KALAMEZHUTHUM PATTUM

KALAMEZHUTHUM PATTUM –

The Temple Ritual Of Kerala

Dear Friends,

I heard from my father and still remember  about Kalamezhuthum Pattum in my home Thonallur PattupurakkavuBhadra kali temple near Pandalam. I read briefly  about Kalamezhuthu , oracle etc. I once listened to oracle at my Kula deivam temple at Sadavudayarkovil near KallidaiKurichi. 

The following is a brief description compiled about Kalamezhuthumpattum conducted at Amirtapuri Mata Amirtandamayi Matt at Quilon by Anuradha Goyal on October 8, 2018. Hope this compilation will be interesting.

Sincerely,

Gopala Krishnan R. 

KalamezhuthumPattum was a surprise discovery in Kerala, where I was to attend a seminar on Devi Worship in India. I never knew that the worship of Devi, especially in her form of Bhadrakali is so popular in Kerala. Through some of the papers presented I gathered a bit about Devi worship in Kerala. Nothing and I repeat nothing, could have prepared me for the sensory extravaganza that was unfolding in the temple outside the Seminar room.

KalamezhuthumPattum - Temple Rituals of Kerala

We were told that a Kolam or a Rangoli would be drawn and worshipped. I expected it to be a lovely one in geometric shapes or a mandala. Come with me to get a glimpse of what I saw at Amritapuri.

11 AM – Everything begins with a Pooja

The ritual started with a small Pooja. A mandapa was created using four poles and the roof (called Koora) was a white cloth. In the middle was a moon-shaped sword – a kind of a cross between a sword and a sickle, resting against a wooden stool. This is Chandrahasa – the sword of Bhadrakali. There are grains – the symbol of prosperity all around it. Grains, in turn, are surrounded by oil lamps.

The ceremonial ritual starts with the blowing of conch as the Yajamana or the person sponsoring the ritual offers a red cloth to the priest. The cloth is put on the ceiling and the pooja begins with singing with the live music.

We spend half an hour observing the Pooja before returning to the seminar hall.

2 PM – Kolam of Bhadrakali

We broke for lunch and I stepped into the temple to see how the Kolam or Rangoli is progressing. I was stunned by what I saw. A huge outline defines the Devi with 8 arms.Each hand having a defining Ayudh or weapon in hand. Roughly half of her body was colored and the other half was in waiting.

This is when I learned about the 5 colors used in the making of Kalamezguttu – Red, Yellow, Black, Green, and White. All colors are made from natural sources – that used to be a normal thing in India before chemicals invaded us. White is made from rice flour, black from charcoal, yellow from turmeric, green from green leaves. Red is either made by mixing turmeric with lime.

We observed the skillful fingers of four men in Veshtis moving and creating patterns. The most interesting bit was how the jewelry was being created by making the color pass through the gaps between fingers. It was magical. While I was trying to figure out how they color, Ma Bhadrakali was already adorned with her jewelry.

The designs of BhadrakaliKolam I was told are made impromptu. The form and icons are fixed.. The costume and jewelry are painted in a different way every time – allowing the artisans freedom within the defined boundaries.

5 PM – BhadrakaliKolam is ready to be worshipped

The mural is almost complete or so it looks to us. It was breathtakingly beautiful in vibrant colors complete with a Raudra or a fearsome expression on the face of Ma Bhadrakali. Just look at the way the necklaces sit on top of her breasts giving a three-dimensional look to the mural.

Severed Head of Darukasur

However, it is when we come back after another hour or so that we realize that the most difficult part of the mural has been added. It was the head of Daruka or the demon killed by the goddess Bhadrakali. The depiction of the Daruka was so real, it felt as if the head has just been severed.

We were introduced to musical instruments like Ilathalam, VeekkanChenda,Kuzhal, Kombu, and Chenda.

7 PM – Worship of Bhadrakali

The Goddess is ready in all her glory. Her body outlined beautifully as she holds a serpent or a naga in one hand and the head of Daruka in another. She is surrounded by mounds of grains on banana leaves with coconuts on top of them. Oil lamps interspersed the grain mounds at regular intervals. A priest sits near her feet and starts the worship. He invokes the Devi, worships her, as three people play music and sing the Devi Stutis.

After the Pooja was complete, drums start playing.

9 PM – Time to send her back

The scene moves outside the room. One of the persons involved in the ritual was possessed and became an Oracle. He danced and we saw him as the Devi incarnate. We welcomed the Devi with traditional Aarati Thali or the plate with oil lamp & flowers. Since I was wearing a Sari that day, I became a part of the ritual in welcoming the Devi.

He stopped at places, picked up grains and flowers from our plates and blessed all those around.

The tempo of drums and the dance increased as we moved back into the room. Inside the room, the man who was now Devi danced around the image for good 30-40 minutes. All this while the sword in which the Devi was invoked was in his hands. His hands trembled but his grip remained tight. Towards the end, he rotated the sword like a performer as he circumambulated around the image of Bhadrakali. Some people felt scaredbut most of us were in awe of what we were witnessing.

At some point in time, the chief priest erased the face of the Devi drawn on the floor. The Oracle then stepped on the drawing and danced. He slowly erased the rest of the drawing with his feet or with leaves available there.The powder was then given as a prasad to all those present there.

Speechless we all were – soaking in the visual spectacle that we just witnessed amidst the high energy crescendo created by the drums. I felt a tinge of sadness as I saw the beautiful painting return to its powder state with all the colors mixed together.

Next day we asked the local experts to explain to us this ritual of Kerala from various angles. Here isall that I gathered for you.

What is Kalamezhuthum Pattum?

Kalamezhuthum comes from two words Kalam&Ezhuthu in Malayalam. Kalam means picture and Ezhuthu means painting. So, the word essentially means painting a picture. However, the picture is just one part of the whole ritual. Singing, dancing and playing music has an equally important role in the ritual. Songs sung are in old Malayalam, which is a mix of current day Tamil and Malayalam.

In the initial part of the ritual, songs are sung to invoke the Devi in the image. Towards the end of the ritual, songs are sung to pacify the Goddess.

It is also a harvest ritual where the peasants request the goddess to protect their crop..

It brings together different communities who play different roles in the rituals. The main pooja is done by a Brahmin.Kurup community plays the music, Polluvars play the drums, the Wariers collect the flowers to make garlands. Basically, all communities have a role to play in the ritual.

Kalamezhuttu is on the intangible heritage list of UNESCO.

Philosophically, Kalamezhuthum Pattum depicts the three states of existence in the world – Srishti or Creation, Sthiti or sustenance and Samhar or destruction.

Story of Darukasura

AsuraDaruka did severe penance and received a boon from Shiva. Daruka asked that no man can kill him, thus asking immortality in his mind. Shiva granted the boon. Now, aware of his immortality he started creating havoc. This Shiva created Kali from his third eye and it is she who killed the Asura Daruka.

It is said that when Narada Muni was narrating this story to Shiva, he drew a picture thus starting this tradition of drawing the image of Kali as Darukajit or the one who won over Daruka.

When is Kalamezhuthum Pattum Ritual done?Bhadrakali Kalamezhuthum Pattum - Kerala

It can be done at any time of the year. Many people do it to ask the Goddess for a wish. People typically do it for getting rid of diseases, to get a job or to get married..

However, annually it is done in the month of Kartik that would typically fall in October/November. In the Bhadrakali temples of Kerala, it is done every day from the first day of Kartik month for 41 days..

It is an evening ritual. The picture is drawn throughout the day. Depending on the complexity and size they may begin the process either in the morning or afternoon. The main ritual always takes place in the evening.

Where is Kalamezhuthum Pattum ritual performed?

It is traditionally performed in Kali temples or Bhagavati Temples. It is particularly popular in Bhadrakali temples of Kerala.

 In some versions, it is also performed in Ayyapa temples &Vettakkorumakan (son of Shiva and Parvati as hunters) temples where the painting would correspond to the temple deity.

There is no restriction on where it can be performed as long as it is a sacred space and that can be your temple at home.

I would highly recommend watching this temple ritual of Kerala. You have to see it, to believe it – both how beautiful it looks when so many kinds of art forms come together and the sheer energy it creates-By Anuradha GoyalO ctober 8, 2018