VishnuMoorthi

#5. Vishnumoorthi

Thekkan Gulikan

#4.

Thekkan Gulikan

#3.
Moovalamkuzhi chamundi

#2.
Gulikan Theyyam




Gulikan is known as Lord Siva’s most important warrior. Gulikan’s dance steps are some of the most intricate and interesting of all theyyams. There is a story that says that everyone, even the gods, is afraid even to look at Gulikan. There are two types of gulikan namely, Thekkan Gulikan and Gulikan. Thekkan Gulikan can be identified easly since it has a long hair.
On one occasion, Siva was walking with his consort Parvati who expressed to Siva her fear of looking at Gulikan. In a rage, Siva turned to Gulikan and threw him to the ground. This is sometimes enacted during the performance of a Gulikan theyyam. Spectators at villages in Kerala often express the same kind of fear as Parvati when faced with Gulikan theyyam.

#1.
Thee Chamundi (Vishumoorthi):



Visnumoorthi is very important Theyyam in most of the Kaliyattams. Thee Chamundi Theyyam performance is based on the mythological story of Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha and his disciple Prahlada. Hiranyakashipu wass uncle of Prahlada (son of Hiranyaksha), who was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. The asura king, whose wish was to kill Lord Vishnu tries a number of times to burn Prahlada alive. Finally the Narashimha, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu with a lion head kills Hirayakashipu.

Thee Chamundi theyyam performer jumps into a large heap of burning embers repeatedly resmbling the number of times Prahlada was thrown to the fire.
The body of the dancer is decorated with tender coconut leaves. It is believed that the penance and the spiritual observances make the performer resistant to burns.