Ayyappan Hymns Of Kalameluttu In North Malabar - A Historical Study

Book Name in English : Ayyappan Hymns Of Kalameluttu In North Malabar - A Historical Study

This book re-examines non-Brahman ritual traditions in Kerala by challenging the assumption that they are purely oral and historically marginal. Focusing on Kaļameluttu and related rituals of North Malabar, it critiques scholarly discourses that privileged Brahmanical traditions while dismissing non-Brahman practices as folklore or demon worship. Drawing on palm-leaf manuscripts preserved by Teyyampāți priestly families, the study reveals a sustained textual tradition within non-Brahman ritual culture. Special attention to hymns dedicated to Ayyappan highlights a vibrant form of non-Brahman bhakti that developed outside Brahmanical temples. By examining the relationship between ritual performance, iconography, and text, the book repositions these traditions within the broader history of South Indian bhakti.