Ma Arya Poonkani, also known as Ma Aryakkarakani, is a female deity worshiped in some parts in Kerala. Arya Poonkani is worshipped and dance performance on her is termed as Arya Poonkani Theyyam. Along with the theyyam of Arya Poonkani, Bappiriyan Theyyam is also performed in the temple. The legend of Bappiriyan who is believed to be a Muslim and Arya Poonkani, who is considered to be a most powerful Hindu goddess is an example of Hindu-Islamic religious unity in Kerala.
According to legend, Arya Poonkani was the daughter of Aryapattar and Aryapattathi. As she grew up, she became very much interested towards wearing glittering ornaments and jewels.
Once Arya Poonkani and her brothers, were travelling in search of pearls for her marriage, but they were got struck down in a storm and hence they were separated. They spent seven days at sea, and on the eighth day they all came ashore. When they reached the shore, they had got separated from each other.
Arya Poonkani, who was worried by the sea, had seen Bappiriyan, a Muslim sailor who was also going in a small boat in the sea. At first he ignores Arya Poonkani’s call for help, but she surprises him with her magical skills and takes Bappiriyan with her to rush his brothers..Finally they find her brothers in Venmalatinkara, but they were not ready to go with her and decided to settle there. Then Arya Poonkani and Bappiriyan continues the journey and reaches the Kooran hills on the North Malabar coast. There they are enshrined in the Thaliparamba Kaithakeel temple.
After the shrine in Thaliparamba, many other shrines built across the North Malabar region. Aryakarakanni is a theyyam dance form with very beautiful facial art and the dance consists of slow movements. Unlike most of the other theyyam who perform without any footwear, Arya Poonkani theyyam appear wearing a traditional footwear made out of wood.
“OM MA ARYA POONKANIYE NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR