Balussery Kotta Vettakkorumakan Temple - Kerala

Address

Balussery Kotta Vettakkorumakan Temple, Balussery, Kozhikode district Kerala 673612

Diety

Vettakkorumakan

Introduction

Balussery-Kotta Vettakkorumakan temple is a popular one in North Kerala and is about 25 km from Calicut. This was once the fort of the Rajas of Kurumbranad. The local community gives importance to this temple of Lord Shiva’s son as he was born during Lord Siva’s Kirata (that of a tribal) avatar. This deity worshipped in parts of North Kerala and North-Western Tamil Nadu and is commonly referred to as Kiratha-Sunu (son of Kirata) in Sanskrit. This is an ancient shrine situated within the ruins of Balussery Kotta (Fort) in Kozhikode district, Kerala. The presiding deity is believed to be the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy. He is considered a hunter god and is popular in many villages in northern Kerala.

Puranic Significance

Vettakkorumakan is the son of Siva and Parvati. When Shiva appeared before Vettaikkorumakan is traditionally, a deity of hunting (vetta (i) in Malayalam and Tamil means hunting), etymologically the name caused some confusion as to the correct definition of that word. In the olden days in Kerala it was a practice, particularly, in the northern region to invoke the God (vazhipadu in Malayalam) at the shrines of Vettakkarumakan before hunting. The tradition had been followed for centuries by Royals and others before embarking on a major hunting expedition and the purpose was to guide the hunters in the dark wooded areas when hunting dangerous animals. Vettakkorumakan is believed to be the son of lord Shiva and Parvati. In his Kirata Avatar, Shiva appeared before Arjuna as a hunter to grant him his personal powerful weapon – Pasupata Asthara in the presence of his consort Parvati (as huntress) so that he would face the enemies with confidence. Soon after handing over the weapon to Arjuna, the divine couple stayed in the forest for sometime as the serene surrounding offered those comforts and quiet life. During this period, a son with extraordinary power was born to them and it was Vettakkorumakan or son born when Shiva assumed the role of a hunter (Kirata). His son became a good archer as he grew and killed many asuras – demons using his skill in archery. Mischievous as he was, he also gave serious headache to the Devas and Rishis. His playful activities and mischief went far beyond the level of tolerance, so Devas sought the help of Brahma who declined to help them as the boy was the son of Shiva. When, they approached Shiva about Vettakkorumakan, his father told them that it was a natural thing for a boy to be naughty. Lord Vishnu was ready to help them out and approached the naughty boy in the guise of a hunter. Vishnu showed the boy a golden churika, (dagger-cum-sword) and told him he could keep it for himself only if he would stop troubling Rishis and Deva’s and instead protecting them. The boy took the Churika, left his parents’ abode Kailasa and went to the land of Parasurama, Kerala and settled down near Balussery. Hence the Balussery temple is dedicated to Vettakkorumakan who is the family deity of Kurumbranad Rajas.

Special Features

The ceiling and walls of the temple are decorated with mural paintings. The Ananthashayanam (Lord Vishnu in reclining pose) is one of the most popular murals at Balussery temple. The Temple is believed to be more than 1000 years old. The temple is noted for its unique ritual, held during the annual festival, called Pantheerayiram thengayeru, which consists of the breaking of 12,000 coconuts continuously in a rhythmic motion. The most famous of these temples is at Balussery Fort, about 25 km. from Calicut. This was once the fort of the Rajas of Kurumbranad. The temple at Balussery is very small without even a flagstaff or altar. The important vazhivadu or offering here is the distribution of meals to those who come here from other places.

Festivals

The famous festival that lasts for six-days is called the Nilambur Pattu Utsavam and is annually held in the Malayalam Month of Dhanu (January), it is a religious function held by the Nilambur Kovilakam in Vettaikorumakan temple at Nilambur in Malappuram. The major festival activities include the singing of hymns in praise of the Lord. Referred to as Pattu atiyanthiram, the devotional songs are sung by certain tribal community, mainly Kurup community or Kuruppanmar. The ‘Pattu’ refers to the songs in praise of the Lord.