Introduction

Parassinikadav Muthappan temple is situated in the memorizing location   on the bank of the valapattanam river in Kannur district kerala . the three storied structured of the temples is painted in white and is different from kerala traditional temples. principal deity of the temple is sree muthappan a manifestation of two mythical characters called thiruvappana and vellattam . rituals of the temple is unique. the main mode of the worship is the ritual enactment of both the characters of muthappan through a traditional dance known as muthappan theyyam. the temple provides free meals and accommodation to all visitors. the devotees are given boiled black beans and tea as prasadam . we can visit parassini Madappura at any time and even we can stay overnight here. Vellattam and thiruvappana are performed every day morning and evening from 5:45 to 8 am. vellattam is also performed at evening by around 6:30 pm. muthappan thiruvappana maholsavam is the major festival of the temple celebrated for the three days every year in the month of kumbam on malayalam calender .the major offerings are “payamkutti,vellattam,thiruvappana” during the time of the festival. the special thing is inside the temple dogs are considerd as divine and the temple entrance has an idol of dogs at both sides. At present peoples are believed sree muthappan has been the strength of struggling lives of their family. Peoples from other districts are coming here to get divine blessing.parassinikadav muthappan temple is the only temple in kerala where daily theyyam as a ritual.

History of parassini muthappan

Parassinikadav muthappan was the foster son of ayyankara naaduvazi and paadikuttyamma.

Ayyankara naaduvazi and paadikuttyamma led an unhappy life as they did not have any children. In order to get a child, they intensily worshipped the lord shiva. one day lord shiva appeared infront of paadikuttyamma and told her that she will be blessed with a child very soon. One day while bathing in a river paadikutyamma heard that a cries of a baby. she could not believe her eyes and her happiness knew no bounds. She picked up the baby and took her to her home. the couple did not botherd about the caste of the child and brought him up like a brahmin child. but as the child grew up, he began to enter in to the forest and mingled with other peoples like non brahmins. he started to hunt animals and birds and eat them inside the brahmin house . other brahmins of the area began to ridicule the couple. at the time his father was stopped him to going anywhere. One day the boy produced a third eye on his forehead that time all the plants and trees are got burned down. at this time paadikuttyamma realize that her son is not a human being. when muthappan looks at his father paadikuttyamma closed his eyes with her hand and asked him to wear a silver eye it’s called “vellikannu”. Even today the man who performs thiruvappana wears the “vellikannu”. After this incident muthappan left his home and went to kunnathurpaadi mountain. Finally, he reached parassinikadavu and settled here. 

About kunnathurpaadi

Kunnathurpadi is located at an elevation of 3000 ft above sea level on the udumbimala in the Kannur district kerala. the famous kunnathur festival is held here. There is no muthappan temple here. The festival is held in natural atmosphere. This is because muthappan reminds him that he has a lot of fallen leaves, a spring, a mountain, forest and palm trees. this is according to muthappans wish that nature itself should become a temple. there is a cave in the open in the middle of the forest. this festivel is held here every year during the month of december and January. Kunnathur known as the abode of muthappan that after leaving eruveshi padikutty house. Muthappan spent his adolescence and youth in the forest above kunnathurmala.

Main Festival – puthari Thiruvappana

The annual “puthari thiruvappana” festival begins on vrischikam 16 in the Malayalam calender.the festival associated with the harvest celebration of the local people. it is the time when the local people celebrate their joy after their harvest season and celebrate their “puthari”. It is the ritual when the local people will harvest their crops. This is a two-day festival. These two days festivals will have rituals like muthappan vellattam performance in the evening and “kalasam ezunnallath” during the night. On the second day muthappan thiruvappana will be held with colourful processions. Traditional and cultural programmes also happening at the time of the festival. at the time of the festival devotees and farmers offers freshly harvested rice crops to the temple.

Conclusion