Vishakandan
വിഷകണ്ഠൻ
A healer of snakebite, honoured after he was killed out of envy.
- Category
- Hero and healer
- Real name
- Kandan, of the Thiyya community
- Linked with
- Healing from poison and snakebite
- Story
- Jealousy, a death and a restless spirit
Who is Vishakandan?
Vishakandan is a rare Theyyam that remembers Kandan, a Thiyya man who was known for curing snakebites. “Visha” means poison. We have found only one source for the story, so please treat it as local tradition.
The story
The story says that a famous physician declared a woman bitten by a snake to be dead, and her relatives took her away for cremation. Kandan saw the body and judged that she was alive. He had it placed in water, she revived, and he chanted a mantra from a coconut tree as part of the cure.
As Kandan’s fame grew, the physician grew jealous, and had him killed after inviting him to dinner. Misfortunes followed in the household, and astrologers advised that Kandan’s restless spirit should be honoured as a deity with a Theyyam every year.
Hero photo: Anoopan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What you will see
The koladhari wears red attire with a tall, rounded headdress and a painted face. We did not find a detailed description in our sources.
Koladhari: the person who takes on the kolam, the deity’s form. See Theyyam words explained.
In the tradition
The story is about healing, injustice and the settling of an unquiet spirit. Devotees may pray to him for protection from poison and illness.
Stories like this one are told with feeling. Listen quietly. Photography and video are not allowed at some rituals, so ask your guide first.
Quick answers
Who is Vishakandan in Theyyam?
Vishakandan is a rare Theyyam that remembers Kandan, a Thiyya man who was known for curing snakebites. “Visha” means poison. We have found only one source for the story, so please treat it as local tradition.
What does Vishakandan Theyyam look like?
The koladhari wears red attire with a tall, rounded headdress and a painted face. We did not find a detailed description in our sources.
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: Hindu Blog: Vishakandan Theyyam, Kerala Tourism: Various types of Theyyam. Stories vary by shrine, family and teller; this is a general summary, not a definitive version.
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