Vishnumoorthy Theyyam

On the way, Palanthai Kannan stayed one day in Moolapally in the house of a blacksmith [now near the railway line] and rested in the Kanakkappalli Anikkil Tharavadu [situated near the Nileshwar bus stand, on the Koroth - N.H. Road, and once up on a time famous as a center of martial arts and education].

Then he proceeded to Kundon Kadavu and leaving his Olakkuda [umbrella] and Churika [shield], went to Kadalikulam [a pond near Nileshwar Market junction] for taking bath.

The God Vishnu who accompanied his ardent devotee Palanthai Kannan was provoked and destroyed the everything near by Kuruvat tharavad.Kuruvat kurup was frightened and called up an astrologer.

Vishnumoorthi theyyam is also believed to be The Narasinha Avatar of Lord Mahavishnu who came to save his dear devotee Prahlada from his father, The Asura king Hiranya Kasipu by breaking the pillar.

The Theyyam [1] in question is a divine representation of Palanthai Kannan, a follower of Lord Vishnu and member of the thiyya caste, performed by individuals belonging to the Malaya clan.

The story of Palanthai Kannan goes back to his childhood in Neeleswaram, where he tended to cattle and ate mangoes from a tree owned by Kuruvat Nair, a member of the upper caste.

Kuruvat Nair's servants brutally beat the boy, leading him to flee the village and seek refuge in a Vishnu temple in Mangalore, where he lived for 12 years.

In April 2008, Ottakkolam was performed in a grand manner in Velu Vayal Ottakkuthiru, Nileshwar with the presence of thousands of devotees after a gap of 47 years.