Vasoori is the Malayalam word for the disease smallpox.[1]Vasoorimala literally means a chain of pox pustules.[2]
Backgroundedit
In ancient times it was believed that diseases were caused by the wrath of God.[3] Therefore, they worshiped gods who sowed diseases and gods who healed. Vasoorimala is believed to be the deity of communicable diseases like smallpox, chickenpox, measles etc.[4][5] Vasoorimala is worshipped as a sub deity in temples in Kerala including Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, Valiyakulangara Devi Temple, Mahadevikad,[6] Sri Porkili Kavu,[7] and Vasoorimala Devi Temple, Mavelikara.
Mythedit
Wife of Darikanedit
The story of Bhadrakali is very prominent in Indian mythology, and goddess Bhadrakali is worshipped all over India. According to the Markandeya Purana, there was an Asura named Darikan (also spelled as Darukan) and goddess Bhadrakali appeared from the third eye of Lord Shiva killed him in a battle.[8]
The story of Vasoorimala from Kerala folklore is mentioned in Aithihyamala written by Kottarathil Sankunni. During the war between Bhadrakali and Darikan, when it was almost certain that Darikan would die in battle with Bhadrakali, Manodari, wife of Darikan approached Kailasa and began intense penance to please Lord Shiva.[8] Satisfied with her adoration, Shiva wiped the sweat from his body and gave it to her and blessed her and said that if she spray it on the bodies of the people, they would give her everything she needed.[8] Manodari saw Bhadrakali, who won the battle, coming with her husband's head. On anger she sprayed that sweaty water on Bhadrakali's body, and as a result smallpox appeared on Bhadrakali's body.[8] Bhadrakali pierced Manodari's eyes, named her Vasoorimala and made her a companion of herself.[8]
Othersedit
Another myth says that Vasoorimala arose from the Shiva consciousness when Lord Shiva contracted smallpox.[9] Vasoorimala can also be seen as a follower of Kurumba (Bhadrakali) in killing Darika.[9]
Vasoorimala Theyyamedit
Vasoorimala theyyam
Vasoorimala Theyyam is a theyyam performed in temples in North Kerala.[7] When the smallpox epidemic broke out, it is believed that people started worshiping smallpox in the form of theyyam to get rid of the disease.[9] Now this theyyam is being performed for the cure of diseases.[7]
Referencesedit
^തുമ്മാരുകുടി, മുരളി. "കുഴിയാറും തീര്ത്തല്ലോ പാറുക്കുട്ടീ". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). from the original on 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
^India, The Hans (8 July 2018). "Theyyam A Spell". www.thehansindia.com. from the original on 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
^"Vasoorimala Theyyam". old.travelkannur.com. from the original on 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
^Abraham, Jyothi Susan; Gopalakrishnan, Kavitha; James, Meera Elizabeth (11 February 2022). Pandemic Reverberations and Altered Lives. Kottayam: Co-Text Publishers. p. 25. ISBN978-81-952253-4-7. from the original on 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
^Balasubramanian, Lalitha (2015-08-19). Kerala ~ The Divine Destination. One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd. ISBN978-93-81576-23-6. from the original on 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
^"Valiyakulangara Devi Temple, Mahadevikad, Karhikapalli". www.valiyakulangaratemple.org. from the original on 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
^ abc"വസൂരിമാല". Keralaliterature.com. 14 October 2017. from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
^ abcPV, Rekha. "രോഗദേവതയായ വസൂരിമാല ഭഗവതി തെയ്യം". Samayam Malayalam (in Malayalam). The Times of India. from the original on 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
External linksedit
Media related to Vasoorimala at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
vasoorimala, female, deity, worshiped, many, parts, kerala, kodagu, region, karnataka, worshipped, devata, deity, bhadrakali, shiva, temples, believed, deity, that, prevents, contagious, diseases, like, smallpox, chickenpox, measles, north, kerala, worshipped,. Vasoorimala is a female deity worshiped in many parts of Kerala and Kodagu region of Karnataka She is worshipped as an Upa Devata sub deity in Bhadrakali or Shiva temples Vasoorimala is believed to be a deity that prevents contagious diseases like smallpox chickenpox and measles In North Kerala Vasoorimala is worshipped and performed as Vasoorimala Theyyam According to myths Manodari wife of Asura named Darikan was later named as Vasoorimala VasoorimalaA depiction of Vasoorimala in TheyyamAffiliationHinduismRegionKerala IndiaPersonal informationSpouseDarikan Asura Contents 1 Etymology 2 Background 3 Myth 3 1 Wife of Darikan 3 2 Others 4 Vasoorimala Theyyam 5 References 6 External linksEtymology editVasoori is the Malayalam word for the disease smallpox 1 Vasoorimala literally means a chain of pox pustules 2 Background editIn ancient times it was believed that diseases were caused by the wrath of God 3 Therefore they worshiped gods who sowed diseases and gods who healed Vasoorimala is believed to be the deity of communicable diseases like smallpox chickenpox measles etc 4 5 Vasoorimala is worshipped as a sub deity in temples in Kerala including Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple Valiyakulangara Devi Temple Mahadevikad 6 Sri Porkili Kavu 7 and Vasoorimala Devi Temple Mavelikara Myth editWife of Darikan edit The story of Bhadrakali is very prominent in Indian mythology and goddess Bhadrakali is worshipped all over India According to the Markandeya Purana there was an Asura named Darikan also spelled as Darukan and goddess Bhadrakali appeared from the third eye of Lord Shiva killed him in a battle 8 The story of Vasoorimala from Kerala folklore is mentioned in Aithihyamala written by Kottarathil Sankunni During the war between Bhadrakali and Darikan when it was almost certain that Darikan would die in battle with Bhadrakali Manodari wife of Darikan approached Kailasa and began intense penance to please Lord Shiva 8 Satisfied with her adoration Shiva wiped the sweat from his body and gave it to her and blessed her and said that if she spray it on the bodies of the people they would give her everything she needed 8 Manodari saw Bhadrakali who won the battle coming with her husband s head On anger she sprayed that sweaty water on Bhadrakali s body and as a result smallpox appeared on Bhadrakali s body 8 Bhadrakali pierced Manodari s eyes named her Vasoorimala and made her a companion of herself 8 Others edit Another myth says that Vasoorimala arose from the Shiva consciousness when Lord Shiva contracted smallpox 9 Vasoorimala can also be seen as a follower of Kurumba Bhadrakali in killing Darika 9 Vasoorimala Theyyam edit nbsp Vasoorimala theyyam Vasoorimala Theyyam is a theyyam performed in temples in North Kerala 7 When the smallpox epidemic broke out it is believed that people started worshiping smallpox in the form of theyyam to get rid of the disease 9 Now this theyyam is being performed for the cure of diseases 7 References edit ത മ മ ര ക ട മ രള ക ഴ യ റ ത ര ത തല ല പ റ ക ക ട ട Mathrubhumi in Malayalam Archived from the original on 2022 02 18 Retrieved 2022 02 18 India The Hans 8 July 2018 Theyyam A Spell www thehansindia com Archived from the original on 2022 02 18 Retrieved 2022 02 18 Vasoorimala Theyyam old travelkannur com Archived from the original on 2020 02 16 Retrieved 2022 02 18 Abraham Jyothi Susan Gopalakrishnan Kavitha James Meera Elizabeth 11 February 2022 Pandemic Reverberations and Altered Lives Kottayam Co Text Publishers p 25 ISBN 978 81 952253 4 7 Archived from the original on 2022 02 25 Retrieved 2022 02 19 Balasubramanian Lalitha 2015 08 19 Kerala The Divine Destination One Point Six Technology Pvt Ltd ISBN 978 93 81576 23 6 Archived from the original on 2022 02 25 Retrieved 2022 02 19 Valiyakulangara Devi Temple Mahadevikad Karhikapalli www valiyakulangaratemple org Archived from the original on 2022 02 18 Retrieved 2022 02 18 a b c വസ ര മ ല Keralaliterature com 14 October 2017 Archived from the original on 18 February 2022 Retrieved 18 February 2022 a b c d e Sankunni Kottarathil 1909 Kodungalloor Vasoorimala Aithihyamala Vol 3 a b c PV Rekha ര ഗദ വതയ യ വസ ര മ ല ഭഗവത ത യ യ Samayam Malayalam in Malayalam The Times of India Archived from the original on 2022 02 18 Retrieved 2022 02 18 External links edit nbsp Media related to Vasoorimala at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vasoorimala amp oldid 1205199502, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
