Representing Feminine Divinity: A Visual Ethnography of Kaliyattam in North Malabar

Abstract

Worship of female deities has a history going back to the overall practice of religious worship in human society. This kind of worship has been done with various forms of rituals and performances using images, idols, etc., and the theyyam of North Malabar in South India have a special significance in this regard. In the ritual ceremony of kaliyattam, the deities are worshipped as theyyam (Ashley 1979; Miller 1954; Tarabout 2005). The word theyyam is a corrupt form for the term 'daivam', which means god in Malayalam. Specialised performers belonging to specific caste groups wear symbolic attire with elaborate costumes, make-up and properties and get transformed into gods and goddesses. To complete this physical and visual transformation, they also hope to be possessed by the divine power through a series of rituals in traditional shrines. The theyyam then performs a series of acts and demonstrates the myths, legendary tales and portray godly characters before the audience. The key part of the ceremony is the dance of the deity that takes place towards the end of the main rituals. After the dance, the theyyam-the god incarnate-blesses the devotees. There are hundreds of different theyyams in the pantheon, and a majority of them are female goddesses. The emic view of the community suggests that the whole ritual itself is connected to the worship of Kalithe ferocious Shivite goddess, and not surprisingly, most theyyams have myths related to Kali, the manifestation of Lord Shiva's power through feminine form. Another group in the pantheon, which is related to Photo Essay