Chuzhali Bhagavathi

Who is Chuzhali Bhagavathi?

Chuzhali Bhagavathi is the patron goddess of the Chuzhali swaroopam, one of the small ruling houses that came from the division of the old Kola kingdom, under the Kolathiri. She is also called Chuzhannaval. Her main shrine is the Chuzhali Bhagavathi temple at Kozhukkil, and her Theyyam is held in the villages of North Malabar.

The story

A princess of the northern lands was bathing in a river when the goddess Durga entered her, and diviners confirmed it. The goddess wished to see Malanad, the land of Kerala, and the king had Vishwakarma, the divine craftsman, build a ship. Three radiant forms left the princess and boarded the ship, which sailed without wind or rain along the coast of Gokarna, Kumbala and Ezhimala.

Three idols were found on board and the local rulers each took one. The third, the dim one, went to the heir of Kozhikkilidamdhu, and the ship then rose strangely. Pursued by the Kolathiri’s men, Samanthan hid the idol in a washerman’s cloth and buried it. He died soon after, and the astrologers said the goddess was angry at being buried. Many years later a farmer digging for tubers struck the idol and saw blood on it, and it was raised and installed in a temple.

Another telling says the ship was sent by the power of Adi Parashakti. The stories differ in details, and they are close to the ship stories told about other goddesses of the region, such as Arya Poonkani.

What you will see

Chuzhali Bhagavathi is recognised by a very large braid of hair. The koladhari, the person who takes the kolam, appears as a goddess in red attire. A family named Kana holds the right to certain rituals in the festival at the temple. We do not yet have a photograph of this Theyyam on the site.

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

In the tradition

The goddess is linked with the Kolathiri and the Kozhikkilidamdhu rulers through the story of the idol, and she is connected in the tales with local heroes. Some accounts say that Kathivanoor Veeran was born by her grace. A temple listing treats her as the same as Muchilottu Bhagavathi, though other sources keep them apart.

Quick answers

Who is Chuzhali Bhagavathi in Theyyam?

Chuzhali Bhagavathi is the patron goddess of the Chuzhali swaroopam, one of the small ruling houses that came from the division of the old Kola kingdom, under the Kolathiri. She is also called Chuzhannaval. Her main shrine is the Chuzhali Bhagavathi temple at Kozhukkil, and her Theyyam is held in the villages of North Malabar.

What does Chuzhali Bhagavathi Theyyam look like?

Chuzhali Bhagavathi is recognised by a very large braid of hair. The koladhari, the person who takes the kolam, appears as a goddess in red attire. A family named Kana holds the right to certain rituals in the festival at the temple. We do not yet have a photograph of this Theyyam on the site.

Stories vary by shrine, family and teller; this is a general summary, not a definitive version.