Sunday, February 24, 2008

"Theyyam" (തെയ്യം)

"Theyyam" is a religious performance which has a varity of art forms। This includes Beats(drums),music (Thottam paattu) ,Dress making,Crown making ,sculpture,Drawing (making designs on face and body),dance etc

All materials used for the worshiping is mainly agricultural products.

The devotees sees the god through the dancer here. Here it create a spiritual experience that the GOD hasincarnated infront of the devotees through the performer.

Here the temple "KeNamamgalam Kazhakam" situated in Pallikkara village , Kasarkod district,Kerala. This ritual art form is emerged with the farmers life and culture.

"Fertility goddess" (KeNaMangalath Bhagavathi) കേണമംഗലത്ത് ഭഗവതി.

kENamangalathu BHagavathi14

വൈവിധ്യമാര്‍ന്ന കലാനൈപുണികതകളുടെ മൂര്‍ത്തീമദ്ഭാവമായ ഒരനുഷ്ഠാനമാണു തെയ്യം. വാദ്യം,സംഗീതം,കരകൌശലം(തുന്നല്‍,കിരീട നിര്‍മാണം),ശില്പം,ചിത്രകല(മേലെഴുത്ത്,മുഖത്തെഴുത്ത്),നടനം അങ്ങനെ പലതും.പൂജാദ്രവ്യങ്ങള്‍ എല്ലാം കാര്‍ഷിക വിഭവങ്ങളാണ്.

പാരമ്പര്യ വിധിപ്രകാരം കോലം കെട്ടുന്നത് കോലക്കാരനാണെങ്കിലും ആ നര്‍ത്തകനിലൂടെ ഭക്തര്‍ കാണുന്നത് ദൈവത്തെ ആണെന്നു വിശ്വാസം.ദൈവം കോലത്തിന്റെ രൂപത്തില്‍ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടതാണെന്ന അനുഭൂതി ഉളവാകുന്നു.

ശ്രീ കേണമംഗലം കഴകം കാസറ്കോട് ജില്ലയില് നീലേശ്വരം പള്ളിക്കരയില് സ്ഥിതിചെയ്യുന്നു. കാര്‍ഷിക സംസ്കൃതിയോട് ഇണങ്ങി ചേര്‍ന്ന ഒരു അനുഷ്ഠാനമാണിത്.

മുകളില്‍ കാണുന്ന ശ്രീ കേണമംഗലത്ത് ഭഗവതി ഊര്‍വരതാ ദേവത ആണെന്നു വിശ്വസിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു

kireeTam1

And from a larger distance it looks like this..

Kireedam6

Here there were two more Theyyams performed on the same Kaavu*(referred as temple).One is of Vishnu Murthi here called as "para devatha" and "Gulikan" who believed to be incarnation of God Shiva.

Theyyam of Para-Devatha(Vishnu Murthi) is performed inside the compound of the kaavu and Gulikan is performed on west side of the kaavu.

കാവില്‍ ശിവ ശക്തി സങ്കല്പങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു എന്നും ശക്തി സങ്കല്പമായ ഭഗവതിയെ മതില്‍കകത്തും ശൈവ സങ്കല്പമായ ഗുളികനെ പടിഞ്ഞാറു ഭാഗത്തും പ്രതിഷ്ഠിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു,പരദേവത(വിഷ്ണുമൂര്‍ത്തി) കെട്ടിയാടുന്നത് മതില്‍കകത്തും ഗുളികന്‍ കെട്ടിയാടുന്നത് കാവിനു പടിഞ്ഞാറു ഭാഗത്തുമാണ്.കേണമംഗലത്ത് കഴകം യാദവസമുദായത്തിന്റെതാണെന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നു.അതിനാലായിരിക്കണം വിഷ്ണു മൂര്‍ത്തി ഇവിടെ പരദേവത ആയത്

പരദേവത(Vishnu Murthi) para devatha10

പരദേവത(Vishnu Murthi) para dEvatha2

Can notice the difference between Para-devatha(Vishnu Murthi) and "Fertility goddess" (KeNa Mangalath Bhagavathi) from these pictures.Notable differences the big crown and the teeth and there are more

The theyyam of Gulikan(believed to be incarnation of God Shiva) is totally different from the others.Here the Gulikan is a male god. And here the performer wears a mask . The hair is made from tender leaves of coconut. There is no much dress or ornaments on chest. A red dress is worn on the waist.Holy trident and a metal bell is held on hands.Which indicates God Shiva.

ശിവന്റെ അവതാരം എന്നു കരുതപ്പെടുന്ന ഗുളികന് (ഒരു പുരുഷ ദൈവം) പൊയ് മുഖം ധരിച്ചിരിക്കും.പിന്നെ കുരുത്തോല കൊണ്ടുള്ള തലമുടിയും പ്രത്യേകതയാണു. മാറില്‍ പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് അലങ്കാരം ഇല്ലതന്നെ.അരയില്‍ ചുവന്ന വസ്ത്രമുണ്ട്.കയ്യില്‍ ത്രിശൂലവും മണിയും കാണാം.

Lord Gulikan

gulikan8

Lord Gulikan giving offerings to devotees

gulikan6

The Holy Kalasham ( കലശം എഴുന്നള്ളിപ്പ്) kalaSHam2

The main priest (കോമരം) Komaram

The Kaavu (Temple) The rituals were performed here Kaav1

All shots are taken on the occasion of "Kaliyattam " festival in Kenamangalam Bhagavati temple , Pallikkara Kasarkod Dist Kerala.

On Feb 24th ,2008

Photos in Flickr

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Reincarnation (THE BASEMENT PART-2)

I was floating and flying faster. Being pulled by the destiny. I can see the surroundings there was smoke every where .

It started to rain as well. Not aware how long I was in that stage. Now there was full white light around me..

I found myself inside a big machine. It has so many tooth wheels. They were rotating still not making any sound. But still i can feel the music of the silence over there. There should be some rhythm for those machines. I realize that I was not alone there. There were many there all were in white angelic dress. all are having clear faces with no emotions on their faces..

Some thoughts started to come.

"You will be taken by those wheels when ur time comes"

I was just looking at the big machine. Suddenly I was pushed near the machine ..

I was inside the rotating wheel which landed me to a gateway of a big palace.. The palace was huge and beautiful. Made of gold and diamonds. There I saw a familiar face.But not exactly familiar. I wanted to ask him about all these happenings.

I don’t have a body that time to speak. Still thoughts do made the conversation

"You?"

He smiled. That pale face I still remember I saw it some where.

"How I came here ?"

"It was time that leads you here"

"What happened actually?"

"There was an atomic explosion where u were and you are lucky to have a death with less pain"

"And I hears a baby's cry?"

"That was the sound you made for the first time. You have visualized all your past now"

"And the black paint which pulled me down?"

"A protection you have got. That gave u a painless death and hope you don’t have any more questions to ask"

He disappeared. I felt like a big glass shield was shattered.

I saw the gate opened for me.

There stood a beautiful lady with long dark hair. There was a hallo behind her head. The blue eyes where shining like diamonds. I don’t have a body that time to speak. Still thoughts do made the conversation

"You..?"

"I am the love and prosperity that you are going to experience in the future"

"Is it heaven?"

"Heaven and hell is in the earth itself"

"And to whom i was speaking before the gate ?"

"I was you. You were speaking to your mirror image. And actually no one is speaking here. its just thoughts"

"Yes I know and even your lips are not moving."

"And now you know everything. Look in to my eyes"

I looked in to the shining eyes. I found my self disappearing in to eyes. I was in a very very small room or a small cabin. It was reddish color around me...later I heard the laughing sound of a baby.. After some time I was in a new world. I was delighted to get fresh air...Some one took me in to their hands. and kissed me..

I was delighted..

"I am born again in a new world of prosperity"

============================================

THE END

============================================

It is based on a dream I saw .

Hope you enjoyed it. send me the suggestions and ideas...

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

The Basement....

(A short story .................kind of fiction or fantasy)

I left office that day very late...Me with my colleague started to walk down to the basement. I was just storing the numbers of my friends in the new nokia handset which I received yesterday..

I asked "Hey wat s Rijesh's number ?"

He said "9987034235"

"Ok"

While walking down to basement i asked him

"This has only some old and very common ring Nokia standard tone. You send me some nice to mine daa"

"But I also has the same old stuffs"

"Do you have the song of the film ‘Classmates’?"

"Yes"

"Send to me I need that one as ring tone"

"okie And u send me the photos you taken last week on the team outing"

I said "Oh yes.. i forgot to send you ..I will mail you tomorrow"

My bike and my friend's car was parked there on basement. Once we reached the basement we saw the floor of the basement was completely dark as if it was covered with tar or some odd smelling black paint.

One of the security guy told us

"Saar cars mathe two wheelers ella aakade ge shift madidini"

(Cars and two wheelers are shifted to other side )

We have to walk thru the black wet painted floor to reach near the vehicles. The car was looking so nice. A brand new Swift in blue color. While getting in to the car my friend said

"Coming Wednesday don’t forget .. my marriage.. you come to my room we will go together to Kannur* in my car..."

I said "O yes yes "..

He left..

I saw my bike parked there.. around 20 feet away from me... now the basement was deserted..

I can hear the sound of my breathing... i looked down my shoes was covered with black sticky paint...

My feet were sticking to the floor while walking... i can hear the sound of my steps....

First it appears that my bike is near to me...i started to walk fast but I realize that the bike is still away from me...I looked back I can see my foot mark on the paint...I am walking... Still it looks like every thing on the Basement was going away from me....My head started aching very much... My mobile rang. the ring tone was strange one that i ever heard ... it was sound of an infant's cry...First i got stunned and take out my mobile...the number was not a familiar one...the call got disconnected...

I started to walk again...I am feeling like some one is pulling me from earth to my shoes... i felt like i am being taken in to my shoes... For a moment all the images in front of me looked like negative images (like photo's negatives).The weight of my bag increased so heavily...i was falling down...All was white around me...

I am seeing the images of my parents...my childhood days. Images of my college life...and yesterdays cricket match between India and West Indies...and today’s team meting.. all images flashed in a second in front of me...

I tried to get up but i was not to do so... i was feeling like i am just floating ...now ..just started to float more higher... yes...i am flying... I just looked down...

I saw me lying down on that black floor. My face was more pale than usual. spectacles was laying near my head on the floor..... Bleeding from nose....my phone was ringing...the ring tone of a baby's cry...i just started to move more higher....I was experiencing the complete weightlessness and beyond gravitational force...

....................... This is the beginning.. (second part "Reincarnation")