Neelikatha - Myth or Legend

Panchavankadu Neeli a.k.a Kalliankattu Neeli 

Two days ago, we watched the exciting Malayalam film Lokah – Chapter 1, starring Kalyani Priyadarshan, and it was a fantastic experience. Kalyani brought the character to life vividly on screen as Chandra, an incarnation of the Venad Yakshi - Kalliyankattu Neeli, as a modern-day action heroine fighting evil. If you haven't seen it, you should check out this film; it's best enjoyed on a large theater screen with good sound quality.

Vijayaraghavan, in a minor role, retells the popular Malayali and Tamil legend of Neeli and how she is eventually subdued, in the film adaptation. I remembered the story from my childhood when we first saw the Kalanilayam dramas Raktharakshassu (The Vampire) and Kadamattathu Kathanar. Those epic stage shows featured many interesting special effects and are still remembered by many from my generation and those who came before. However, I don't recall if the Raktharakshassu in the drama was specifically about Neeli.

About 15 years ago, I wrote an article about yakshis, drawing on various sources I had researched. Over the years, I noticed a few references here and there about these two related Yakshi stories. Still, I didn't think much of them until yesterday, when I remembered that Kottarathil Sankunni initially narrated the Kathanar story in his famous collection of tales and legends, Aithihyamala. I revisited it and found that the yakshi connected to the kathanar (priest) isn't Neeli but another called Panayanar Kavile Yakshi. How they got interconnected is still a mystery to me.

And so, here I am, after watching the movie, to retell the story of the two Yakshis for those who are unfamiliar with the original versions, specifically the stories of Panchavankad Neeli and the Panayanar Yakshi. This may be important for new generations, as the version in Lokah is somewhat different. I must emphasize that this does not significantly impact the overall concept of the Lokah screenplay, which is set in the present. This is simply information for those who want to learn more about the old Neeli.

Some might wonder whether these stories are myths, folklore, or legends; others may even ask what these terms mean. A myth is a symbolic, sacred story typically involving gods or supernatural beings and believed to be true in the past. A legend is a traditional story believed to be historical but lacking solid evidence, often associated with a real person or event and typically exaggerated over time. Lore, on the other hand, includes a wide range of myths, legends, and various types of folklore. Therefore, by definition, this story is mythical but has become somewhat of a legend.

The story of Neeli was originally sung orally in the Thekkan Pattu of Venad and was later printed when CV Raman Pillai wrote the novel on Marthanda Varma of Travancore in 1891. The story, which recounts events in Venad (Travancore) between 1727 and 1732, follows Prince Marthanda Varma's struggle against conspirators attempting to seize his throne. The Yakshis, however, date back to a time when the region was known as Nanjil Nadu, a period when Jainism flourished in the southern parts and the yakshi and Chattan cults were common. Densely forested, the area was home to many tribal communities. People mainly traveled on foot from place to place, with only the wealthy using palanquins, horses, and carts on better roads. I don’t intend to get into a detailed study of the cult, but I will retell Neeli's story based on the sources mentioned. It’s also impossible to assign a specific time to these stories; all we know is that they were passed down orally over many years, becoming hugely popular through the Thekkan Pattu (Southern ballads), especially during Marthanda Varma's reign, notably through the Villu Pattu (sung to the beat of a bow and a metal pot).

Neelikatha - From the Villu Pattu

The story begins at Ammappan Kovil in Pazhakainallur, with a famous Devadasi dancer named Sivakami. She had two children, Lakshmi and Thirukanda, with Lakshmi following her mother's footsteps to become a skilled dancer. The temple priest, Velavan Nampy, was smitten with the young girl and soon started spending time with her, lavishing her with wealth—wealth he had earned through both honest and dishonest means. Sivakami, her mother, accumulated all this wealth, and eventually, when it ran out, she expelled Velavan and forbade him from contacting Lakshmi. Velavan wandered into the forest, devastated and almost insane, while Lakshmi, unaware of all this, was grieving at home. Eventually, she learned of her mother's evil plans and, gathering some of the stolen wealth, set out to find her lover. She saw him lost in a thorny cactus forest, overwhelmed with grief. She fell at his feet and begged for his forgiveness, but Velavan, still furious, struck her with a stone and took her jewels, leaving her for dead. With only the cactus forest (Kallian kadu) in Agasteeswaram as a witness, Lakshmi bled to death. Velavan, moving on, reached a well. Thirsty, he did not notice a snake that crept near and bit him. He died shortly afterward. Adding to the tragedy, Thirukanda, who came by and saw his sister dead, also took his own life.

In the next rebirth, Velavan was born into a trader's family in Kaveri Poom Pattinam, named Ananthan. In contrast, Lakshmi and Thirukanda were born as the children of a Chola king, named Neeli and Neelan. In this incarnation, the king also abandons the children, who continue to harbor vengeance against the public, living in a neem tree and causing chaos among the villagers. Eventually, Ananthan encounters Neeli, and as expected, Neeli kills him. The evil spirit, thus satisfied, is contained in an idol at the Panchavankad Issaki Amman temple there.

From Marthanda Varma – the novel

In the Raman Pilla version, Neeli is a Nair girl seduced by a local Pattar, who convinces her to sell her house and join him in Padmanabhapuram. Together, the pregnant girl and the Pattar walk along the forest path.

At Panchavankadu, the exhausted girl sits down to rest on her husband's lap when the wicked man, deciding to abandon her and steal her ornaments and wealth, strikes her head with a stone. Waking up for the last time, she sees her husband holding their blood-stained stone, calls on the Cactus plants to be witnesses, swears revenge in her rebirth, and dies.

The Pattar, who had started a new life, plans a trip to Suchindram for a festival. As they walk along the forest path heading south and enter Panchavankadu, he spots the beautiful, alluring figure of Neeli. She seduces him with her looks and actions, leading him to follow her deeper into the forest. They eventually find a good spot where they settle down, and the roles are reversed, with the Pattar resting his head on the girl's lap. In an instant, the girl's form transforms into a terrifying vampire who then tears him apart and drinks all his blood. The stones remain there alongside the cactus plant, which was once a witness to her murder.

Venad Yakshikal – Ramesan Nair

Ramesan Nair locates the area west of the Collectorate at Ramavarma Puram in Nagercoil. The Nadukattu Ishaki Amman Koil is there. He explains that Pavizhanallor village, now called Pazhavur, used to have a temple. The story then follows a similar pattern – the priest falls for the temple dancer Neeli, who, with her mother's help, seduces the priest at her house and takes control of him. Eventually, the priest is driven out, but his sad, pregnant wife Neeli chases after him into the forest, where the story continues. She rests her head on his lap, and he hits it with a stone in the cactus forest – the Kalliyan Kadu. Later, while drawing water from a well, the ornaments fall in, and a snake bites him, causing his death. The mother looks for her daughter and witnesses the terrible sight, collapsing from grief.

He continues with a story about how Neeli then harassed wayward youth, greedy traders, and even Pathans who briefly waged war with the Travancore Raja. Later, the Yakshi instructed them to build a temple so she could retire in peace, which led to the construction of the Isakkiamman Kovil. Ramesan adds that there are many mentions of a great exorcist's involvement in Neeli's exorcism and her consecration, but he does not mention Kathanar.

Historically, the area was called Kazhuvanthittai because gallows once stood there, and men on death row were allowed to confess in front of Neeli one last time. Afterwards, a prayer was performed, and the man was hanged from the gallows. In front of the temple, a neem tree with a cradle hanging from one of its branches was once visible. Old-timers recall hearing lullabies sung by Neeli for her unborn child, rocking to sleep in that cradle.

That finally brings us to the story of Kadamattathu Kathanar. Although we hear of an exorcist who puts Neeli in her place, the Kathanar is associated with another Yakshi according to Sankunni and Ramesan Nair.

Kadamattathu Kathanar – K Sankunni

Sankunni started collecting the existing lore around the turn of the 20th century and wrote about Kadamattathu Kathanar – Poulose, the deacon from Kadamattam (near Muvattupuzha), between 1909 and 1930. Kadamattathu Kathanar is believed to have lived around 920-930 AD and is considered a renowned sorcerer, exorcist, and conjurer.

Many acts have been linked to him, including the subdual of the Panayanar Yakshi. Sankunni introduces Polulose, a young man who served as a deacon under the priest (believed to be Mar Sapor) and disappeared when the priest, along with the villagers, went in search of a cow taken by a tiger. During this journey, he is kidnapped by a cannibalistic tribe. The tribe's chief takes a liking to Poulose and accepts him into the tribe of naked hill people. Over the course of 12 years, Poulose learns the art of magic and sorcery from these expert tribespeople. Later, he asks the chief for permission to leave and visit his old priest, then departs the tribe to return to Kadamattom. After returning, he uses his knowledge of magic and other powers to help the villagers, gaining personal fame.

The Panayanar Yakshi preyed on travelers using the forest route from Anathapuram (Trivandrum) to Padmanabhapuram. (Note that Kalliyangad Neeli preyed on people between Padmanabhapuram and Kanyakumari). As her attacks increased, people turned to Kathanar for help. The Kathanar entered the forest searching for the maiden, and there she appeared in all her splendor, offering Kathanar betel leaves and asking for some lime – Chunnamb. Kathanar offered it on an iron nail, which she accepted with some trepidation. As soon as she did, she came under the deacon's control, and he promptly drove the nail into her skull, enslaving her. 

On the way back, Kathanar stopped to rest at his uncle's house. His aunt was enamored with the young damsel he was escorting and asked if she could stay with them to help. The deacon agreed and went for a nap. At that moment, the old aunt offered to comb the girl's hair. She noticed a nail in her skull, promptly pulled it out, and, to everyone's surprise, the girl was freed from the Kathanar's spell and regained her previous powers. The Kathanar woke up and followed her. She crossed the river and was hanging around Panayanar Kovil at Parumala when the Kathanar also arrived, breathless. Seeing the Kathanar, she offered to turn over a new leaf, swore to it, and then disappeared (or was consecrated in the idol), never to return or cause harm again. After this, she became popularly known as the Panayanar Kovil or Parumala Yakshi.

Kathanar continued to do other good deeds, but subduing Neeli was not, as I can see, one of them.

Panayanar Kavil Yakshi and the Kattur Namboodiri – Ramesan Nair

Ramesan Nair continues with the second part of the story. Kattur Neelakandhan Namboothiri, after Murajapam at the Padmanabha Swamy temple, was heading to the Shangumugham Bhagavathy temple for more prayers when he met a beautiful young woman. After some small talk, she admitted she was from Panayanar Kovil and had lost her way while on her way to Chottanikkara. She explained that the Kathnar had consecrated her in the idol, and when the priest accidentally spilled some holy water on her, she was freed from the idol. She then boarded a boat heading south and landed in the area, only to fall under the sacred bonds of the gods at Padmanabhapuram, Shangumugham, and Palkulam Bhagavathy. She asked Kattur to help her escape and take her to Kayamkulam, which the Namboothiri agreed to. Using some spells and powers he possessed, he contained her into his sindoor container and eventually freed her from captivity at Kayamkulam.

These are the stories of the two Yakshis: the vengeful Kalliyangaad Neeli and the more reasonable Panayanur Yakshi. From the locations where they were consecrated, two different temples, we can see that they were not the same. From the places they preyed on, we can also conclude that they were different.

Now we need to verify their timelines. We know that the Kathanar lived around 920-930 AD. Based on mentions of the Cholas and the absence of mentions of Travancore kings, we can estimate that Neeli predates the other yakshi, possibly dating back to the 5th-7th century. The Padmanabha Swamy Perumal temple is believed to date from the 7th-8th century. However, I must admit that as the story of Neeli continues till the Pathans' arrival in Travancore, it becomes unclear (perhaps Mukilan, which is set in the 17th century), so examining the timelines does not provide a clear conclusion.

Panayannar Kavu is very old and located near Parumala, surrounded by a tributary of the Pampa River. It is very close to Mannar village, on the Thiruvalla-Mavelikkara Road. Next to the temple, there is a consecration of the Parumala Yakshi, where she sits on a raised platform in an orchard with several trees.

Neeli, on the other hand, is a name that appears in many Tamil works, portraying a woman who becomes a 'pey' – a ghost. According to Jeyamohan, the writer, Neeli was consecrated by Naganandi Adiga, a Jain Monk, and the entire area around Kalliangad was developed after the Pechipara dam was built. The Isakkiamman (a tribal goddess) kovil is located on Muppandhal, south of Valliyur, on the route from Thirunelveli to Nagercoil. However, I am not sure if this is the real Neeli Kovil, because there is a specific Neeli Amman temple at Kalliangad.

Hopefully, those curious about the Neeli story are now familiar with the old versions, and you are prepared when the Chatan release occurs.

References

Kerala Sahitya Charitram – Ulloor S Parameswara Ayyar

Aithihyamala – Kottarathil Sankunni

Marthanda Varma – CV Raman Pillai

The story of Neeli – B Prasad

Venad Yakshikal – K Ramesan Nair

Further reading

The bewitching Yakshi  - Maddy's Ramblings

The Chatans of Malabar - Maddy's Ramblings

Kaliyangad Neeli temple location