TKMD at 03:03, 19 July 2025

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{{short description|Regional Hindu goddess}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = Maakkappothi 17.jpg
| caption = Kadangot Makkam theyyam at kannur
| name = Kadangot Makkam
| affiliation = [[Hinduism]]
| region = [[North Malabar]], [[Kerala]], India
}}

'''Kadangot Makkam''' is a regional Hindu goddess worshiped in the [[North Malabar]] region in [[Kerala]], India. Makkam is worshipped and performed as [[Theyyam]] form, known as '''Makkappothi''' or '''Makkavum makkalum''' (literally meaning Makkam and her children).

According to the myths, Makkam and her two children were killed by her eleven brothers, and they attained divine status after their death.

==Overview==
Kadangot Makam, a regional Hindu goddess worshiped in the [[North Malabar]] region in [[Kerala]], India is believed to be a heroic woman who attained divine status after death.<ref name="Samayam">{{cite news |title=മരണാനന്തരം ദൈവീക പരിവേഷം ലഭിച്ച വീര വനിത... കടാങ്കോട്ട് മാക്കം, വീഡിയോ കാണാം |url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/local-news/kannur/report-on-history-and-legend-of-kadangot-makkam-theyyam/articleshow/89951463.cms |work=Samayam Malayalam |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |language=ml |access-date=2023-03-31 |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331055118/https://malayalam.samayam.com/local-news/kannur/report-on-history-and-legend-of-kadangot-makkam-theyyam/articleshow/89951463.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Myth==
It is believed that Makkamm was the only daughter of Unicheriya of Kadangot [[Nambiar (Ambalavasi caste)|Nambiar]] family of [[Kunhimangalam]] near [[Payyannur]] in [[Kannur district]]. She was the only sister among the 12 warrior brothers of [[Kolathiri Rajas|Kolathiri king]].<ref name="Samayam"/> Makkam is said to be a daughter who was born with great splendor when her parents prayed a lot for a girl child, after the birth of 12 sons.<ref name="Samayam"/>

She grew up to be the beloved sister of 12 brothers. Makkam had twins named Chathu and Chiru, from her marriage to her uncle's (mother's brother) son, Kuttinambar. As it was the time of war between Neriyot kingdom and Kolathiri, her brothers joined the war.<ref name="Samayam"/> She and her sons lived with the wives of brothers. The wives of brothers, who did not like her, decided to trick her.

They made scandalous stories about Makkam and a [[Chakkala Nair|Vaniyan]] who used to bring oil to the house. It was at the time when Makkam's brothers were returning from the war that Vaniyan brought oil, As makkam was having her periods those days she couldn't take the oil pot as she will pollute it as it was used for worship, she looked around for her sisters-in-law to receive the oil from vaniyan but she could not find them as they intentionally hid inside the house ignoring her call for help as part of their preplan.<ref name="Deccan">{{cite news |title=Hotline to God |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sunday-herald/sunday-herald-art-culture/hotline-god-703464.html |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |date=18 November 2018 |language=en |access-date=31 March 2023 |archive-date=31 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331055128/https://www.deccanherald.com/sunday-herald/sunday-herald-art-culture/hotline-god-703464.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As she was not allowed to take the oil pot, Makkam asked him to put the oil inside the house since the wives of brothers hid and ignored her call for help. By the time Vaniyan came out of the house after placing the oil pot inside the house, the sister in laws came out suddenly and alleged makkam to have extra marital affair with vaniyan and told the same to their husbands after they reached home.<ref name="Samayam"/><ref name="Deccan"/> Believing their wife's slander, the brothers decide to kill Makkam. But the younger brother and his wife left the house rejecting the decision to kill.<ref name="Samayam"/>

When called to go to a festival in Kottayam, Makkam realizes their evil intentions, but Makkam sets off with his brothers, praying her family deity Veera Chamundi and lighting a lamp to prove her innocence.<ref name="Samayam"/> They walked praying in the temples of each area they went to. By the time they reached the river at [[Chala, Kannur|Chala]], Makkam and her children were exhausted and thirsty.<ref name="ManoramaOnline">{{cite news |title=നാടിനെ അനുഗ്രഹിക്കാൻ മാക്കവും മക്കളും ഉറഞ്ഞാടി |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/kannur/2020/02/28/kannur-chala-makkam-temple.html |work=ManoramaOnline |agency=[[Malayala Manorama]] |language=ml |access-date=2023-03-31 |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331063712/https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/kannur/2020/02/28/kannur-chala-makkam-temple.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At this time, a young man who passed by showed them ''Puthiya pura'' [[tharavad]] in Chala.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/> Makam went to the tharavad for water for the children. Hearing the movement, the old woman came out and Makkam told her that the children were thirsty. The mother of the family came with a full cup of boiled milk and gave it to Makkam and her children.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/>

Although the old woman said that it was still a long way to Kottayam and that the children could not walk, they could be accommodated at the home, but Makam put one of her rings in the milk container and set off with her children.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/>

When they saw a well near Kayalode Achankarappalli, Makkam and his children went there to quench their thirst.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/> Her brothers reached there and slaughtered Makkam and the two children and threw them into the well.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/> A [[Mavilan]] man who witnessed the incident was also stabbed to death.<ref name="Samayam"/> Only Kuti Rama, the youngest brother, did not join in this cruelty of his elder brothers.<ref name="Samayam"/>

Later was the revenge of the Makkam as she transformed in to a fierce deity and the ancestral home of Kunhimangalam was burnt to ashes. Only the room with Veera Chamundi's presence remained unburnt.<ref name="Samayam"/> Except for Kuti Rama and his wife, the brothers and their wives also died.<ref name="Samayam"/> The locals were convinced of Makkam's innocence.

Makkam, who became a god, asked the old woman of Tharavad at Chala, in a dream, to build a shrine for her and her children in their Tharavad.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/> Soon the people decided to worship Makkam, her children and Mavilan who died with her.<ref name="Samayam"/>

==Theyyam==
[[File:Kadavaankott Maakkam Tottam 15.jpg|thumb|Makkam and her two children as theyyam]]
Makkam, her children and Mavilan who died with her are worshipped as theyyam form. Makkam theyyam is also known as Makkappothi. Makkam Theyyam is performed as part of the annual festival of the shrines of Makkam. Apart from that, of other prayers, for example, when families wish for children, they sponsor theyyam performance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=k.p. |first1=gafoor |title=ദൈവങ്ങൾ വരവായി {{!}} പുഴ.കോം - നവസംസ്കൃതിയുടെ ജലസമൃദ്ധി |url=https://www.puzha.com/blog/magazine-k_p_gafoor-essay_dec7_05/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331055113/https://www.puzha.com/blog/magazine-k_p_gafoor-essay_dec7_05/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Other works==
[[File:Kadangot Makkam (Kilippattu) 1918.djvu|thumb|first page of ''Kadangot Makkam (kilippattu)'' 1918]]
K. M. Kunjilakshmi Kuteilamba, Kuttamath Kanyoor Kunhikrishna Kurup and K. M. K. Nair wrote the story of Makkam in [[kilippattu]] style and published it as ''Kadangot Makkam (kilippattu)'' in 1918.

==See also==
*[[Uchitta Bhagavathy]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://ml.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%9F%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%99%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8B%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%8D_%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%82_(%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B3%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%8D) ''Kadangot Makkam (kilippattu)'' published in 1918, at wikisource]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Makkam, Kadangot}}
[[Category:Regional Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Theyyam]]
[[Category:Kerala folklore]]
[[Category:Hindu folk deities]]
[[Category:Fertility goddesses]]
[[Category:Mother goddesses]]

Kadangot Makkam - Revision history

TKMD at 03:03, 19 July 2025