perhaps might have been effected to satisfy the man in the street. It is believed that Siva’s passion for the glamourous Mayamohini of Vishnu brought about offspring in her – Satha. It signifies that a compromise was struck between the two rural schools of belief. Both the opposingsides struckagreement in adopting a creed acceptable to them – Bhagavan chathan. This was originated in the belief in the cult of Bhagavan Chathan.

There is yet another astonishing but interesting. Story behind the birth of Bhagavan Chathan. Lord Siva is said to have developed a fancy for a girl belonging to a nomadic trible. Sri Parvathy, wife of Lord Siva came to know of this infauation and to satisfy this wayward carving of Siva took the form of Koolicaka the nonadic girl. One version claims that Chathan is the off spring of this union. Parvathy however entrusted the original nomadic girl the custody of the child bestowing on her the honour of fostering the divine child Bhagavan Chathan spent his child – hood days in the forests and in Sri Kailasa.

It is the Thottampattu of the Mannan Community that has become the source material regarding the life sketch fo Chathan and Koolivaka. Mannan Patti which commemorated the legend of this glorious incarnation is the oral tradition that has perpetuated its histories generation to generation.

Lord siva, during one of his hunting expeditions, chanced to encounter in the interior of the jungle a Chandala – Paraya girl digging the ground for edible roots. Though a low caste Paraya Girl she was buxom and breath taking in her sensual beauty. Siva was instantly drawn by the allurements of her flesh, and in a surge of blind passion, he eventually took her by force drawing her to shadows of a black picture. Her remonstrances went unheeded in the violent fury of Siva’s passion. In the frenzy of the act of violation Siva’s sperms spilled out onto the ground and got soiled by the mud. His passion abated, the Lord mounted his elephant and traversed to Kailasa. Actually the Paraya girl was none other Sri Parvathy who had followed her consort incognito first. Had Lord Siva bestowned a little thought he would have discovered that no female other than Parvathy could have impelled his attention so deeply exerted such a powerful charm on him.

Koolivaka, went to the near by river to wash of the sweat and soil on her. After a refreshing bath she went back to her digging for roots. When she booan to dig first she got a grinding stone and then a copper pot. When she went on digging she happened to see bloodstains on the spade. When she looked around she happened to see about 400 Kuttichathans. Seeing them around her she remarked “oh! My little ones of god! If it is dance and songs that will please you it can be arranged. If Thira and Vellattu both are required that also would be offered”. Then all these Kuttichathans. When taken to her house. When Chennan Prayan her husband, came he happened to see these Kuttichathans seated in their 17 sq.foot room the room appeared as if it was packed up with upright stumps of plantain trees. If took all of them to Sri.Kailasa to Lord Siva. Siva was asleep and therefore Cehnnan Parayan urged Parvathy to wake him up. Seeing all these children SriParvathy wondered as it how these babies had a twine around their waist. She urged the father of children to get few meters of jungle creepers. Parameswaran cut each of toem a foot long and ties to the waist of the children and each one was named kutty Chathan. The last one was adorned with all kinds of ornaments& was named Vishnumaya Chathan. Adhikutty, Anadhikutty, Theekutty, Pookutty, Karimkutty,, Ponnunny etc. were the names given to all others.

It was Vishnumaya Chathan who should have a weapon of his own. He should have a weapon of his own. He should have a benefiting conceyance and he should be worshipped. 2 ½ Naazhi, 4 Naazhi, 5 ¼ Naazhi, 7 ¼ and 10 ¼ Nazhi Paddy wages were fixed for them Lord Siva gave him Kuruvady with small ringing bells or either side. A buffalo was arranged for his conveyance. They were engaged for work in the farm of Punjanaloor Pettery. It is this Vishnumaya Chathan. Their leader who received wages on their behalf. Then all of them went to Sri Kailasa.