Madras University Malayajam Series No. 8. KALI-WORSHIP IN KERALA GHOBaMloal soglenw VOLUME I S o be ‘ : CHELNAT ACHYUTA MENON, ve . (Madras), PAD. (London), Head 7 the Department of Malayalam, University of Madras. UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS. 1943, Price Rs. 5PREFACE It is with a sigh of relief that I pen these few lines by way of introduction at the conclusion of my. investigations extending over several years on the subject of Kali Worship in Kerala, It is only after I started the work that I realised the magnitude of the task and the difficulties of collecting materials therefor. There is hardly a Hindu community or a village in Malabar that does not worship Kali in one form or other, ot own a shrine dedicated to the Mother Goddess, Though the cult is so universal most of its ritualistic and mystical aspects are known only to a priveleged few who will never share them with others even for life. This mysterious veneration extends also to the literature that has grown over the cult and has consequently erushed the enthusiasm of many a scholar for years. ‘These men are apparently not aware that the treasure that they have been concealing for ages is rusting on the archives of the Oriental Section of the British Museum! for any scholar to lay his hands upon, The present work is divided into twa parts. In Part I, I have made a general survey of the whole cult from the cultural standpoint in its various aspects, such as, the evolution of the Kali temple, the influence of the cult on the political evolution of Kérala and its martial traditions, its primitive outlook, Aryan influence on the indigenous cult, different conceptions of the Mother, the merging of Kannaki into Kali, the ritualistic literature called “Torrams ?2 and “ Pattus '’# it has developed. I do not propose to dilaie more on these topics as they are diseussed fully in Volume II of the work which is written in English for the benefit of non- Malayali readers. 1 My readers can very well imagine my surprise when I discovered there a palm leaf manuscript and an incomplete printed version of DarukavadhamKajampatty, during my sojourn there, 2 This is not the tédbhava of stotra as commonly supposed. It is, on the other hand, the substantive of the verbal root Ténnuka—to think and to get inspired. Hzuttaccan has used it in that sense in his Adhydtma RAmfyapam “ Rkghasaraja ninakku Torram baal.” It therefore indicates that these are inspired songs. The word “Toyru” also means “ create,” 3 Songs, because they are sung.vi Part II consists of the various specimens of songs used for the ritnals such as Pana‘ and Kalam Pattu! usually performed to propitiate the Mother. At the end, Badralpatti-Kilippatta whieh stands apart as pure literature has also been added to indicate the culmination of the gradual development of this kind of literature in which the theme is the same throughout, viz., the birth of Kali from the forehead of Siva and her encounter with the Demon Daruka ending in the latter's death, ‘This is the first time that this notable work appears in its complete form.’ It now remains for me to acknowledge my obligations to different ladies and gentlemen who have helped me in this under- taking by seeuring the necessary manuscript material and eolleeting information on various topics. ‘The list is too long to be included in this prefatory note; but the following uames, however, deserve special mention: the late Changulott Kuruppassan, Inte Y. Devaki Amma, B.A, (Elons.), late M. Udaya Varma of Mankada Palace, Messrs. P. Kuttakkcurap, 7, Eachara Kurup, A. D. Harisarma, and Sry. M. P. Bhadramma, B.A, (Hons.). Mr, P. Krishnan Nair, Sivomani, Junior Leetuver in Malayalam, has rendered unfailing assistance in seeing the work through the press, Mr, ©. K. Appnkutty (uptan, Research Seholar of the Depertment prepared the index and bibliography. 1 am specially thankful to My. T, Bachara Kurup for his portrait of Kali that appears as the frontispiece and other sketehes. He has holdly defied tadition and convention in preparing the former. Last but not least, I thank the University authorities for sane- tioning the publieation. Universmy or Mapras, <. ACHYUTA MENON. 7th Septomber 1943, 4 Vide my article on the afi ic Art of Kérala, Annals of Oriental ‘Research of the University f Ntceraa, Vol. 4, pt. I. 6 ‘The Travancore Goverhment jiiblished it some years ago under the editorship of Mahakavi Ullur. he present edition can lay claim to better toxtual .aceuracy,