Perumpuzhayachan God is the main worship idol of the Valluva community in northern Kerala. Perumpuzhayachan belongs to the group of Theyyas who became gods after death. In many places in Kannur Kasaragod districts, Perumpuzhayachan Theiyam is being performed.
The legend of Perumpuzhayachan is like this. Lord Vishnu was worshiped by Kankala Deva and Varika Devi, a couple of Vaduvapally Matilakam who were suffering from childless luck. Lord Vishnu, pleased with the couple’s prayers, blessed them with the boon of a divine son. Thus a divine son was born to Lord Kankala and Goddess Varika. They brought up that son with all the opulence and glory.
When that child grew up, he was interested in doing business. But even though he was not interested in sending him to trade at an early age, his parents finally gave in to his wish. He went to see his Uncle Vaduva Chetti to get permission to trade. Uncle also allowed him to do business on his insistence, although he did not allow it at first. His uncle blessed him with bullocks and goods.
He went out with his fellow merchants. He reached Tirunelli after crossing the forest and mountains carrying goods on bullocks. Business went well. There was a rule that in order to do business in Tirunelli, apart from the king, he had to pay tribute to the temple there. But he refused to pay tribute. Tirunelli Perumal(God) was angered by his action and all the bulls turned to stone due to Tirunelli Perumal’s curse. All those who came with him to trade were delirious and wandered all over the place and fell down dead. He also felt headache and fatigue, he walked and fell into the river Perumpuzha and died and then attained salvation.
The next day, A man from Valluva community went fishing and saw his divine body in the river. After seeing the divine body, he started seeing many signs in Valluva’s house. When you met the astrologer and asked the problem, it turned out that the person you saw in the river was not an ordinary man but the god of your clan. So the person who died after falling into the Perumpuzha river was reborn as the god Perumpuzha.
Perumpuzhayachan had Theiyakolam. The Valluvars worshiped Perumpuzhayachan with fish, meat and other Pujas.
Perumpuzhayachan Theyyam has a striking resemblance to Thondachan Theyyam with his prominent eyes, white beard and round hair sticking forward.
