Kuttichathan

Who is Kuttichathan?

Kuttichathan is a widely loved guardian figure in Malabar folklore. He is often described as a mischievous but powerful child of the gods. The Theyyam is also called Shasthappan and, because it is associated with the Kalakattu family, Kalakattu Kuttichathan.

The story

One popular story says that Shiva and Parvati, disguised as a hunter couple, had two children and left the younger, Kuttichathan, with a childless Namboodiri family. The clever child questioned his teacher until the teacher had no answer, and the family later turned against him. He was killed, but returned in many forms, and the people who had wronged him decided to worship him as a Theyyam.

Another story tells of a child born to a Namboodiri and a woman of a lower community, who was raised in secret and gave grain to the poor. In every telling he is a figure who stands for people who were excluded or treated unfairly.

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

What you will see

Kuttichathan wears red attire, a headdress with a piece of wood on each cheek, and a metal cap over the eyes with a small hole to see through. A fan of feathers rises from the back like a peacock’s tail.

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

In the tradition

Devotees believe that Kuttichathan can grant wishes when asked with faith.

Quick answers

Who is Kuttichathan in Theyyam?

Kuttichathan is a widely loved guardian figure in Malabar folklore. He is often described as a mischievous but powerful child of the gods. The Theyyam is also called Shasthappan and, because it is associated with the Kalakattu family, Kalakattu Kuttichathan.

What does Kuttichathan Theyyam look like?

Kuttichathan wears red attire, a headdress with a piece of wood on each cheek, and a metal cap over the eyes with a small hole to see through. A fan of feathers rises from the back like a peacock’s tail.

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