Northern Kerala (South India)
polychromed Wood
A finely carved panel depicting Karim Kutty Sasthan.
Karim Kutty Sasthan is one of the five so-called “magical” deities. He is a deity whose ambiguous and complex myth describes him as the unruly son of a Brahmin exorcist. After his father savagely beats him for sacrificing a favourite red bull, the boy leaves home and goes on a bloodthirsty rampage. Despite this seemingly ungodly behaviour, he is a mysterious god of tremendous powers possessing the attributes of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
Theyyam is the ancient Malabar performance-ritual in which empowered men, after suitable mental, physical and spiritual preparations ‘become’ the deities. Wearing spectacular costumes and headdresses and with their human features hidden behind mask-like make-up, they enter the shrine’s precincts to make the final transference from one state of consciousness to another. The defining moment comes when they gaze into a mirror and see not their own made-up face but a reflection of the deity. Once this line has been crossed, devotees can directly approach, honour and question a deity belonging to an extraordinary pantheon of divine beings, consisting not only of gods and goddesses but deified ancestors, warrior heroes, animals, ghosts and spirits.
Size(cms): 26.5 (H) x 13,5 (W)
Size(inches): 10.5 (H) x 5 (W)
