Muchilot Bhagwati’s Theyya Kolam is the most prominent in Theyyam universe. Muchilotu Bhagavathy is the deity of the Vanya community.
The Brahmins of Perinchelloor (present-day Taliparamba) in North Kerala were exceptionally learned. There was no one to rival them in Vedic science. Even the Brahmins from different villages used to come to Perinchellor to engage in debates and try to prove their mettle in Vedic science and polemics.
Reramangalam Mana(house) was a mana whose name was heard in Vedic science and Tarka science. But due to the lack of child luck, the generation of Reramangalam Mana was in a state of extinction. At that stage, as a result of Reramangalam Thirumeni’s prayers, a very intelligent girl was born in the family home. By the time she was fifteen, the girl had mastered all the arts. With her knowledge and prowess, the virgin girl defeated even the Brahmins of Perunchellur land. The Perinchelloor Brahmins, who had been undefeated all this time, felt very humiliated to be defeated by a little girl.
The Brahmins of Perinchellur waited for an opportunity to defeat the girl. At the same time, the girl’s marriage was fixed. When the wedding was only three days away, Local king came and asked the girl for a favor. The Brahmins of Perinchelloor have invited the scholars of their country to a debate and they need girl’s help. So she took the permission of Reramangalam Thirumeni and set out for the debate.
On the first two days the girl defeated the Perinchellor Brahmins in the debate but on the third day the Brahmins asked the girl two questions “Which is the greatest pain ? Which is the greatest pleasure?”. The greatest pain labor pain the greatest pleasure sex pleasure ,the girl answered without any doubt. But that answer was used by Brahmins to personally kill the girl. The Perinchellor Brahmins established that the girl was not a virgin, she knew the pains of labor and the pains of childbirth, and that is why she spoke so accurately about the pains of labor and the pains of labor. They insulted the girl and left her in the middle of an argument. The girl was slandered all over the village. Because of this, her wedding was also stopped.
The girl walked towards the north in unbearable distress. On reaching Karivellur, the girl met Karivellur Appan and Deramangalam Bhagavathy and told her sorrows and prayed. To prove her innocence, the girl prepared a pyre and decided to commit suicide by jumping on it. At that time, the girl asked Muchilotu Vanyan, who was going that way with oil, to pour oil on the fire. Seeing the girl standing in the fire, Vanyan poured all the oil in his hand into the fire in some panic. The fire spread and thus the virgin proved her chastity by entering the fire. That’s when Vanyan realized how wrong he had done. Goddess appeared from the fire and blessed Vanyan.
Vanyan came home with an empty oil pot and found his oil pot full again. The girl who committed suicide was reborn as Bhagavathy with the blessings of Karivellurappan and Deramangalam Devi, and Muchilotu, the clan goddess of Vanyas, became Bhagavathy. In a dream vision of King Kolathiri, Muchilotu Bhagavathy told him to perform her Theyya Kolam, according to which Muchilotu Bhagavathy started performing the Theyya Kolam. It is known that the kolam of Muchilot Bhagwati was arranged and first tied by Manakkadan Gurus, a famous artist and magician of that time.
People belonging to the Vannan community use to perform Muchilotu Bhagavathi Theyyam. From Kasaragod Peruthana to Vadakara Vaikalasery today there are more than a hundred Muchilot Kavus(temple). However, Karivellur Muchilot is the most important as it is the origin.
Muchilottu Bhagwati Theyam, who is adorned with all beauty, is like a goddess of beauty. Being a Swatika Bhava, this Theyya has only very gentle movements. Serving food is very important among the Kavu’s who carry out Muchilotu Theyam.
