Muthappan Temple is located in the Kannur District of North Malabar region in Kerala state, South India, on the banks of the Valapattam river. It is dedicated to Sree Muthappan, the most popular local deity.[1]
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As a boy, Muthappan was rebellious. He was a great hunter and would skin the animals that he killed and wear their skins as clothes. One day, He came across a coconut tree that was being tapped for toddy. He climbed the tree and emptied the jar that was holding the toddy. When the toddy tapper returned and saw Muthappan, he immediately challenged his behavior. Muthappan turned the man to stone for daring to address such a powerful deity in that manner. During performances of the Muthappan theyyam, the performer consumes the toddy liquor and passes it around to the spectators. Hence, Muthappan "breaks" the rules by allowing alcohol onto temple grounds. The rituals of the temple are done by the priests from the Thiyya community of malabar.
Several Muthappan Temples may be found in Kannur and Kasaragod districts, indicating how popular the deity is in this area. Each madappura has its own tradition. There is an interesting story of how Sree Muthappan Temple came to be built. An elder member of the Koroth family (a famous scholar who was known as "Ezhuthachan" for his commendable achievement as a teacher) regularly visited the place now known as the Muthappan temple and drank madhu, a type of liquor. As he was a devotee, before drinking the madhu he would pour some drops of it on the nearby jackfruit tree for an offering. He regularly repeated the practice. Several years after his death, the villagers began having serious problems , so they tried to determine the cause of their woes with the assistance of an astrologer. He determined that, as a result of the old man's offerings, the deity had taken up residence there. After the man's death, Muthappan didn't get any more madhu. His anger was creating the disturbances. To appease him, the villagers erected a temple in his honor. The Koroth family got the right of Koymma (patronage) for the temple.
In modern times, a committee was formed to promote the temple. As a result, it is now visited daily by hundreds of people. They believe that the deity can cure all diseases and bring prosperity to his devotees.
1. Thulam 1st to Vrischikam 15th every year.
2. Amaavasi (new moon) day of Karkkitakam and Thulam.
3. "Nira" day of the temple.
4. When there is a death in the Madappura family.
The offerings made to Sree Muthappan by devotees are Paimkutty, Vellattam and Thiruvappana. The offerings by the Matayan are Vecheringat (a boiled mixture of banana, pepper, turmeric powder and salt.), Neerkari (a mixture of raw rice powder, salt, turmeric powder and pepper), boiled gram, or coconut slices. Toddy and burnt dry fish are also used as offerings.
Bus and taxi services are readily available.
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