Gulikan is a form of Lord Shiva as per myths popular in Kerala. Don’t be confused with the Guligan/Kuligan who is an abstract form in the astrological calculation as present in one’s natal chart/horoscope etc. The latter is regarded as son of Lord Shani which has a minor planet concept and always regarded as similar to Rahu, Ketu etc.
The Gulikan which we refer here is Lord Shiva, unrelated to Guligan of Astrology, even though the name and pronunciation are similar. Gulikan is heavily worshiped in Kerala, particularly in North Malabar. Even in Central Kerala, Gulikan worship exists, though not as strong as North Malabar and practically unheard in Travancore side.
Originally Gulikan is one among traditional gods of a very old Dravidian tribe community called Paniya Community which now listed as a Scheduled tribe. The community had its base in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Palakkad and hence Gulikan worship cult was strong in these regions which slowly got adopted among other castes and communities.
As per Paniyan belief, Gulikan is one among 6 forms of Odiyan (spirits) that can affect and control human behavior and psyche. The other forms are Kali, Kooli, Chattan, Ankamalan, and Kochikiri whom they used to worship traditionally. Out of this, Kali and Gulikan were adopted by other communities and assigned a Hindu equivalent deity concept where Kali became as synonymous to the fierce form of Bhadrakali and Gulikan as similarly an extremely fierce form of Lord Shiva.
The myth of Gulikan is that when Lord Shiva’s most devoted devotee Markandeya clung to Shivalinga to save himself from Yama the God of death who threw Yamapasham (ropes of death) over him, Lord Shiva got extremely furious. In his extreme fury, the entire anger of Lord Shiva came out from his thumb and assumed a terrible form to kill Yama. This extremely frightening form- Gulikan is described as high as the Himalayas, as wide as Earth, as Round fiery eyes like coconut, teeth resembling chisel, hands as tough as an arecanut tree, legs as strong as coconut tree trunk. Seeing this extreme frightening form, Lord Indra and other gods fell at the feet of Gulikan and sought redemption for Yama as, without him, there won’t be death and without death, the creation will suffer. To appease him, Indra offered blood and after drinking it, the form got pacified as Lord Shiva and restored the life of Yama
As the form appeared to kill the death (Yama) and protect devotees. people pray to this deity for long life, to ward off negative energies around them and seek divine protection.
Traditional performance of Gulikan as part of Thottam invocation
As a traditional Dravidian belief which has no concept of temples as such then, the worship is done thro’ ritualistic performance when the dancer of a specific community (Paniyar) performs by donning the robes of Gulikan. When he does so, its believed, he gets tranced as Gulikan and he performs an extreme furious dance form which the priest (again from the same community) try to pacify by offering Guruthi. Guruthi originally means bloody sacrifice, which now replaced to the lime-turmeric mix which gives a blood-like liquid. However in many places, along with Guruthi, the sacrifice of cock and blood of the cock also offered to the Gulikan apart from palm toddy and tender meat. Upon drinking blood, the form pacifies and blesses all.
The elaborate form of Gulikan in form of Theyyam
Gulikan performances are part of the much larger Theyyam-Thira culture of Malabar. Gulikan as such worshipped in small shrines called Gulikan Kavus (Kavu means Groves and normally temples-Kshetram is more associated with Brahminical Hinduism while Kavus are associated with non-Brahminical worship)
The largest of Gulikan Kavu in Kerala is at Nileswaram in Kasargod, the north end of the state near Mangalore at Benkanakavu. The place itself derives its name from Lord Shiva in form of Nilaeswara or the Blue god
Theyyam is a uniquely Malabari variant of a universal Shamanic worldview, in which transcendental expressions of higher dimensional entities are conveyed to a believer through a flesh and blood template, i.e. the “performer,” who for the designated period of time becomes a living deity from whom blessings are sought. It posits the notion of a parallel, co-existing universe and that a human being after appropriate metaphysical initiation, can mount the physical or external effects of a specific entity, deity or being and then “become” that entity. In this exalted state, he takes on divine powers and is able to bless and heal as a God or Goddess.
Theyyam is an 800-year old celebration of divinity and devotion in the northern Malabar region of Kerala. There are more than 400 different kinds of Theyyam in Kerala, each being unique in style,music,make-up,costumes, etc. Pottan,Kari Chamundi, Gulikan, Vishnumurthy, Nagakanni, Veerali, Raktha Chamundi, Bhagavati, and Muthappan are some of the most popular forms of Theyyam in Kerala.
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