Kativannur veeran or mandappan is a very prominent theyam with amazing mythology and exquisite performance.
There are various types of Theyyas in various categories such as mother gods, maidens, snake gods, those who lost their lives as victims of brutality of the ruling class, living heroes and mythological characters. Kativannur Veeran is a good example of a hero who lived in this very place and became a god after his death. The life of the Kativannur hero and his journey to divinity is full of events. The story of Kativannur Veeran is a combination of adventure, war and love, journey and tragedy.
Mandappan was born as the son of Kumarachan and Parakkaillathu Chakki at Mangat in Kannur district. A warrior since childhood, Mandappan mastered the art of weapons and archery. Remembering about Mandappan, who was always wandering around with his friends without any responsibilities, Kumarachan was always worried. Kumarachan advised Mandappan to do some work but he did not comply. When he did not see any change in Mandappan’s irresponsible behavior, Kumarachan ordered Chakkiamma not to give rice from home if her son did not follow the straight path. But Chakkiamma could not resist giving rice to Mandappan who came hungry. When Kumarachan saw Mandappan eating rice on his way home, he could not contain his anger and broke Mandappan’s bow and arrow and threw them into the well. Mandappan, who was a hero, broke his weapon and it was too much for him to bear. Mandappan left the house with half of the rice left, saying that the loss of the weapon is equal to the loss of life.
Mandappan came out of his house and saw some of his friends going to Kodak. Mandappan felt that it was better to go to Uncle home in Kodak than to go back home. He asked them to take me to Kodak. His friends, realizing that if they took Mandappan, who had come home from home, his parents would be worried about not seeing him, turned Mandappan away. But Mandappan was firm in his decision.
Mandappan knows that the journey to Kodak through forest and hill is very difficult. He went home and prepared the things for the journey and wrapped them in cloth. While leaving the house, he wrapped a coconut and cut it into two parts and drank the water from it. Then he placed the two coconut shells at the door and said that I will come back home when these two coconut shells become one by itself.
Mandappan approached his friends and asked them to put his goods on the bullock, but they did not agree, and the friends hypnotized Mandappan by giving them racks and food and left the place. When Mandappan woke up, he realized that his friends had left him alone, but he did not turn back. Mandappan continued his journey by looking at the hoof mark of the bull and asking for directions from all who saw him. So he crossed the forest, the mountain and the pass and reached his uncle’s house in Kodak.
The uncle and aunt Kathivannurma were very happy to know that their only son-in-law had arrived. When he was served with rice, he said that his friends were suffering in the fields and that I would eat only if I gave them a field of grass and a fire. Although they left him alone and cheated him, he bought grass and fire from his uncle and gave them to his friends and helped them and told them to inform the family that I will not return to Mangat.
Kativannur Veeran grew up completely different in Kodak. He realized the greatness of hard work when he reached Kodak, . Uncle divided all his land to his son Annukan and son-in-law Mandappan. Mandappan became a perfect farmer and oil merchant. A Warrior came from Malanadu and became a big cultivator in Kativannur, which made the local ‘Muthar Mudi Kodakars’ group jealous.
Meanwhile, Mandappan came down to sell oil according to the advice of her aunt, Kativannur Amma. One day when Mandappan came by the Velarkote river after his business, he saw a very beautiful girl by the river. Tired of walking, Mandappan asked her for water. The girl told Mandapan that if someone had left water on the raod, he would give water to him when he came home. He went to the girl’s house and drank water. Mandappan was impressed by the beauty and behavior of the girl at first sight. Mandappan informed her of his interest in marrying her. The girl told me that if he reigns, he can reign as his wife and that he will not accept anyone as his handmaiden. At that time, there were two types of marriage among the Thea community, the first was the method of taking a woman as a wife by giving her a veil and the second was the method of giving her as a temporary wife. A second type of crude marriage was also prevalent in Kotak, where many traders came from outside.
Mandappan informed Uncle and Kathivannooramma of his wish. Both Uncle and Kativannuramma, who were prominent, were not interested in marriage with a Kavutiya caste girl. But they did not oppose Mandappan’s will. The wedding of Mandappan and Chemmarathi was over without much fanfare. On the day of the wedding, Kativannur’s mother gave a piece of advice to the Chemmarathi. “I don’t have a lot of children, but I raised my mandappan as if I were a child. He will never suffer hunger and thirst. If he asks for rice, give him rice, and if he asks for milk, then give him milk, you Chemmarathi, so that there will be no strife in the house.”
After marriage, Mandappan settled in Velarkot with Chemmarathy and started the oil business again. One day, Mandappan went to sell oil and could not come back home because it was late at night. The Chemmarathy was very sad, she suspected that Mandappan had spent the night with some other woman, and the sheep thought that if Mandappan was a warrior and handsome, any girl would go with him. The next morning when Mandappan reached Velarkot, the angry Chemmarathy did not prepare rice and milk for Mandappan. Then she served the rice, but while eating the rice, Mandappan heard a call for war from Muthar Mudi Kudakar. Mandappan left half of the rice to fight. Despite being stopped by the Chemmarathi, Mandappan took his weapon and went to war regardless. After a fierce battle, Mandappan defeated the army of Muthar Mudi Kodakars. It was on the way back that Mandappan realized that he lost his ring and little finger. So Mandappan could not go back home in one situation, he came back to the battlefield again. A group of Muthar Mudi Kodakars were hiding there and they shot arrows at Mandappan’s body. Mandappan’s body was dismembered. Mandappan’s little finger rested on the Velarkot Katali banana leaf. Mandappan, the Chemmarathi who was waiting for her husband, was devastated when she heard of his death. Uncle, Kativannur Amma and Annukkan came to know the information. They collected all the scattered body parts of Mandappan. A huge tree branch fell down due to the force of Chuzhali Bhagwati. On that tree they prepared a pyre for the Mandappan and burnt the Mandappan. Everyone dispersed, then the Chemmarathi said that they see a silver star above, everyone looked up and jumped into the pyre of Mandappan and the very sad Chemmarathi committed suicide.
After the cremation, when everyone got down on the panthar mudi river and bathed, Annukan saw Mandappan and the Chemmarathi, who had become God’s calf, bathing in the quay. But when he went there and looked, he did not see anyone except the water-soaked rock. The little finger wearing the ring fell on the Kadali banana began to tremble, and when Annukan touched the banana, Mandappan’s spirit was revealed to him, and Mandappan soul was told to perform Theyam in Mandappan’s name. Accordingly, Vasuvana theyyam performer and performed Mandappan Theyyam, and Uncle called Theyya as Kativannur Veera. Thus, the name Kativannur Veeran came to the Theyya, commemorating the heroic Mandappan. Along with Kathivannur Veeran Theya, Annukan Kolam is also performed. In memory of the Chemmarathi, a pedestal is made out of banana leaves and decorated when the Kathivannur Veeran ties it called Chemmaratti Thara.
Tandayans (authorities) named Wakot Tandayan, Kallingal Tandayan, Punnakiel Tandayan and Ameri Tandayan saw the performance of Kativannur Veeran Theyyam on their way from Kotak to Malanat and were attracted by it and prayed to bring Kativannur Veeran to Malanat. The hero of Kativannur, who was pleased with them, came to Malanat as well. Kativannur Veeran has place in many places in North Kerala. On many dates, Kativannur Veeran Theiyam is tied there.
