VETTAKKORUMAKAN
The story of Vettekkorumakan can be traced to the great Indian epic, Mahabharatham. Vettakkorumakan is believed to be the son of Lord Shiva and his consort Devi Parvathi. According to the Mahabharatha Kiratha Parva, when Shiva appeared before Arjuna in the form of a hunter in his Kirata Avatar to grant him his personal weapon, the Pasupathasthra, Devi Parvathi was also with him dressed as a huntress. Lord Krishna had directed Arjuna to undertake a penance to please Lord Shiva. Arjuna wished to possess the magical weapons, especially the “Pasupathasthra” from Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva and Devi Parvathi appeared in front of Arjuna disguised as a tribal hunter and his wife. A dispute arouse in between Arjuna and Lord Shiva, disguised as a tribal hunter, about a hunted boar. Both of them claimed the trophy. This finally culminated in a war using magical weapons. Arjuna, finally, recognized that the hunter is none other than Lord Shiva and fell on his feet and apologised. Pleased, Lord Shiva granted him many magical weapons along with the “Pasupathasthra”. After giving Arjuna the Pasupathasthra, the divine couple wandered in the forest in the same form for some time. It is during this period that they had a son born of extraordinary effulgence, called Vettakkorumakan (son born during hunting).
As a young boy, he started hunting in the forest. Gradually, hunting turned into a maniacal obsession for him. When, finally, there were no more animals left in the forests, he started challenging the villagers to fight him. Blessed with magical weapons by Lord Shiva, no one could defeat him.
During his hunting spree, he troubled Devas and Asuras alike. Unable to bear his mischief, they approached Brahma, who expressed his helplessness over the issue. They then besought the help of Lord Shiva himself, who however dismissed them by saying that a young boy would naturally be naughty and that he will sober down as he grew up. Finally they approached Lord Vishnu, who disguised as an old hunter appeared before the boy. Lord Vishnu had a Golden Churika(a dagger cum sword). The golden churika was so beautiful that it the young boy started craving for it. After a lot of persuasion, the old hunter(Lord Vishnu) finally agreed to handover the Golden Chrurika on one condition that he should not keep it down. The boy promised the same and accepted the Churika with his right hand holding the bow in his left hand. Now with the golden churika in his right hand, he found it difficult to use the bow to shoot arrows as he cannot use both his handsas a result of the promise given to the old hunter. He could no longer hunt or harm anyone. The Lord Vishnu appeared brfore Vettekkoumakan as himself and instructed him to go to the place which has been created by his incarnation, Parasurama, and protect the people from all evils. Thus, Vettakkorumakan came to Kerala.
VETTAKKORUMAKAN AND KERALA
According to the folklore, Vettekkorumakan is said to cross several mountains and forests and rivers and reached North Kerala where he first entered Nambumalakkotta of the Nilamboor Kovilakam and he met the King of Nilamboor and befriended him. It was the Nilamboor King who constructed the first temple dedicated to Vettakkorumakan. The Brahmins there worshipped him. It was the time that the King of Balusserry, too, was under the fear of enemies. He seeked Vettakkorumakan’s intervention. Needless to say, the king did not have any trouble from his enemies . He ,too, built a temple which is now famously called Baluserry Kota. Today there are Vettekkorumakan temples thoughout Kerala.
Vettekkorumakan is the family deity of the Rajas of Chirakkal, Nileshwar, Kottakkal, Nilambur Kovilakam, Kalathil Kartha's, Aluva, Amarambalam Kovilakam, Randu Illam Vargam Nambiars, Kottuvodathu Panickers and many such prominent families. These families among the erstwhile nobility of Kerala who have Vettakkorumakan as their family deity are connected in one way or other incidentally to either Balussery Fort or Kurumbranad.