Sree Muthappan and Dogs
Sree Muthappan is always accompanied by a dog. Dogs are considered sacred here and one can see dogs in
large numbers in and around the temple.
You can see two bronze carved dogs at the entrance of the temple to symbolise the trustworthiness of bodyguards of God. When the prasad is ready it is first served to a dog that is always ready inside the temple.
Local legends enhance the importance of dogs to Sree Muthappan, one such story is as follows:
A few years back temple authorities decided to reduce the number of dogs inside the temple, they took some dogs and puppies away. Surprisingly from that very day, the performer of the Sree Muthappan Theyyam was unable to perform (it is said that the sprit of Sree Muthappan enters his body and the performer becomes God till the theyyam performance is finished). Since the dogs was taken away from the temple, Sree Muthappan does not enter the theyyam performer’s body. Knowing this, the Dogs were bought back to the temple. From that day onwards theyyam performance was as usual.
large numbers in and around the temple.
You can see two bronze carved dogs at the entrance of the temple to symbolise the trustworthiness of bodyguards of God. When the prasad is ready it is first served to a dog that is always ready inside the temple.
Local legends enhance the importance of dogs to Sree Muthappan, one such story is as follows:
A few years back temple authorities decided to reduce the number of dogs inside the temple, they took some dogs and puppies away. Surprisingly from that very day, the performer of the Sree Muthappan Theyyam was unable to perform (it is said that the sprit of Sree Muthappan enters his body and the performer becomes God till the theyyam performance is finished). Since the dogs was taken away from the temple, Sree Muthappan does not enter the theyyam performer’s body. Knowing this, the Dogs were bought back to the temple. From that day onwards theyyam performance was as usual.