Kurathi Amma
കുറത്തി അമ്മ
A protective mother goddess, loved by the women of the household.
- Category
- Goddess
- Also known as
- Kurathiyamma, Pulli Kurathi
- Often linked with
- Parvati, the “daughter of the mountain”
- Guardian of
- The family and its home
Who is Kurathi Amma?
Kurathi Amma is a much-loved goddess of North Malabar, worshipped in family homes, village groves and temples. “Kurathi” is a word for a woman of the hill people, and she is often understood as a form of Parvati, the daughter of the mountain. Scholars note that goddesses such as Kurathi and Chamundi are especially honoured in the household shrines of ruling families.
The story
Tradition describes her as a guardian of the family and the home who guards against harm of many kinds. Women have a particular devotion to her, and they often prepare food to be offered to her.
In a story told about a related goddess, a farmer’s sister dies after eating betel leaf from a plot that Kurathi had been asked to guard. When the farmer cries out, Kurathi draws coal from the funeral pyre with her sword, and a new goddess rises from it. This is a local telling and differs from place to place.
Hero photo: Vijayakumarblathur, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What you will see
Kurathi Amma wears a tall red headdress with round ornaments on either side, a bright orange-red painted face and a skirt of palm-leaf strips. Her bearing is dignified and watchful.
In the tradition
She is reportedly the first Theyyam to appear at many shrines. Devotees ask for protection and for the wellbeing of the family and its fields.
Many women come forward to speak to Kurathi Amma. Give them space, and keep your voice low. Photography and video are not allowed at some rituals, so ask your guide first.
Quick answers
Who is Kurathi Amma in Theyyam?
Kurathi Amma is a much-loved goddess of North Malabar, worshipped in family homes, village groves and temples. “Kurathi” is a word for a woman of the hill people, and she is often understood as a form of Parvati, the daughter of the mountain. Scholars note that goddesses such as Kurathi and Chamundi are especially honoured in the household shrines of ruling families.
What does Kurathi Amma Theyyam look like?
Kurathi Amma wears a tall red headdress with round ornaments on either side, a bright orange-red painted face and a skirt of palm-leaf strips. Her bearing is dignified and watchful.
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 tripSources and further reading: Theyyam (Wikipedia), Hindu Blog: Pulli Kurathi Amma Theyyam. Stories vary by shrine, family and teller; this is a general summary, not a definitive version.
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