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As per Legend, the Ruler of Ayyankara Illam, in North Kerala, was unhappy as he had no child. His wife Padikutty
Antharjanam was a devotee of Lord Shiva. One day in her dream she saw the Lord. The very next day while she was returning after
a bath from a nearby river, she saw a pretty child laying in a flower bed. She took the child home and brought him up as her own son.
The boy used to visit nearby jungle for hunting with his bow and arrows. He took food with the poor and backward communities.
He used to listen to their woes and miseries and give them solace and solutions. As these acts were againist the Brahmin way of
life to their parents entreated him to stop this practice. But the boy did not relent or listen to their entreaties. The parents
were very much disturbed and disappointed.
One day the boy went to his parents and showed them His Divine Form(Viswaroopam)
with bow and arrow and fiery eyes and the fury reduced the nature into ashes. His parents understood that the boy was not an ordinary
child but an incarnation of God. They prostrated at his feet and he blessed them. He understood that the time has come to fulfill
his mission. He informed the parents that he is going to conquer Malanad and they should not stop him. While leaving, Padikutty requested
him to cover his eyes to protect others from fury. He accepted her request to cover his eyes.
He left the house dressed like a Vedaraja(Tribal King). Tribals found their friend, guide and God in Him. While wanddering through the forests,
He was fascinated by te toddy from the palm trees and he consumed it. When it became a habit, the toddy tapper Chandan sensed the loss
and watched for a few days. Wen he saw Vedaraja drinking toddy, he aimed an arrow and instantaneously Chandan turned into a statue.
When he did not return to home even after the usual time, his wife Kallaykudi Adiyathi went in search of her husband. She came to
the regular place where Chandan used to tap toddy and saw lifeless Chandan in the form of a statue. When she looked up, she could
see the Viswaroopa. She called him Muthappa(Muthappan means grand father in Malayalam language) and begged to forgive her husband.
She promised Him to give Nitya Payankutty, Thinkal Velaatom(Sankrama Vellatom), Thiruvappana with Akathootu and Purathootu and Madhukalasam.
The Lord restored Chandan's life. Both of them beccame His Ardent devotees. Theresfter the name "Muthappan" became permanent. They offered
boiled grams,pieces of coconut ,roasted fish and toddy to Muthappan.
Lord Muthappan - taught the tribals at Adipadi the right way of living, organized them to fight againist injustice and restored their
confidence and faith. He shared their food and drink and made them realize that God is not an amorphous but a reality before them.
Thereafter Muthappan went to puralimala. Poonthilottu Madappura, one of the oldest Madappura is situated adjacent to Puralimala.
As in every Madappura the Cheif Priest belonged to Thiyya community at this Madappura also. One day the Madayan (Cheif Priest) was passing
through Puralimala. He was heavily drunk and was sleeping on a flat rock. Kottayam Rajah, the ruler of the area, happened to go through
that way accompanied by his retinues. The Madayan's face glittering with divine light. The king noticed it and got annoyed. He drew out
his sword from sheath and beheaded the Madayan and walked off as if nothing had happened. Muthappan came to know about the tragic death
of the Madayan. He was infuriated and killed the king and all the royal members except as single girl who was spared on the request of
Kottiyoorappan. Since then Muthappan's name and fame was spread all over North Kerala as a great champion and saviour of the downtrodden
people. After the fury Muthappan, continued His journey.
Lord Shiva was doing His penance in Puralimala. Since many years had
passed, ant hill had formed around Him. When Muthappan i.e. Lord Vishnu came near, the tip of the bow split the ant hill and Lord Shiva
appeared. Muthappan woke him up and told him: "Hold this bow and arrow". That was the pre-destined moment for Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva
to join hands to perform thier mission. Devotees began calling them Valiya Muthappan and the other Cheriya Muthappan. But when you call
"Muthappan" you address both of them and they are treated as one incarnation i.e. Lord Muthappan.
As told to mother, Valiya Muthappan along with Cheriya Muthappan started for Malanadukolla(digvijay) and established supremacy over vast
areas from Kudaku to Korappuzha. These periods were tormenting for tribals and common people. They led a very miserable life. Autocratic
rulers had their say on all fronts. Sree Muthappan gave back the places He conquered to defeated kings and asked them to govern at His will
for alleviating the misery of the masses.
After establishing His order and enhancing the living standards of the poor and downtrodden,
Sree Muthappan promised to be on thier beck and call. They decided to have a permanent abode to hear the people, give solutions to the
problems and bless them thereby fullfilling the aim of their reincarnation. They therefor shot an arrow upward from Kunnathoor. The said
shaft landed at Parassini where the Temple was built. There they gave Darshan to Devotees.
Valiya Muthappan appears as Thiruvappan and Cheriya Muthappan appears as Vellattam before the devotees and bless them. Through Sree Muthappan
is a single Incarnation of God, it represents two godly figures Lord Vishnu(with fish shaped crown) and Lord Shiva(a crescent shaped crown).
This is evident from the following: Muthappan's farewell words to Vanavar at Kunnathurpadi after the festival are:
"Sree Palazhiyil Sree Ananthanmel Pallikkurupukollan pokunnu Vanavare" (ie. Going to sleep majestically on Ananthan in Palazhi).
This clearly shows that Thiruvappana is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Giving Darshan in Shree Muthappan Vellattam is important. During Theyyam dance, the Theyyam personify both Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva i.e. Thiruvappana and Vellattom. They are called Thiru Roopams (sacred appearance). “Theyyam” means “God”. The Madayan or Chief Priest designate receives 'Roopam' or images with Kalasam and music. After a courtesy talk with the priest the “Theyyam" begins 'Thiru Nrithham' or sacred dance by observing all traditions. At the end of this the “Theyyam” becomes fully "possessed" and transforms itself to the Deity personifying i.e. it is believed that the spirit of Shree Muthappan enters his body and the performer becomes Deity till the “Theyyam” performance is finished. Later, the devotees are called one by one, listened to and predictive cures are offered to their grievances. It is believed that after the transformation the “Theyyam” has the powers to offer solutions to the problems faced by devotees and this is done by verbally pronounced cures. Devotees come this time and unburden their hearts and tell their problems to the God. Shree Muthappan is the benevolent protractor who speaks to the devotees through a human medium. The only form of God who comes to you, hear you and blesses you is Shree Muthappan. Shree Muthappan is truly a deity of the common man. Its a popular belief the God Shree Muthappan will not let down those who take refuge in him and cannot stand betrayal. People from all walks of life get His blessings before venturing into any enterprise. The prayers of devotees would be heard and answered and there are thousands of people who testify this. The main Temple at Parassinikkadavu is open to all, irrespective of caste, creed and religion and therefore there are devotees to Sree Muthappan from all religious beliefs. Shree Muthappan is a unique deity, by all accounts, powerful yet imbued with human flaws. In fact whoever prays Shree Muthappan, he is worshipping both Lord Vishnu and Lord Siva. Shree Muthappan is Lord Vishnu and Shree Muthappan is Lord Shiva – therefore Shree Muthappan is the God of all Gods. There are many Theyyams, but Shree Muthappan has reigned over all other Theyyams. It is because of the unique combination of the powers of Vishnu and Shiva. When Thiruvappana and Vellatom are performed, Ootusadya (food) is served to all the devotees who come to receive blessings of Shree Muthappan.
The same combination has made Lord Ayyappan equally popular. Muthappan and Ayyappan have galvanized the lives of people through centuries in Kerala with exceptional power. Ayyappan has reigned supreme mostly in South, whereas Muthappan has his sway in north. Now their influence has grown by leaps and bounds and transcended beyond the State boundaries. The word “Kaliyuga Varadayaka” is applicable to both. Ayyappan is Hari-Hara Nandanan. Muthappan is also the combination of Lord Vishnu and Shiva. Ayyappan came to save the good from the tyranny of the demoness Mahishi, the sister of Mahishasura, who was killed by Chamundi Devi. Only Vaishnava-Saiva combination could kill Mahishi. Muthappan fought against the then rulers who oppressed the downtrodden and the tribals, uplifting their lives to higher leavels. Ayyappan was the foster son of Pandalam King, Rajasekhara and Muthappn was of Ayyankara Antharjanam. Rajasekhara got Ayyappan from the banks of Pampa River. Padikkutty Antharjanam got Muthappa from Thirunettikkallu of the Eruvassi River. Ayyappan had to leave the Pandalam palace under a palace intrigue. Muthappan left home under compulsion of the orthodox community around. Ayyappan shot an arrow for selecting his abode. Muthappan has also shot an arrow for selecting his place. There are thousands of Ayyappa temples in and outside State. But the shrine at Sabarimala remains unique as the abode of Ayyappan. So is the case with Muthappan having any number of madappuras, but Devasthanam at Kunnathurpadi and Parassinikkadavu remains the Aaroodam of Muthappan. There is an uralkuzhi theertham atop Sabarimala. There is one at Kunnathurpadi named Thiruvankadavu from where water is taken for Padi rituals.