Vasoorimala is a disease God. In ancient times people believed that disease is caused by the curse of God or due to the anger of God. So people worshiped disease causing God’s and disease curing God’s. Vasoorimala is one such God which causes Small Pox or Vasoori.
vasoori mala thottam
Myth
Vasoorimala is actually Manodhari the wife of Dharikasura. When Goddess Kali came to kill Dharikasura, Manodhari worshiped Shiva to save his husbands life. Shiva gave her Sweat balls as boon and asked her to throw it on human beings so that they will give her whatever she wants. While returning back she sow Kali coming with her husbands bead in her hand and seeing this with anger she threw some sweat balls on Kali. Kali got small pox and got tired and fell down.
Knowing this Shiva created Khandakarnan and asked him to cure the small pox of Kali. Khandakarnan came and cured all the small pox of Kali by licking. He cured all the small pox buds from the body of Kali and whenn trying to lick her face Kali said that He is her brother and she don’t want her brother to lick her face. Thats why even after getting well from small pox some marks still remain on peoples faces.
Kali ordered Khandakarnan to bring Manodhari and Khandakarnan obeyed it. Kali in anger cut away the hands and legs of Manodhari and made her blind. Kali named her Vasoorimala and also took Manodhari with her as her maid. It is believed that small pox is caused by Vasoorimala on orders by Kali when she get angry.
Temples where this Theyyam is performed
- Kannur Thalasseri Chungam Sree Panakkadan Malayankavu
- Kannur Peravur Vaayannur Ambalakandi Bhagavathy Kavu
- New Mahe Peringadi Mangad Vaanukanda Kovilakam Bhagavathy Temple
- Thalasseri Kadavathur Sree kuroolikkavu Bhagavathy Kshethram
- Mattannur Malur Kappattappoyil Madappura
- Kannur Venduttayi Kaitheri Puthiyedathu Khandakarnan Kshethram
- Kuthuparamba Palayi Sree Porkkali Bhagavathi Kshethram
- Kuthuparanbu Kaitheri Purakkandi Muthappan Bhagavathy Kshethram
- kannur Pattannur Aayippuzha Kodungallur Bhagavathy kshethram
- Mattannur Velliyamparambu Tharavad kshethram,
- kannur Valiyannur Kanakacheri Kurmba Kshethram
- Kuthuparamb Neerveli Aattupuram Sree Porkkali Bhagavathy Kshethram
- Kannur Koothuparamb Chaambad Koormba Bhagavathy Temple
- Kannur Kadirur Penankimotta Malayan kavu (Amminikavu)
- Kannur Thana Karuvallikkavu
- Kannur Kuthuparamba Chittariparambu Thattankunnu Gulkan kavu
- Mattannur Malur Tholambra Kaipengattu Bhagavathy Kavu
- Thalasseri Eranholi Nidungottum Kavu
- Kuthuparamba Naravur Chathadimanakkal kavu
- Mekunnu Sree Poovallathil Temple
- Kannur Chalakkara Varaprathkavu Devi Temple
- Mattannur Malur Edappazhassi Koottakkavu
- Thalasseri Thazhe Champadu Kuvvattu Sree Sasthappan Kshethram
- Kadirur Chundangapoyil Kadambil Kuttisasthappan Kshethram
- Kannur Paalayi Thokkilangadi Sree Porkkali Bhagavathy Kavu
- Kannur Kadirur Pullyod Valiyapurayil Sree Bhagvathi kshethram
- Mattannur Ayyallur Nagathuvalappu Kunharukurathiyamma Kottam
- Kannur Azhikode Moonnunirath Vayalil Sree Kurumba Bhagavathy Kshetram
- Kannur Mahe Chalakkara Keezhanthur Bhagavathy Temple
- Mahe Chalakkara Varaprath Kavu Devi Temple
- Kuthuparambu Neerveli Thattuparamb Sree Gurunatha Temple
- Thalasseri Ancham mile Erinhikkal Porkkali Bhagavathy Temple
- Vadakara Cherodueast Kurikkiladu Mambaranholi Sree Kurmba Kavu
- Azhikode Sree Lakshmi Devasthanam
Photo Credit: Lijin Vadakkiniyil