Bappiriyan

ബാപ്പിരിയൻ

A sailor who is believed to have been a Muslim, honoured in a Hindu ritual.

Category: Mappila Theyyam
Companion of: Arya Poonkani
Kept by: The Vannan community
Known for: Climbing and shaking a coconut tree

Who is Bappiriyan?

Bappiriyan is a Theyyam of the Mappila tradition. He is believed to be a Muslim merchant and sea captain and is remembered alongside the goddess Arya Poonkani. The pairing is often cited as an example of Hindu-Muslim harmony in Kerala.

The story

In one telling, Bappiriyan was the captain of the ship in which the goddess Arya Poonkani sailed. After a shipwreck she called on him for help, and they travelled together to the Kooran hills, where both are enshrined.

Another telling links him with the Ramayana, as Hanuman searching for Sita. Unable to find her, he climbs tall trees to look farther, and in anger kicks the coconut tree so that its nuts fall.

Close view of the Bappiriyan Theyyam face and headdress — Photo: Shagil Muzhappilangad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bappiriyan Theyyam during a ritual in North Malabar, Kerala — Photo: Shagil Muzhappilangad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hero photo: Shagil Muzhappilangad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What you will see

Bappiriyan wears a striking, tall red headdress, a painted face and a long skirt of palm leaf, and his ritual includes climbing a coconut tree.

Koladhari: the person who takes on the kolam, the deity’s form. See Theyyam words explained.

In the tradition

The climb is difficult and the koladhari can be injured, which is why guides keep visitors well back from the tree.

A note for visitors

If the koladhari climbs, stay out of the area under the tree. Falling coconuts are part of the story, but they can hurt. Photography and video are not allowed at some rituals, so ask your guide first.

Quick answers

Who is Bappiriyan in Theyyam?

What does Bappiriyan Theyyam look like?

Bappiriyan wears a striking, tall red headdress, a painted face and a long skirt of palm leaf, and his ritual includes climbing a coconut tree.

Learn about the Theyyams with a local guide

Our guided trips explain each deity’s story as you see it, and are planned with you on enquiry. We never publish ritual dates or venues, and confirm the right nights with you closer to travel.

Enquire about a trip

Sources and further reading: Bappiriyan Theyyam (Wikipedia), Arya Poonkani (Wikipedia). Stories vary by shrine, family and teller; this is a general summary, not a definitive version.