Panjuruli

Who is Panjuruli?

Panjuruli is a spirit deity shown as a wild boar, worshipped across the Tulu-speaking coast of Karnataka and in parts of Kasaragod. “Panji” means pig in Tulu. In Kerala it appears as a Theyyam, and a popular source calls it the Theyyam based on the idea of Varaha, the boar. We found no separate Theyyam called Varahi. Varahi is a boar-faced mother goddess of wider Hindu tradition, and Varaha is the boar avatar of Vishnu, so this page is the closest match.

The story

One telling says that Panjuruli is one of seven deities born from Shiva’s sacrificial fire to accompany the goddess in her fight against the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha. Another says that Kali took the form of a boar to defeat five warriors who troubled the earth. A third says the deity appeared to a hunter on a mountain. From the Tulu tradition, one myth says that Parvati adopted a piglet on Mount Kailash, and that it grew into a protector of forests, crops and people who respect nature.

Panjuruli is often paired with Guliga, who is understood to enforce justice, so that the two together stand for mercy and discipline. These accounts are oral tradition, and the popular sources we found do not cite written ones.

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

What you will see

The face painting is called Rudra Minukku, and the movements, make-up and attire are said to echo the behaviour of a boar. The ritual starts calmly, then becomes fierce, with the koladhari rushing towards those present and shouting. Afterwards the deity is calm again and gives blessings.

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

In the tradition

Koladharis come from several communities, including the Malayan, Velan, Mavilan, Koppalan and Pampathar. In Kasaragod the chants are in Tulu. Ritual tradition in Tulu Nadu, called Bhuta Kola, is a related spirit worship that people of many castes take part in.

Quick answers

Who is Panjuruli in Theyyam?

Panjuruli is a spirit deity shown as a wild boar, worshipped across the Tulu-speaking coast of Karnataka and in parts of Kasaragod. “Panji” means pig in Tulu. In Kerala it appears as a Theyyam, and a popular source calls it the Theyyam based on the idea of Varaha, the boar. We found no separate Theyyam called Varahi. Varahi is a boar-faced mother goddess of wider Hindu tradition, and Varaha is the boar avatar of Vishnu, so this page is the closest match.

What does Panjuruli Theyyam look like?

The face painting is called Rudra Minukku, and the movements, make-up and attire are said to echo the behaviour of a boar. The ritual starts calmly, then becomes fierce, with the koladhari rushing towards those present and shouting. Afterwards the deity is calm again and gives blessings.

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