KATHAKALI

 

 

It is believed that the world famous art form of    Kerala, took birth in the land of Ganesa, Kottarakkara. Kathakali took form in the seventeenth century. There are some legends behind its origin. 

One day Kottarakkara thampuran, requested the Zamorin of Kozhickode, Manaveda, to send a team of Krishnanattam performers for a festival. But the Zamorin sarcastically denied the request. This was an insult to the Thampuran. Kottarakkara Thampuran went to the Ganapathy temple and pleaded for a way. Then on the surface of his mind arose the plan to create a new art form. He sat on the banks of the temple’s pond looking intothe water. There he saw different shapes of waves in scintillating colour combinations. From this experience Thampuran created the costume designs of Kathakali. He wrote Ramanattam sitting beneath the banyan tree near the temple. Thus it was as a reply to the Zamorin’s sarcasm that Thampuran created a new art form, Ramanattam. This art form later developed into Kathakali.

.The people around Kottarakkara believed that Kathakali became famous with the blessings of The Lord Ganapathy. The first staging of Ramanattam was done in front of Ganesa. Today also Kathakali occupies a prominent position in the programmes of the festival.

Some historians point out that Thampuran created the new art form from the essence of a famous art form called Parappettam, which prevailed in the land during his time.

Kottarakara - Land of Kathakali

The place that we now call Mahaganapathy temple is actually Kizhakkekara Siva Temple. The main deity is none other than Lord Siva himself – Siva facing eastward. In fact Ganapathy is only a minor deity here. But the temple today is famous as a Ganapathy temple rather than a Siva temple.

The legend behind this is that Kizhakkekara temple was the property of two Nampoothiri houses – Akavoor and Oomanpally. Padinjattinkara Siva temple belonged to the royal house of Elayidathu.

One day, before sunrise, rituals were taking place for the consecration of Siva at the Pandinjattinkara temple, the work of which was managed by the legendary Uliyannor Perumthachan. Outside the temple , while listening to the manthras , he started chiselling a piece of jackfruit tree. To his surprise, he found that it was the form of ‘Ganapathy’ that was taking shape. Thus he asked the chief priest to enshrine ‘Ganapathy’ also after the consecration of Siva. The chief priest denied. “This is a Siva temple. Ganapathy cannot be consecrated here.”   Perumthachan, desperate, walked towards the east and thus reached Kizhakkekkara Siva temple. As that priest was preparing offerings for the lord- Unniyappam. Perumthachan asked him “ Can you not sanctify this Ganapathy here ?”. The priest agreed. Perumthachan viewed the place- Siva facing east, in front of that it is Ganga, Parvathy turned towards the west. Southwest there is Sastha and northwest Subrahmanya. If Ganapathy too is installed, Siva family will be complete. The place will be none other that Kailas itself. Thus Ganapathy was installed southeast by Perumthachan. Perumthachan then asked the priest “ Unni Ganapathy must be hungry.What is the sacrificial food that you have prepared?”. “Unniyappam” was the reply. On a leaf, the priest placed six to seven Unniyappams stringed together. Perumthachan, with all his heart devoted his first offerings-Koottappam. Koottappam is still known to be the most wanted nivedhyam for Kottarakkara Ganapathy. After the offering Perumthachan affectionately declared “Though father is the main diety, the son will be much more famous”. His words proved to be true. Kizhakkekkara Siva temple is now known as Kottarakkara Ganapathy temple.