God’s Own Country has many feathers on its cap. From being the first state to achieve hundred per cent literacy, to being a safe tourist destination in the country, Kerala is also famous for the peaceful co-existence of different faiths and beliefs.
The story of the Edappara
Maladevar Nada Temple at Karamvely near Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta district only strengthens this belief. It is perhaps the only Hindu temple in the country dedicated to a legendary Muslim burglar, Kayamkulam Kochunni, who is considered the Robin Hood of the Central Travancore region.
“It is very common that every place with some history has a Robin Hood in their lore and legends. But this is different from others. That is why the fabled burglar, who is believed to have ridden a horse and looted the rich and wealthy traders with his friend Ithikkarappakki and gang to give away the booty among the poor and needy, has found a place inside a Hindu temple,” caretaker of the temple C N Thankappan says.
A few decades ago, there were some instances where the local residents felt that they were possessed by an unknown spirit. Later, it was believed that the spirit was that of Kochunni’s. However, Kochunni received a ‘place’ in the temple when the Ooraali, head of the Kurava clan who belongs to the temple, had an ‘intuition’. When he was resting under a banyan tree near Kayamkulam, while returning from Oachira in Kollam, he happened to hear a celestial plea. Thus, he was able to communicate with the spirit of Kochunni, which sought a ‘suitable place’, as his soul was wandering ever since he had died at the Poojapura jail in Thiruvananthapuram in 1859.
Following this, the Ooraali offered a seat in the temple complex of Edappara Maladevar Nada and installed Kochunni’s spirit, as per his wish and Hindu customs. Though the Hindu community is mainly allowed to perform and offer pujas in the temple, other communities also pray and give offerings at the Kochunni Nada, which has a distinctive Muslim touch, with the tomb-like structure painted in green.
Besides, there is distinctiveness in the pujas and offerings at the temple, where the devotees are free to offer everything—candles, agarbattis, betel leaves, pan, arecanuts, tobacco, liquor and ganja. People from all walks of life are free to offer these things and even thieves have made use of this opportunity before going on any mission.
Since Kochunni, an expert in the traditional martial arts of Kalaraipayattu, used to break into the homes of the rich, and distribute the booty to his friends and other needy people, he assumed a heroic aura in the folklore of Kerala.
It is evident from the fact that two movies have been made based on his life, and scores of stories, including the Amar Chitra Katha comic book that children devour, were written based on his life and chivalry. There is a detailed account in the Aithihyamala (The Garland of Legends), written by noted Malayalam author Kottarathil Sankunni.
Whether he was a notorious burglar or a desi Robin Hood, his place is now among the venerable pantheon of Hindu gods. Devotees make a beeline for the temple during the annual festival, which falls during Vishu in the Malayalam month of Medom, just to seek his blessings. It is also a reminder of the golden days of religious harmony in the state.