The places where Theyam is performed are generally known as kavu. Although Naga kavu can be found anywhere in Kerala, Theyya kavus are found only in North Kerala. kavus are important places of people’s life and culture in North Kerala. Theyams and other rituals that take place in kavus are closely related to the life of people in North Kerala. The genesis of the kavus is based on the amalgamation of tribal traditions. The development of Dravidian culture in North Kerala is associated with the kavus. There are various local myths in circulation associated with most Kaws.
The structure of the kavus is quite different from the temples of the Tantric order. There is only a place where only one or two ritualists can go inside of Kavu and perform the rituals. Images of deities like those of temples are not common in kavus other than sacred weapons like palliwal, trishul and nandakam, but thidamb in the concept of God are maintained in some kavus and brought out on special days like Purotsavam. Various types of theiyas are known by the names of palliara, ara, mundya, kazakam, kotam, kalari, coolakam, matilakam, chima, matam, door matam, gopuram etc. Apart from the Kavs, Theyyam is also performed in Tharavads. Apart from that, theyatam is also performed in the fields during special seasons, which is called Vyalthira. In some cases, theyam is staged by constructing a temporary kavu in the fields.
Most of the kavus have steps, ritual stone, kalasathara, well and aniyarapuras. In front of the palliera, there is a terrible Kimpurasha figure carved in wood. Kimpurusha form will have bloodshot eyes, bloody tongue and long strong arms. Although each kav is known by the name of some main theyam, apart from that theyam, there are many other theyams in the kavs.
Among the Kavus the chief priest is called Anthithiriyan. Apart from lighting the vilakku at the end of the day, it is Anthithiriyan who performs the rituals inside the kavus, in front of the altar and on the ritual stone. Chosen communities, ‘kottayis’ who carry out collective decisions and yungsters who reach out for any help are Kavu’s strengths.
While each community may have its own clan deities and kavus, these spaces remain shared by all, with everyone participating in the celebrations and rituals across all Kavus, regardless of any distinction. The overall design of the Kavs and their surrounding areas is closely integrated with nature.
Muchilotu Bhagavathy is the clan deity of the Vaniya community. Muchilottu Kavs are known as Muchilottu Kavs who tie Goddess Bhagwati. Kasaragod, Kannur and Kozhikode districts have more than 100 Muchilotu Kavus. Karivellur Muchilotu Kavu, also known as Adi Muchilode, is more than a century old.
Kannangat Bhagwati is the main worship idol of the people belonging to Maniani community. Kavus who worship Kannangat Bhagwati are known as Kannangat Kavs. Apart from Theyya, other rituals are also very important in Kannangat Kavs. Rituals like Sankrama, Pooram and Niraputhiri are performed in these caves.
Kavus where worship tigers are known as Pulikavus. Animal worship is believed to be a method found in ancient times to overcome the fear of harmful animals. The most important kavu in Pulikav is located near the Karnataka border in Kasaragod district. This area is also known as Thulur forest. In the past, Parvati Parameswaran took birth as a tiger and lived on earth as a couple. The names of the animal couple were Pulikandan and Pulikaringali. A fold was made under the Tatanar stone in the Tulu forest and the tiger couple slept in it. Pulikandan and Pulikkarinkali gave birth to six tiger cubs. The six tiger gods were Kandapuli, Marapuli, Kalapuli, Puli Maruthan, Puliyur Kannan, five male tigers and one female tiger named Puliyur Kali. These tiger deities, who are aspects of Parvati Parameshwara, are worshiped in Pulikavus.
Poomala Bhagwati’s residences are called Poomala Kavs. Poomala Bhagavathy is Shakti based on the concepts of Kotavai, Kali and Durga. Poomala is the main worship idol of the Thea community. Kuruvanthatta, Maniara, Talenneri, Ramavilyam, Koyonkara, Kunnacherry, Valyapra, Patcheni, Anikkara, Kuttamath and Nellikathurthi are the important poomala kavs. Among these, Maniara poomalakav is also the main place of worship for the Asharis. The main celebration in Poomalakkau is Kaliyattam, Pooram, Kalatilari and song etc.
The Thea community mainly has four kazakams in the old Alladam and Kola svarupas in the Kasaragod districts of Kannur in northern Kerala. These kazakams are like Karuvantattam kazakam, Ramavilyam kazakam, Nellikathurthi kazakam and Palakunn kazakam. It is under these kazakams that the theyas of the respective Kavus are taken care of. The Vaniya community used to have eighteen Muchilots in seventeen Nadus, today it has increased to more than a hundred. The main seat of all this is Karivellur Muchilotu, the Adi Muchilotu. Kusava community has four main positions from Kasaragod Paika to Payyannur. They are Payyannur Maviccheri Sree Bhagavathy Temple, Peelikot Mullakkara Sree Vishnu Murthy Kav, Erikulam Vettakkorumakan Kottam and Periya Kayakulam Sree Vishnu Devasthanam. Maniyani community has four places namely Kannamangalam, Kappad, Kalyot and Mulavannur. Similarly, the Mowari community also has four Kazhaks. They are Ayiram thengu kazhakam, Neelamkai kazhakam, Keezhara kazhakam and Kuttikara kazhakam. The Shalia sects of Kannur Kasaragod district and Mangalore have only one chief place which is the Madhur temple at Kasaragod. It is customary for Chettian community, who are the ritualists from the fourteen Kazhaks, to gather at Keezhur’s temple once in an year on the second Saturday of the month of Virshichika. Complaints are being settled under the leadership of Nayans of the 14 and the Kazhaks.
