Kadangot Makkam

Kadangot Makkam is a regional Hindu goddess worshiped in the North Malabar region in Kerala, India. Makkam is worshipped and performed as Theyyam form, known as Makkappothi or Makkavum makkalum (literally meaning Makkam and her children). According to the myths, Makkam and her two children were killed by her eleven brothers, and they attained divine status after their death.¶

Overview

Kadangot Makam, a regional Hindu goddess worshiped in the North Malabar region in Kerala, India is believed to be a heroic woman who attained divine status after death.¶

Myth

It is believed that Makkamm was the only daughter of Unicheriya of Kadangot Nambiar family of Kunhimangalam near Payyannur in Kannur district. She was the only sister among the 12 warrior brothers of Kolathiri king. Makkam is said to be a daughter who was born with great splendor when her parents prayed a lot for a girl child, after the birth of 12 sons. She grew up to be the beloved sister of 12 brothers. Makkam had twins named Chathu and Chiru, from her marriage to her uncle's (mother's brother) son, Kuttinambar. As it was the time of war between Neriyot kingdom and Kolathiri, her brothers joined the war. She and her sons lived with the wives of brothers. The wives of brothers, who did not like her, decided to trick her. They made scandalous stories about Makkam and a Vaniyan who used to bring oil to the house. It was at the time when Makkam's brothers were returning from the war that Vaniyan brought oil, As makkam was having her periods those days she couldn't take the oil pot as she will pollute it as it was used for worship, she looked around for her sisters-in-law to receive the oil from vaniyan but she could not find them as they intentionally hid inside the house ignoring her call for help as part of their preplan. As she was not allowed to take the oil pot, Makkam asked him to put the oil inside the house since the wives of brothers hid and ignored her call for help. By the time Vaniyan came out of the house after placing the oil pot inside the house, the sister in laws came out suddenly and alleged makkam to have extra marital affair with vaniyan and told the same to their husbands after they reached home. Believing their wife's slander, the brothers decide to kill Makkam.¶

Theyyam

Makkam, her children and Mavilan who died with her are worshipped as theyyam form. Makkam theyyam is also known as Makkappothi. Makkam Theyyam is performed as part of the annual festival of the shrines of Makkam. Apart from that, of other prayers, for example, when families wish for children, they sponsor theyyam performance.¶

Other works

K. M. Kunjilakshmi Kuteilamba, Kuttamath Kanyoor Kunhikrishna Kurup and K. M. K. Nair wrote the story of Makkam in kilippattu style and published it as Kadangot Makkam (kilippattu) in 1918.¶

The text above is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Kadangot Makkam”, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licence.¶

Kadangot Makkam is regional Hindu goddess, according to the structured record cited below. This entry was generated automatically from that record and has not yet been reviewed by a person familiar with the tradition.¹¶

The source record links this tradition to 1 external register, which can be verified through the citation.¹¶