https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Neeliyar_KottamNeeliyar Kottam - Revision history2026-10-24T21:23:29ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Neeliyar_Kottam&diff=521478&oldid=prevJurgenP55205038: added new details2026-03-15T03:39:33Z<p>added new details</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Sacred grove in Kerala, India}}<br />
{{Infobox forest<br />
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| image = നീലിയാർ കോട്ടം 23.jpg<br />
| image_caption = Neeliyar Kottam- Ottathira Costumes<br />
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| map = Kerala<br />
| map_caption = Neeliyar Kottam is situated at Mangattuparamba, opposite to Kannur University Campus on the Dharmasala-Ozhakrom Road.<br />
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| coordinates = {{coord|11|59|06|N|75|21|49|E}}<br />
| county = [[Kannur district]]<br />
| region = [[Kerala]]<br />
| country = [[India]]<br />
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| area = 20 acres<br />
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}}<br />
'''Neeliyar Kottam''' is a [[Sacred groves of India|sacred grove]] in Kannur district, Kerala, India, situated at Mangattuparamba near Dharmasala. At present, this 20.18 Acre<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/sacred-groves-kerala-backed-divinity-not-legality-64425|title=Sacred groves Kerala: Backed by divinity, but not legality|last=Warrier|first=S.Gopikrishna|date=30 June 2017|access-date=5 November 2017|via=The News Minute}}</ref> sacred grove is controlled by members of Cheriya Veedu family belonging to the Kulala community.<ref name=":3">[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/4538 Document] {{dead link|date=December 2023}}</ref><br />
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== Folklore ==<br />
Neeliyamma or Kottathamma (Mother of the grove) is the [[Hindu deities|deity]] here. According to the lore, a wise and beautiful woman, Neeli, turned in to a bloodthirsty demon after a local king betrayed and murdered her. But ever since a man took her for a compassionate mother, she turned into a motherly form.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/man-by-day-goddess-by-night-theyyam-in-pictures/article19566492.ece|title=Man by day, goddess by night: Theyyam in pictures|last=Kakkat|first=Thulasi|date=26 August 2017|work=The Hindu|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref> The Goddess came along with a priest of Kalikattu illam when he was returning from Kottiyoor. Goddess then asked to be installed in this jungle location where the leopards and cattle were seen living together in peace<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.keralatourism.org/theyyamcalendar/temple.php?id=17|title=Neeliyar Kottam|website=www.keralatourism.org}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><br />
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== Rituals ==<br />
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Neeliyar Kottam still preserves the jungle surroundings. Its sanctum is not roofed.<ref name=":1" /> When the ritualistic [[Theyyam]] performance is seasonal elsewhere, the belief is that the Goddess graces the Neeliyar Kottam grooves whenever a devotee makes an offering.<ref name=":0" /> The Theyyam costume consists of large blood-red clothes, with a 20&nbsp;ft bamboo framed headgear and traditional Theyyam ornaments. Artists of Vannan community performs the Theyyam of Neeliyar Bhagavathi or the Ottathira<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><br />
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== Ecologic importance ==<br />
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The sacred grove is situated at a small hillock. It is a midland sacred grove. Variety of species of plants including angiosperms, [[gymnosperm]]s, pteridophytes, bryophytes and lichens are present .<ref name=":3" /> [[Memecylon]]e species is the main tree present here. There are also trees like ''[[Madhuca longifolia]]'', ''[[Hydnocarpus pentandrus]]'', ''[[Elaeocarpus serratus]]''. In the upper part of the grove where there is frequent human intervention, ''[[Syzygium caryophyllatum]]'' and ''[[Acacia auriculiformis]]'' plants are seen growing. Some rare medicinal plants and orchids like ''[[Rhynchostylis retusa]]'' and [[Phalaenopsis deliciosa|Kingidium deliciosum (''Phalaenopsis deliciosa'')]] are present. There is a small stream originating from the groove during monsoon season. {{ill|Ficus mysorensis (Ficus drupacea)|lt=Ficus mysorensis (''Ficus drupacea'')|ml|കല്ലാൽ|vertical-align=sup}} is seen in the grove, the fruits of which feed birds and small animals of the grove.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Utharakeralathile visudhavanangal - Oru Paristhithi - NadodisamskaraPadanam (Sacred groves of North Kerala - an Eco-Folklore Study)|last=Unnikrishnan|first=E|publisher=Jeevarekha|year=1995|location=Matathur PO, Kodakara(Via), Thrissur - 680692|pages=69, 70}}</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* [[:ml:നീലിയാർ കോട്ടം|Malayalam Wikipedia Article]]<br />
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[[Category:Sacred groves of India]]<br />
[[Category:Communal forests of India]]</div>JurgenP55205038