Vannathi Bhagwati belongs to the group of Theyyams who became gods after death. This theyam is also known as Vannathi pothi. Pothi is the short form of Bhagavathy(Godess).
Being an ancient ritual art, many of the rituals associated with Theyyams are associated with local communities. The Vannan community is a community that has a very important place among the Theyyam artists in the Theyyam universe. The people of the Vannan community perform many unique Theyyams. Vannans are called Peruvannans in honor after performing some important Theyyams. The women of the Vannan community are called Vannathi. In the past, the Vannathi were mainly involved in the profession of washing clothes.
In ancient times, when there was a death or a birth in the family, relatives used to perform rituals like Valaima and Pula. According to the custom, when Valaima and Pula are over, it was believed that washed and cleaned clothes should be bought from Vannathi and worn. Similarly, even after menstruation, women used to change and wear the clothes washed by the Vannathi. The clothes given by Vannathi for such ceremonies are called Vannathimatt.
Vannathi pothi originated from the death of Aryakara Vannathi, the wife of a Peruvannan who was a theyam artist. Although there are many legends about Vannathi Pothi, the most popular is the story of Aryakara Vannathi, who was killed by Kali, the daughter of Lord Shiva and turned into a divine calf.
Once upon a time Lord Lord Shiva’s daughter Kali asked siva that she should take a bath and get clean and change into a nice dress after her first menstruation. Mahadev gave his daughter the name of Aryakara Vannathi in Malanadu. After this, Kali took the form of a wild woman and came to earth. Kali saw Aryakara Vannathi walking with dress as usual. On seeing Vannathi, Kali expressed her demand, but Aryakara Vannathi was not there to give the dress to a stranger.
Disappointed, Kali went down to bathe in a river and saw Aryakara Vannathi washing clothes at the other pier. As a last ditch effort, Kali swam to Vannathi and asked her once more. But Vannathi insisted that it would not be possible to change it. Besides that, Vannathi mocked Kali. Unable to control his anger, Kali grabbed Vannathi’s hair and hit her head on a washing stone, took a weapon and beheaded her. After being killed by Kali, Vannathi was later reborn as a goddess and became Vannathi Bhagwati. In later times, Vannathi Bhagwati performed as Vannathi Pothi in Malanadu.
There is another similar story about the origin of Vannathi Bhagwati. In this story, it is Karuwal Bhagwati, the wild goddess, who asks Vannathi for a change and later kills Vannathi. Karuwal, who came in the guise of a wild girl, refused to give Vannathi mat to Bhagwati, and Karuwal got angry and killed Bhagwati by hitting her head on a rock. Vannathi was killed by Karuwal Bhagwati and was later reborn as God Karu.
A similar story exists in associated with Alada Bhagavathy(Goddess of Alada) or Alayattu Bhagavathy. Unwilling to give her mat, Alayattu Bhagavathy drowned Vannathy in the river and later Vannathi, who was killed by Alayattu Bhagavathy, was reborn as Vannathi Bhagavathy.
People belonging to the community such as Mavilar, Chingathanam, Panar etc. perform the Theyyam of Vannathi pothi. Vannathi Pothi Theyyam has very simple clothes and grooming. Vannathi Pothi’s Theyyam also has a symbolic performance of washing clothes, reminiscent of the story of Vannathi.
