Main deities/theyyams of Thiyyas

Sree Kurumba Bhagavathi

    The Thiyyas are one of the largest communities in Kerala, stretching from Mangalore in Karnataka to Thrissur district in Kerala. Thiyyas worships a variety of deities. All the deities worshiped by the Thiyyas are their traditional deities. Therefore, the idols and rituals of the Thiyyas have a distinct identity of their own. The Thiyyas mainly worship the idols of their late ancestors, deities who came to Malabar from Aryavartha in wooden ships, animal deities, fertility deities and hunting deities. Listed below are some of the important deities worshiped by the Thiyyas in Malabar

1. Sri Kurumba Bhagwati

Sree Kurumba

Sri Kurumba Bhagwati is a deity widely worshiped by the Thiyya community from Kodungallur to Mangalore. This goddess is the goddess of disease. Kuru means smallpox and Amba means 'mother'. Sri Kurumba is the mother goddess worshiped in connection with smallpox. Legend has it that Cheerumba Nalvar was a goddess who sailed from Aryanad to Malabar in a wooden boat. Kannur Kanakathoor The first ayathar of Sri Kurumba was the Konkannan ayathar belonging to the Thiyya community of Sri Kurumbakkavu.

2. Vayanattu Kulavan

Vayanattu Kulavan

The ancestral deity worshiped by the Thiyyas. It is widely worshiped in the Thiyya Tharavads of Kasaragod and Kannur districts. The Thiyya community addresses the Wayanatu Kulavan as Thondachan, which means ancestor.

 3. Muthappan

Muthappan

Muthappan is an ancestral deity. Muthappan's song beautifully depicts hunting situations. Muthappan was born in the village of Eruveshi in the valley of Kudakumala, east of Taliparamba. The Madappuras are the temples dedicated to Muthappan. Muthappan's place of worship is Kunnathoorpadi. Parassini Madappura, Kadalode Kannapuram Madappura and Padavil Muthappan Madappura are some of the important Muthappan Madappuras.

4. Kandanarkelan

The ancestral deity worshiped by the Thiyya community along with the Wayanattu Kulavan. Thiyyas worships Kelan, who died in a fire set for re-cultivation, as Kandanar Kelan.

Kandanarkelan

5. Poomala Bhagavathi

One of the important deities worshiped by the Thiyya community in the area from Ezhimala to Kanhangad. The goddess who came to Ezhimala from Aryavartham by wooden ship.

6. Marakkala devathamar

These are the goddesses who came to Malabar in a wooden ship from Aryanad. These theyyams are in the form of a beautiful goddess seated inside a ship. Thiruvarkattu Bhagwati, Ayiti Bhagwati, Aryakkara Bhagwati, Aryapoonkanni, Uchulikkadavathu Bhagwati and many other marakkala deities are worshiped by the Thiyyas. 

Uchoolikkadavath Bhagavathi

7. Kurathiyamma

Kurathiyamma

Kurathi is the goddess of fertility. Kurathi is the goddess worshiped in the house of Tuluthiyan. Today, this theyyam has become a widely worshiped theyyam across the Tulunadu to Kannur.

8. Pallot Daivathar / Andalur Daivathar

Palottu daivathar

Pallottu Daivathar is the conceptual goddess who came to Malabar from Aryavartha via a wooden ship. Malliot Pallotkavu, Athiyadam Pallotkavu, Keechery Pallottu kavu, Azhikode Pallottu kavu and Andalurkavu are the main Pallottu kavus of the Thiyyas. Apart from these, the Pallottu Daivathar worshiped at Kanathur Sri Kurumbakavu and Anikkara Poomala Bhagavathi.

9. Kammadathamma / Dandyanganath Bhagavathi

Kammadathamma

Kammadathamma is a goddess in the Thai paradeva concept. Kammadathamma is worshiped in many thiyya tharavads and shrines.

10. Poomaruthan Theyyam

Poomaruthan theyyam

Theyyam who came to Malabar in a wooden ship with Aryappomala Bhagavathi

10. Pulichamundi (Vishnumoorthy)

Pulichamundi (vishnumurthi)

Pulichamundi (now also known as Vishnumoorthy), the main deity of Tulu Nadu, came to Malnad 900 years ago with a Nellikkathiyyan named Palanthayi Kannan and was worshiped from Kasaragod to Kozhikode. Pulichamundi (Vishnumoorthy) is the most widely worshiped Tulutheyam in Malabar.

11. Raktachamundi

Rakthachamundi

Raktachamundi is a deity who is widely worshiped along with Vishnumoorthi. Raktachamundi is a theyyam that came to Malabar from Kumbala Swaroopam with Palanthayi Kannan. This theyyam is widely worshiped in Malabar.

12. Puthiya Bhagwati

Puthiya Bhagavathi

The Puthiya Bhagwati is a goddess associated with smallpox. This theyyam also has the concept of coming to Malabar by sea in a wooden ship.

13. Marakkalathamma

Known as Sri Shoolakudariamma, Thiruvarmozhi and Narayudhamala, this deity is worshiped in many temples and shrines. This theyyam has a long history of coming to Malabar by boarding a wooden ship from Aryanad.

14. Kudiveeran/Karanavar

Kudiveeran

Thiyyars worship the late ancestors as kudiveeranTheyyam. Other theyyams should come to perform only after this important theyyam has performed. 

15. Thottumkara Bhagavathi

Thottumkara Bhagavathi

Thottumkara Bhagavathi is the theyyam of the concept of the ancestral Thiyya woman.

16. Kundorachamundi

Kundorachamundi

 This theyyam is worshiped in many thiyya tharavads. 

17. Gulikan

Gulikan

Gulikan is an deity worshiped in Malabar as a planet in malabar astrology and also the god of death. Gulikan is widely worshipped in malabar. 

18. Padinjare Chamundi

Padinjarechamundi is a deity worshiped in Thiyya tharavads. 

19. Kuttichathan

Kuttichathan is a mantra moorthi widely worshiped in the homes of the Thiyyas. 

Kuttichathan

20. Kathivanur Veeran

Kathivanur Veeran is an ancestral theyyam worshiped by the Thiyyas

Kathivanur veeran

In addition to these, Thiyyas worships many traditional deities. Comment on deities that are not on this list