Captivating landscapes, stunning art forms, traditions, and a rich history—Kerala is a fascinating land with tonnes of stories. Folktales and legends are present in every corner of the world—fearsome, inspiring, magical, and mythical stories that are told and retold a thousand times, passed onto generations! These stories are tightly entangled with the culture and society they are told in, and separating them from the culture would be impossible. Kerala, renowned as the god’s own country among travellers and explorers, has a chest full of folktales and legends that define the culture of this lush, green tropical paradise. Here, we will look into some of those stories and legends that have been passed down through generations like treasures and have stayed in every Malayali’s psyche.
 

The Legend of Kerala’s Origin

One of the most widely told legends is the myth about the origin of Kerala. Parasuram, a warrior sage born to Sage Jamadagni, is believed to be the 6th avatar of Lord Vishnu. The purpose of his avatar was to cleanse the earth and get rid of the oppressive monarchs who abuse their powers, and he did exactly that. After he fulfilled his purpose, he sought the advice of sages, and they suggested that to repent for his sins, Parasuram should give away the land he conquered to Brahmins, and he did as they advised.

The legend says that Parasuram meditated in Gokarna and pleased the earth goddess and Varuna, the god of the sea; he then travelled to Kanyakumari and threw his axe to the north, and the land on which it landed rose from the ocean and became Kerala. This origin story of Kerala has been around forever, and anyone who has grown up in Kerala would have heard it. Parasuram is an important deity in Hinduism, so the myth does not end at the borders of Kerala. This origin story of Kerala is well known around India, which is why Kerala is famously known as the land of Parasuram across the country.

The Legend of Mahabali

Onam is the single most celebrated festival in Kerala, and the central figure of this festival is an asura king called Mahabali. The legend of Mahabali is a myth that defines the culture of Kerala. Though asuras have a reputation for foulness and evil doing, Mahabali was an asura king who ruled Kerala and was known for righteousness, benevolence, and goodness. Under his rule, the land prospered and the people lived happily. Mahabali’s good reputation grew day by day, and eventually, it reached the gods.

The gods grew jealous of the asura king’s power and fame, and they approached Lord Vishnu to put an end to it. Lord Vishnu took the form of Vamanan, a small Brahmin boy, and asked King Mahabali for a boon of three feet of land, and the benevolent king agreed. Once he was given the boon, the boy started to grow to such an alarming height that in the first two steps, he covered 14 worlds and the sky. Knowing that the third step would destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head to the Lord to place his feet, but before banishing the king to the netherworld, Lord Vishnu offered Mahabali a boon to visit his kingdom and people once a year. Today, Malayalis celebrate Onam, the harvest festival, to honour the visit of their beloved king Mahabali. Family get-togethers, delicious traditional feasts, flower arrangements, special onam games, and performances—Onam is the biggest cultural festival of Kerala, and regardless of differences, everyone celebrates the visit of Mahabali.

Kayamkulam Kochunni

The story of Kayamkulam Kochunni is another legend that had a big cultural impact in Kerala, and this tale has been adapted into Malayalam movies and serials several times. Kochunni is a thief who robbed the rich and distributed his looted goods among the poor and oppressed. The heroic thief has left behind plenty of stories and a fearsome legacy, and the Edappara Maladevar Nada Temple has a shrine attached to it dedicated to the legendary Kayamkulam Kochunni!

Yakshi and Kathanar

Female ghosts or nature spirits known as Yakshi are part of several folktales told in Kerala. The concept of Yakshi as a vengeful spirit who haunts people and drinks the blood of men, or as the protector of sacred groves, is spread across India and many other cultures. Kalliyankattu Neeli and Kanjirottu Yakshi are two of the most popular Yakshi legends in Kerala, and they are still told to children who love a good horror story before going to bed!

Kadamattathu Kathanar, according to legend, was a priest who lived in Kerala in the 9th century, and supposedly he possessed magical powers and was a powerful sorcerer. Kathanar is a figure that appears in several stories in the Aithihyamala (garland of legends), a collection of myths and legends in Kerala, written by Kottarathil Sankunni. According to legend, Kadamuttathu Kathanar was the one to stop and impale Yakshi Kalliyankattu Neeli.

Conclusion

If you are eager to explore more Malayalam legends and myths or want to introduce them to your children who are growing up away from their homeland, Aithihyamala, the collection of myths and legends of Kerala written by Kottarathil Sankunni, is a book you can dive into. Is your kid struggling with speaking or reading Malayalam? Akshharam Online Malayalam Language Learning School is an innovative platform offering curated Malayalam classes for children. Connect with us and sign up for our summer online Malayalam classes to help your child discover the joys of learning their mother tongue!