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{{other uses|Kuttichathan (disambiguation)}}
{{other uses|Kuttichathan (disambiguation)}}


'''Kuttichathan''' is a religious god in [[Malabar region|Malabar]] demonology, where he is depicted as a well-nourished 12-year-old who is sometimes described as having a [[forelock]].<ref name=":0" /> Some of Kuttichathan's tricks are agonising (his victims' clothes may catch on fire, their food might turn into [[excrement]], their beds might become a bed of [[Thorns, spines, and prickles|thorns]]), but they never do any serious harm.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.70013|title=Lectures On Ethnography|last=Iyer|first=L. K. Ananthakrishna|date=1925|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.70013/page/n259 197]–198|author-link=L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> Kuttichathan only requests food in return for his services.<ref name=":0" />
'''Kuttichathan''' is a [[demigod]] in the folklore of [[Hinduism in Kerala|Malabari Hindus]], depicted as a portly adolescent boy, sometimes described as having a ''[[Sikha|kutumi]]''.<ref name=":0" /> Kuttichathan's tricks (such as turning food into excrement, and beds turning into beds of thorn) cause great trouble to his victims but never do serious harm.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.70013|title=Lectures On Ethnography|last=Iyer|first=L. K. Ananthakrishna|date=1925|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.70013/page/n259 197]–198|author-link=L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> He is said to demand food in exchange for freedom from his harassment.<ref name=":0" />


In [[Kerala]], Kuttichathan is believed to be vengeful towards people who cease appeasing him. If they do not sacrifice a [[Rooster|cockerel]] on a regular basis with the correct [[incantation]]s, Kuttichathan will instill fear by playing pranks on their family, causing them much misery.<ref name="Kapur1983">{{cite book|author=Sohaila Kapur|title=Witchcraft in western India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VdM6AAAAMAAJ|year=1983|publisher=Orient Longman|page=4}}</ref>
Some Hindus in Malabar believe that sacrificing a [[Rooster|cockerel]] on a regular basis with the correct [[incantation]]s will appease Kuttichathan, and that he will otherwise terrorize their families.<ref name="Kapur1983">{{cite book|author=Sohaila Kapur|title=Witchcraft in western India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VdM6AAAAMAAJ|year=1983|publisher=Orient Longman|page=4}}</ref> Kuttichathan also appears in pop culture, such as in the 1984 Malayalam film ''[[My Dear Kuttichathan]].''
 
==See also==
*[[Kuttichathan Theyyam]]


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==


* [https://archive.org/details/dli.MoI.Therayattam_Eng Therayattam – Worship Dances of Malabar.] A 1958 documentary showing worship dances of Malabar, with a dance dedicated to Kuttichathan shown at 09:30. [[Ministry_of_Information_(India)|Indian Ministry of Information]], [[OCLC]] [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4702509 4702509].  
* [https://archive.org/details/dli.MoI.Therayattam_Eng Therayattam – Worship Dances of Malabar.] A 1958 documentary showing worship dances of Malabar, with a dance dedicated to Kuttichathan shown at 09:30. [[Ministry of Information (India)|Indian Ministry of Information]], [[OCLC]] [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/4702509 4702509].


[[Category:Demons]]
[[Category:Demons]]

Latest revision as of 21:34, 14 June 2022

Kuttichathan is a demigod in the folklore of Malabari Hindus, depicted as a portly adolescent boy, sometimes described as having a kutumi.[1] Kuttichathan's tricks (such as turning food into excrement, and beds turning into beds of thorn) cause great trouble to his victims but never do serious harm.[1] He is said to demand food in exchange for freedom from his harassment.[1]

Some Hindus in Malabar believe that sacrificing a cockerel on a regular basis with the correct incantations will appease Kuttichathan, and that he will otherwise terrorize their families.[2] Kuttichathan also appears in pop culture, such as in the 1984 Malayalam film My Dear Kuttichathan.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Iyer, L. K. Ananthakrishna (1925). Lectures On Ethnography. pp. 197–198. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ↑ Sohaila Kapur (1983). Witchcraft in western India. Orient Longman. p. 4.

External links[edit | edit source]