The Story of Chottanikkara Amma and the Yakshi.

(This story is based on a legend which must be at least three or four centuries old. In those days the land of Kerala was not thickly populated as we see today. Human inhabitations were limited to villages widely separated from each other by vast tracts of desolate forests and jungles. To move from village to village, travelers had to walk long distances through winding pathways in the uninhabited forests. Travel was always a potential hazard due to the ever-present danger of wild animals and frequent attacks by ruthless robbers. If travel by daytime was a terrifying experience, travel by night was a horrible nightmare because of the terror inducing ambience of the desolate night forest effected by a combination of factors such as the stillness of the eerie night, the gently swaying shadows in the dark that appeared like undefined, horrible ghost-like apparitions and the sudden spurt of earsplitting screams and loud cries of strange wild animals and birds and so on. So much so, people used to undertake journeys only when it was unavoidable. For safety they always traveled in groups and that too only during daytime. Only very courageous, lion hearted people would undertake night time journeys and that too when there was strong reason and motivation. Such fear complex must have given rise to the concept of the blood thirsty yakshis. They were believed to be ghost-like feminine apparitions with fearful physical features and supernatural, magical powers. They infested desolate areas in the dense jungles and used to live on top of tall palm trees. They could change their form to resemble any human being. Their modus operandi was to wait for unwary travelers by the side of isolated jungle paths, in the guise of some beautiful dame and to entice them to their abode by offering their feminine charms. The yakshi’s house on the treetop would appear as a grand palace to the gullible victim. Ultimately the yakshi would kill the victim and eat him up. It was believed that the yakshis could be subdued only by learned sorcerers and magicians. All sacred places like temple premises etc and even ordinary houses where divine worship was regularly conducted were believed to be out of bounds for these blood thirsty witches. The general public in those times, were largely uneducated and it was no wonder, then, they listened to and believed all such stories.

The deep rooted and widespread belief in the existence of yakshis, it seems, offered some benefits too to the society in those days. This was confided to me by the famous magician and sorcerer, Kadamattathu Kathanar himself. According to him, whenever he got reports of repeated incidents of robberies and murders taking place around a particular jungle tract, he would deliberately spread rumors of a yakshi infesting that area. The robbers and murderers in that place would quickly vacate that place because they, like everyone else, were deadly scared of these supernatural creatures.

That the existence of yakshis and similar ghosts is a baseless myth is amply evidenced by the fact that no such apparitions are seen or heard in the modern days when the educated population tends to analyze every bit of rumor in a spirit of scientific temperament. Now- a- days there are simply no takers for such false beliefs.

Then, why have I spent so much time and space on this matter? It is because one character in the story is a yakshi. Whenever I narrate this story to young children, I have observed that they get into a sort of fear complex for at least a few days. They would exhibit a distinct fear of dark places especially at night. They would refuse to walk into empty rooms unless accompanied by elders. This happens because they take the yakshi and her horror-filled actions as the substance of the narration. Such perception is totally wrong and should be avoided. The core of the story is the compassion of Chottanikkara Amma to her devotees in trouble. When you get into a helpless state due to extreme fear or grief, have faith that Chottanikkara Amma will be there to save you. She will never forsake her devotees in times of need. If you understand this basic truth, go ahead and read the story.)

The night was young and the brilliant crescent moon shining in the clear sky was flooding the desolate jungle with her cool milky white light. A cool, gentle breeze was blowing and all the tree tops and creepers lining the deserted pathway leading to the town of Tripoonithura were shimmering like a vast silver sea. The lone traveler on this path at that time was Guptan Namboothiri of Kandarappilly illam, who was on his way to see a kathakali performance at the royal palace in Tripoonithura. (we shall call him “Guptan” hereafter)

Guptan was a young Brahmin in the prime of his youth. He hailed from a rich family near Chottanikara. Like all rich namboothiris of that time, he had been educated in vedic texts and used to observe daily rituals and poojas as enjoined in the scriptures. He was an ardent devotee of Chottanikkara Amma. Although married and having children, his weakness was the opposite sex. He was not averse to indulge in flirtation and small time affairs with women of lower castes whenever the opportunity arose. In fact he was notorious for this activity. He was also crazy about kathakali and never used to miss even a single performance that used to be staged at Tripoonithura under royal patronage. On this particular night, a famous troupe from Malabar was scheduled to stage a play in grand style and he did not want to miss the performance at any cost.

To reach Tripoonithura, Guptan had to walk for about three hours through the solitary walkways winding mostly through jungles and forests. He had finished his evening prayers and a light supper and had embarked on his journey just after sunset. Usually for such trips, he used to have the company of some of his friends. But this time, by some reason none of them could accompany him and he had to travel alone. This did not bother him at all because the he was familiar with the route which he had traversed many times. Lately there had been some unconfirmed rumors about a yakshi troubling wayfarers in that area, but due to exuberance of his youth and goaded by his intense desire to see the promising performance, Guptan did not care much.

Guptan’s teacher was an old Brahmin scholar who was an authority on various arts and sciences. He was a well known sorcerer too. His house was on the way to Tripoonithura. Some time back, Guptan had borrowed a copy of the sacred text of Devibhagavatam from his teacher. He wanted to return the sacred book to his teacher and therefore carried it with him neatly bundled in a clean piece of cloth. The other item with him was the inevitable pan box. In those days it was fashionable for rich Brahmins to carry their own pan box everywhere. It was a small polished brass box in which the ingredients like tender fresh betel leaves, flavoured lime paste, scented areca nuts and sweetened tobacco as also a small penknife were neatly packed.

The young Guptan was really enjoying the pleasant walk through the moonlit countryside. His mind was dwelling on the pleasures of the performance he was about to witness. Humming some favourite kathakali tunes to himself, he walked on oblivious of all other things. He had thus walked for nearly two hours and was nearing his destination. He reckoned that he had plenty of time to spare before the performance. He therefore decided to rest for some time and chew a bit of pan. He found a big flowering tree by the side of the path. Sitting underneath the tree he opened his pan box and prepared to have a luxurious session of pan. However he was careful not to put down the sacred text which he reverently kept under his armpit.

As he was enjoying his rest, he noticed a sweet scent of pala flowers wafting to his nostrils. He looked around. In the dim shadows thrown by the moonlight he could make out a vague form that appeared as a woman dressed in white. He could not see her face clearly in the dim light. Slowly the form came nearer. Now he could make out that it was indeed a beautiful woman dressed in white set mundu with lot of flowers in her hair. He was a bit surprised to meet a woman, all by herself, without any company, in that uninhabited jungle. As if sensing his thoughts, the woman addressed him in a soft seductive voice. She said; “Thirumeni, I suppose you are headed to the palace to watch today’s kathakali. Shall I accompany you”. The voice, actions and mannerisms of the woman appeared very familiar, but Guptan could not place her with any degree of certainty. So he asked; “My good lady, you seem to recognize me. But I’m afraid that cannot place you although you seem to be very familiar”. Putting up a face that showed remorse and hurt feelings, the woman said; “How soon thirumeni has forgotten this slave. I am Ithooty Warassiar who used to serve you when you stayed at Piravom temple for bhajana.” Now Guptan remembered and everything was clear as crystal. About two years ago he had done bhajana for fortyone unbroken days at the said temple. The young and beautiful Ithooty warassiar was the lady who did jobs like collecting flowers and making garlands in the temple. The handsome young Guptan lost no time in striking a fast friendship with the girl which quickly progressed to a torrid but pleasant affair. The whole thing lasted for just about a month. He had not seen her since then; but he recollected the sweet memories of those days very often. How stupid of him not to have recognized the woman. He should make it up with her without delay. He said; “Of course I remember you very well, my dear Ithooty; it is this dim light that prevented me from seeing you clearly. Moreover I hardly expected to meet you at this place and that too at this time”. The woman replied as if to dispel any doubts that he might have about her; “Thirumeni, nowadays I live with my aunt whose house is just behind that grove. I was waiting here to find some travelers headed towards Tripoonithura so that I could go with them and watch the kathakali performance. It is indeed fortunate that you came this way. Now I am sure that we will have a good time tonight watching the performance together”. Guptan agreed wholeheartedly. He was already excited all over at the prospect of spending the whole night in the company of the vivacious Ithooty. And he said; “I am so pleased to have you for company tonight. But there is plenty of time still left for the play to start. Come and sit by my side. I will treat you to some pan and we will talk for some time”. During the conversation she asked about the bundle that he was keeping under his right arm and pressed him to keep it down so that he could feel more relaxed. Guptan would not oblige saying that it was a sacred text that he had to return to his teacher on the way to Tripoonithura. After some interval, they resumed their walk, Guptan leading and the woman following. Once or twice he tried to come close to her and hug her but she would dissuade him by asking how he could do such a thing with one hand closed around the bundle. She would ask him to put down the bundle so that she could enjoy his attentions better, but again he would not oblige. By and by, they reached the gate of his master’s residence. Asking his companion to wait at the gate he went inside to meet the respected teacher.

In spite of the late hour the old scholar had not yet retired to sleep. He was pacing up and down in the courtyard deeply engaged in some serious mental calculations. He welcomed his old student affectionately and accepted the holy text from him. Guptan was fidgeting impatiently to return to his waiting companion. Seeing his discomfiture, the old man asked him as to who was accompanying him. Reluctantly Guptan apprised him of the identity of his companion and the circumstances of meeting her that night. Then the learned old man said; “Look, Guptan, you have been fortunate so far tonight. It is not Ithooty warassiar who has followed you but it is a horrible yakshi who is out to drink your blood. She could not touch you so far because you had the holy Devibhagavatham in your hand”. Guptan could hardly believe his ears. Seeing his discomfiture the master said; “If you are not convinced, just stand close to me and have a look at your lady-friend, but after holding my hand for support”. Guptan did so and what he saw was a horrifying sight that almost stopped his heart. In place of the slender, fair, beautiful woman, there now stood a terrible feminine creature of gigantic proportions. She was as tall as a coconut tree and her limbs and torso were like those of a huge hairy gorilla. Her large, bloodshot eyes were as large as big round saucers and emitted long scalding flames. Her dark-red, blood-stained mouth was like a huge cavern. Her long dirty tongue dripped blood and hung out, reaching up to her knees. She had long, curving, sharp teeth resembling a huge predator. The long, sharp, pointed nails on her hands were capable of sinking into and tearing out the bowels of even big elephants in one go. The sight before him was more than what the poor Guptan could withstand. Shrieking with horror, he fell at the feet of his master and prayed for saving him from the impending calamity.

The master consoled him as best as he could and said; “What you see before you is a blood thirsty yakshi. She is so powerful that even the best of sorcerers cannot subdue her. Only Chottanikkara amma can save you from this cruel creature. So run from here to Chottanikkara temple and pray for Devi’s protection. To save you till you reach Devi’s temple, I will give you my towel after making it potent with certain special powers. Do not lose this towel till you reach the temple. Once you are inside the walls of the temple, you would not need the towel anymore. So, throw it out. Chottanikkara amma will protect you thereafter”. The master then removed the small towel from his shoulder and gave it to Guptan, after chanting some magical verses which could empower the piece of cloth with certain special charms to keep away the evil yakshi temporarily.

Guptan clutched the magical towel with both hands and ran to Chottanikkara with the yakshi close on his heels. Shivering with uncontrolled fear he ran as fast as his legs could take him. All along he was crying “Amme, Devi, save me, save me” Off and on the yakshi would come close and would threaten him with fearful gestures, but would withdraw due to the magical power of the master’s towel. Many times he would trip on some loose stones or hanging vines but managed to clutch on to the towel. He was bruised and bleeding all over. Still he ran and ran covering the long miles after miles that took to reach Chottanikkara.

At long last, it was almost dawn when he sighted the western gate of Chottanikkara temple. The yakshi had not given up and was still after him. In one last spurt he reached the threshold. As soon as he put one leg inside the gate he remembered his master’s instructions and threw out the towel. At that instant his other foot was still outside the threshold. The Yakshi seized on to this opportunity and caught on to his foot. She began pulling him out with all her might. To Guptan it appeared as if the end had come and he prayed with all devotion to Devi to save him.

At that time, inside the sreekovil, the head priest had just finished the morningAbhishekam and puja and had come out. All on a sudden, he and all the devotees present witnessed a strange phenomenon. A blinding mass of light that shone like a thousand suns emerged out of the sreekoviland flew with amazing speed towards the western gate. Before anyone realized what was happening, Devi had reached the gate where the yakshi was pulling out the poor, terrified Guptan. With one stroke of her glittering sword, Chottanikkara amma cut the yakshi into two pieces and with her left hand threw both pieces to a far away pond located on the southern side of the temple. After eliminating the evil yakshi, the Devi blessed Guptan and returned to thesreekovil. The devotees and the head priest, who had witnessed the strange happenings, had still not recovered from their shock. They were still looking at each other in wonder and amazement as if seeking an answer to the mysterious occurrence. Suddenly the head priest heard a clear divine voice from the sreekovil instructing him to carry out one more abhishekam and to change the robes. On going inside to carry out the divine instructions, the priest was surprised to see blood stains on Devi’s robes.

This story shows how the compassionate Chottanikkara Amma saves her devotees even from the most hopeless predicaments. Have faith in Chottanikkara Amma: She will protect you at all times and will never forsake you.

Even now, at Chottanikkara temple, two abhishekams are performed everyday. This practice is said to be in deference to Devi’s instructions on the day the yakshi was killed