NEELIYAR BHAGAVATHI നീലിയാർ ഭഗവതി (കോട്ടത്തമ്മ, ഒറ്റത്തിറ):
കണ്ണൂര്‍ ജില്ലയിലെ മൊറാഴക്കടുത്തുള്ള മാങ്ങാട്ട് പറമ്പ് നീലിയാര്‍ കോട്ടത്തില്‍ കെട്ടിയാടുന്ന ഭഗവതി തെയ്യമാണ്‌ നീലിയാര്‍ ഭഗവതി. ഈ അമ്മ ദൈവം ‘കോട്ടത്തമ്മ’ എന്നും ‘ഒറ്റത്തിറ’ എന്നും കൂടി അറിയപ്പെടുന്നുണ്ട്. മഹാകാളി സങ്കല്‍പ്പമാണ് ഈ ദേവിക്കുള്ളത്. ചെറുകുന്ന്, എരിഞ്ഞിക്കീല്‍, മാതമംഗലം എന്നീ സ്ഥലങ്ങളിലും ഭഗവതിക്ക് സ്ഥാനങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ട്. കൊട്ടിയൂരിനടുത്തുള്ള മണത്തണ എന്ന സ്ഥലമാണ് ഭഗവതിയുടെ ആരൂഡം . കര്‍ക്കിടക മാസം രണ്ടു മുതല്‍ പതിനാറ് വരെയുള്ള ദിവസങ്ങളില്‍ ഭഗവതി ഇവിടെയാണ് ഉണ്ടാവുകയത്രേ.
NEELIYAR BHAGAVATHI (Kottathamma, Ottathara):
Neeliyar Bhagavathy is the Bhagavathy Theyam enshrined in Mangat Parambu Neeliyar Fort near Morazha in Kannur district. This Mother God is also known as 'Kottathamma' and 'Ottathara'. This goddess has the concept of Mahakali. Bhagwati also has posts at Cherukunn, Erinhikkeel and Matamangalam. Bhagwati's Arudam is a place called Manathana near Kottiur. Bhagwati is present here from the second to the sixteenth day of Karkidaka month.
Niliyar Bhagavathy is the Theyam which is celebrated at all times of the year. This theyam is tied by the Vannan community. Only a single chenda and a few instruments are used for theiya. This Theiyakolam descends in the evening during sunset. Devotees take a vow to hug Bhagwati for every month transition, family life, child luck and Magalya luck.
This Theiya has a lot of resemblance to the Big Tampurati Theiya with big hair and facial features. Mangat Parampu Niliyar Kottam is a nineteen acre shrine. There is a small building inside the cave where you can write on your face without it raining because it is always sunny here throughout the year. It is there that the clothes of Theiyat and the 20-foot-long thirumudi made of bamboo are kept. Only those who have given the Nayanar ritual at Karakkat are allowed to tie this theyam. This theyam is tied by the Vannan community.
t is believed that Neeli, a low-caste woman who was immortalized by the local king at Manathana near Kannur Kotiyur, became Neeliar Bhagwati after her death.
Another myth goes like this. There is a local legend that Neeli was killed by her own father on charges of adultery and Neeli became Neeliar Bhagwati after her death.
When the pilgrims arriving at Manathana Illat reach the Illakulam to bathe, Niliyar Bhagavathy in her beautiful form asks them if they want oil and dates, and thus kills those who come by and bleeds them. Those who go there to bathe never come back. Once the scholar Kalakkat Namboothiri reached there and went to Illakulam to bathe before his meal. There he saw the beautiful Neeli on the other side. When asked who, Namboothiri answered Kalakkat and to the counter question, Neely answered Kali. Later Bhagwati gave oil and dates. He drank the oil and dates saying that it was Amrit given by his mother. It is believed that Bhagwati came here in Olakuda with them without killing him because she called him mother.
Legend has it that Bhagwati said that cow and tiger should live together in a place where they can live together with love, and thus saw a cow and a tiger grazing together in the Mangat field, and laid down an umbrella and rested there. But MV says that the lyrics supporting this legendary story are not found in Thotam songs. Vishnu Namboothiri comments.
To watch the video of Niliyar Bhagwati Theyat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkxIEXhmeGA
Source: Theyyams from Malabar
To watch the video of Niliyar Bhagavathy Theiyat as Kottathamma:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB9ZinyXLW4
Credit: Vineesh Puthiya Purail
