SOPANAM (The Sacred Stairway): Balussery - Kiratha Soono Saranam Prapadye...

Balussery is a slightly bigger village near Calicut City at a distance of about 20 km and Balussery Vettakkorumakan temple is located there which is one of the rare shrines of Vettakkorumakan in Kerala. It is believed by historians that there was a fort at Balussery belonging to Kurumbranad Rajas and this temple was situated near it. Other prominent temples are at Neeleswaram, Kottakkal, Nilambur and various places in Kannur district. Vettakkorumakan is the family deity of the Rajas of Chirakkal, Neeleswaram, Kottakkal and Randu Illam Vargam Nambiars. Those families among the erst-while nobility of Malabar who have Vettakkorumakan as their family diety are connected in one way or other incidentally to either Balussery Fort or Kurumbranad. Vettakkorumaan is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi born when they assumed the disposition of hunters for blessing Pasupathasthra (the mighty arrow called Pashupatha) to Arjuna who was doing penance for it as per the instructions of Lord Krishna. The boy grew up in to a mischievous lad who not only hunted with a sword, bow and arrow for animals but became irksome to the sages who were doing penance in the forest.

Photo depicts Lord Shiva as Kirathamoorthy (aka Sreekantala) with his consort Goddess Parvathi as Vedathi.

They complained to Lord Brahma, who expressed his helplessness as the lad was the son of Lord Shiva. But when they presented the fact to Lord Vishnu, he agreed to solve the problem through diplomacy. He himself went to the forest carrying a golden churika (a sword having spear like end and a sword like blade). The lad was very much attracted by it and wanted to have it. Lord Vishnu readily agreed to give him provided he will always hold the Churika in his hand. The lad agreed but soon realized that if he were to hold the Churika, he cannot use the bow and arrow. Lord Vishnu revealed himself to him and requested to go to Kerala, where he would be honored with worship and offerings.

Vettakorumagan with the permission of his parents chose to stay in Balussery and ever since have been blessing the people of Kerala. Most of the royal families of Malabar adopted him as their God who would protect them in war and he came to be known as a war deity. While there are a few temples for Vettakorumakan in Northern Malabar, the one at Balussery Kotta is considered as the most important among them.

The most important rituals that are performed at the temple are the performance of Vettakkorumakan pattu and Panthrantayiram Thengayeru. In the former, a very pretty design of the God is drawn on the ground and accompanied by soothing music praising the God. A Namboodiri, who himself is ornated, dances over the drawing and wipes it off completely. The other one is the breaking of 12000 coconuts on the stone meant for the purpose in the temple. The temple will be decorated with flowers and leaves, coconut and aracanut flowers and plantains on that day. The nayar who is authorized to break the coconuts starts the ritual after the final pooja of the temple at night amidst of drums and gongs which make the entire place in full reverberation. The place is also well lit with multitude of live torches.

Thekarakarathu nair takes bath, wears new cloths and then meditates on Vettakorumakan. Initially, he will take one coconut with both hands and breaks it on the stone. This is followed by continuous throwing of coconuts on the stone with each hand alternatively. The beat of the drum will then intensify. People believe that the Nayar then enters in to a trance and incessantly breaks all coconuts before midnight. The people offer sandal paste and rose water to the deity. Some people also offer Panakam (Jaggery juice) and thamboolam. There will be a feast after the ritual occasionally.

Vettakkorumakan Kalam as seen in a southern temple in Kerala