010 }}</ref>

When Thiruvappan-Muthappan traveled through the jungle, he reached Puralimala near [[Peravoor]]. Here he met another muthappan; Thiruvappan called him {{lang|ml|cherukkan}}, meaning 'young boy', in Malayalam, and accompanied him. This second Muthappan is called ''[[Vellattam]]'' (or {{lang|ml|Vellatom}}). Thus, there is Thiruvappan - Valiya Muttapan (Vishnu) - called ''Muthappan''; and a second Muthappan, called {{lang|ml|Vellattam}} or {{lang|ml|Cheriya Muthappan}} (Shiva).{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} The [[Theyyam]] for this utilises a round-shaped throne made of hay.{{clarify|date=November 2021|reason=Does this belong here, in this section or paragraph?}}

===Sree Muthappan and dogs===
Sree Muthappan is always accompanied by a dog. Dogs are considered sacred here and one can see dogs in large numbers in and around the temple.

There are two carved bronze dogs at the entrance of the temple that are believed to symbolize the bodyguards of the God. When the [[Prasad]] is ready, it is first served to a dog that is always ready inside the temple complex.

Local legends enhance the importance of dogs to Sree Muthappan, such as the story that follows:

: A few years ago, temple authorities decided to reduce the number of dogs inside the temple; so they took some dogs and puppies away. From that very day, the performer of the Sree Muthappan Theyyam was unable to perform; it is said that the spirit of Sree Muthappan enters the performer's body for the duration of the ceremony. But he probably refused to enter the Theyyam performer's body because the dogs had been removed. Realizing their mistake, the dogs were brought back to the temple by the temple authorities. From that day onwards, Theyyam performances returned to normal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chayilyam.com/folklore/parassinikadavu-muthappan |title=Parassinikadavu Muthappan | ചായില്യം |publisher=Chayilyam.com |date= 24 May 2010|accessdate=2015-03-17}}</ref>

==Festival procession==
Tradition requires that the annual Ulsavam festival of the Muthappan Temple at [[Parassinikkadavu]] start by a procession led by a male member of the Thayyil clan of [[Thayyil]] from [[Thiyya]] community, [[Kannur]] from the family home to the main altar of the temple, where he offers a 'Pooja' (prayer) to the God.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?articleType=travel&contentId=729867&programId=1073751467&contentType=EDITORIAL&BV_ID=@@@ |title=Utsavam at Parassini Mandapam |publisher=Manoramaonline.com |date= |accessdate=2015-03-17}}</ref>

==Local traditions in Kannur and Kasaragod==
[[File:Sree Muthappan Kalasam dance.JPG|thumb|Sree Muthappan Kalasam dance]]
Several Muthappan temples are seen in [[Kannur]] and [[Kasaragod district|Kasaragod]] districts in Kerala and Coorg district in Karnataka and several temples are built by the migrated devotees in [http://www.muthappan.in Coimbatore] [[Bangalore]], [[Mumbai]], [[Ahemadabad]], [[Delhi]], [http://sreemuthappanmadappura.com Chennai], and also in Gulf countries{{fact|date=September 2022}}. This signifies the popularity of the god in the minds of the people of [[North Malabar]] of Kerala and [[Coorg]]. Each Madappura has its own tradition.

One interesting story relating to God Muthappan is about the [[Nileshwar Muthappan Madappura]]. The Sree Muthappan temple near National Highway No 17 in Nileshwar has a rich heritage. It conveys the philosophical, devotional and educational importance of [[Nileshwar]]. There is an interesting story regarding the construction of this Sree Muthappan Temple. An elder member of the Koroth family regularly visited the place now known as the Muthappan temple and drank madhu ([[Palm toddy|toddy]]), the liquor fermented from coconut sap. He was a famous scholar and got the title Ezhuthachan for his commendable achievement as a teacher. Before drinking ''madhu'', he poured a few drops of ''madhu'' on the nearby [[jackfruit]] tree as an offering for the God Muthappan. He regularly repeated the practice. Several years after the death of the scholar, the natives experienced serious problems and called upon an [[astrology|astrologer]] for assistance in finding out the cause. The astrologer concluded that as a result of the regular practice of giving ''madhu'' to God Muthappan, the God had started residing there. After the death of the scholar, he no longer got ''madhu'' and, in a fit of pique, began creating disturbances. The natives erected a Muthappan temple there. The Koroth family then got the right of ''Koymma'' [patron] of the temple.

As a result of the formation of a committee and the work done by the members of the committee, the temple has developed as a famous centre of pilgrimage and hundreds of people visited it daily. There is a strong belief that the God will cure all diseases and will bestow prosperity on His devotees. The devotees get ''Payakutti'' from the temple, and it continues to develop as a great centre of pilgrimage like the Sree Muthappan temple at Parassinikadavu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://keralatemplevisit.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html |title=Kerala Temple Visit: June 2010 |publisher=Keralatemplevisit.blogspot.com |date=2010-06-21 |accessdate=2015-03-17}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Parassinikkadavu]]
*[[Muthappan temple]]
*[[Kunnathoor Padi]]
*[[Rajarajeshwara Temple]]
*[[Sree Muthappan Temple Nileshwar]]
*[[Valluvan Kadav Sree Muthapan#Story of Muthappan|Valluvan Kadavu Sree Muthappan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Books===
# ''Muthappa Darshanam'' by Sethumadhava Varier (Yamalanandanatha) in Malayalam

==External links==
{{commons category|Muthappan}}
*[http://www.sreemuthappan.net/historypage/history.htm Sree Parassini Muthappan]
*[http://www.sreemuthappan.org/ Sree Muthappan]
*[http://www.thayyilmadappura.in/ Thayyil Sree Muthappan Madappura,Pinarayi]
*[http://www.srimuthappan.org/ Sree Muthappan Muktheswaran]
*[http://www.muthappan.in/ Sree Muthappan Seva Sangham & Temple (Coimbatore)]
*[http://www.valluvankadavusreemuthappan.org/ Valluvan Kadavu Sree Muthappan]
*[https://www.flickr.com/sree_muthappan/ Photos of Valluvan Kadavu Sree Muthappan]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aatRgPgH-3U/ Valluvan Kadavu Sree Muthappan Theyyam]
*[http://sreemuthappanmadappura.com]
{{Kannur district}}

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[[Category:Regional Hindu gods]]

Muthappan - Revision history

Sabari2398: refined page to improve readability and fixed typos

ImportMaster: robot: Create/update articles in Category:Hindu gods.