Vasoorimala is a female deity worshiped in many parts of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

and

Kodagu Kodagu (also known by its former name Coorg) is an administrative district in the Karnataka state of India. Before 1956, it was an administratively separate Coorg State, at which point it was merged into an enlarged Mysore State. It occupies ...

region of

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

. She is worshipped as an ''Upa Devata'' (sub-deity) in

Bhadrakali Bhadrakali (IAST: Bhadrakālī; ), also known as Mahakali and Kali, is a Hindu goddess. According to Shaktism, she is one of the fierce forms of the Supreme Goddess Shakti, or Adi Parashakti, mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Vaishnavism, ...

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

temples. Vasoorimala is believed to be a deity that prevents contagious diseases like

smallpox Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by variola virus (often called smallpox virus) which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (WHO) c ...

chickenpox Chickenpox, also known as varicella, is a highly contagious disease caused by the initial infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV). The disease results in a characteristic skin rash that forms small, itchy blisters, which eventually scab ...

, and

measles Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by measles virus. Symptoms usually develop 10–12 days after exposure to an infected person and last 7–10 days. Initial symptoms typically include fever, often greater than , cough, ...

. In

North Kerala North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala's present day Kasaragod, Kannur, and Wayanad districts, and the taluks of Vatakara, Koyilandy, and Thamarassery in the Kozhikode District of Kerala and t ...

, Vasoorimala is worshipped and performed as Vasoorimala Theyyam. According to myths, Manodari, wife of

Asura Asuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are a class of beings in Indian religions, Indic religions. They are described as power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Deva (Hinduism), Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhism, Buddhi ...

named Darikan was later named as Vasoorimala.

Etymology

''Vasoori'' is the

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...

word for the disease smallpox. ''Vasoorimala'' literally means a chain of pox pustules.

Background

In ancient times it was believed that diseases were caused by the wrath of God. 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. Vasoorimala is worshipped as a sub deity in temples in Kerala including

Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple (alternatively Kodungallur Devi Temple) is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kerala state, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali or simply Durga or Aadi Parashakthi wo ...

, Valiyakulangara Devi Temple, Mahadevikad, and Sri Porkili Kavu.

Myth

Wife of Darikan

The story of

is very prominent in Indian mythology, and goddess Bhadrakali is worshipped all over India. According to the

Markandeya Purana The ''Markandeya Purana'' ( sa, मार्कण्डेय पुराण; IAST: ) is a Sanskrit text of Hinduism, and one of the eighteen major Puranas. The text's title Markandeya refers to a sage in Hindu History, who is the central char ...

, there was an

named Darikan (also spelled as Darukan) and goddess Bhadrakali appeared from the third eye of Lord

killed him in a battle. The story of Vasoorimala from Kerala folklore is mentioned in

Aithihyamala Aithihyamala or Ithihyamala ( ml, ഐതിഹ്യമാല) (''Garland of Legends'') is a collection of century-old stories from Kerala that cover a vast spectrum of life, famous persons and events. It is a collection of legends numbering over ...

written by

Kottarathil Sankunni Kottarathil Sankunni (born Vasudevan, 1855–1937) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. Best known as the author of Aithihyamala, an eight-volume compilation of century-old legends about Kerala, Sankunni's writings cover prose and poetry ...

. 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. 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. 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. Bhadrakali pierced Manodari's eyes, named her ''Vasoorimala'' and made her a companion of herself.

Others

Another myth says that Vasoorimala arose from the Shiva consciousness when Lord Shiva contracted smallpox. Vasoorimala can also be seen as a follower of Kurumba (Bhadrakali) in killing Darika.

Vasoorimala Theyyam

Vasoorimala Theyyam is a

theyyam Theyyam (/ t̪eːjjəm/; romanised: ''teyyam'') are Hindu ritualistic dance forms practiced in northern Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Theyyam is also known as Kaḷiyāṭṭaṁ or Tiṟa. Theyyam consists of traditions, rituals and c ...

performed in temples in

. 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. Now this theyyam is being performed for the cure of diseases.

References

External links

* {{commons category-inline Regional Hindu goddesses Theyyam Kerala folklore Hindu folk deities Diseases and disorders in India Smallpox deities Chickenpox Measles Health goddesses