Pulluvan Pattu is the group of songs sung by a Pulluvan who is a male member of low caste group called Pulluvar. Pullu means `bird of omen`. It also means a person who can predict from the sound of birds. Within this community there are many sub-divisions. Most of them are known as Nagampatikal. There are pulluvars who do not belong to this division. They are called Pretampatikal.
The songs sung by Pulluvan are concerned with worship, custom, ritual and exorcism. Art of pulluva is expressed in the background of ghost worship, snake-worship and magic. Pulluvars are linked closely to worship of snakes. The presiding deity is the snake god and they perform certain sacrifices and sings songs. Pulluvan Pattu is performed in both the houses of lower and upper castes as well as in snake temples.
The songs that are performed by the pulluvar in snake temples and snake groves are known as Sarppapaattu, Naagam Paattu, Sarpam Thullal, Sarppolsavam, Paambum Thullal or Paambum Kalam.
The rituals are conducted by the Pulluvar around the decorated kalam in a specific pattern. The Naga deities are Naagaraajaavu, Naagayakshi, Sarppayakshi, Maninaagam, Erinaagam, Karinaagam, Kuzhinaagam, Paranaagam and Kanyaavu. The two women representing the nagas come to the kalam.
Pulluvar use certain musical instruments like pulluvan veena, pulluvan kutam and thaalam. Pulluvar themselves make the instruments. Hollow bamboo stick, wood shell and the brass wire makes the Pulluvan Veena. Through the small pice of bamboo arrow the Veena is played. These songs are sung on the occasion of Aayilyam Pooja where the presiding deity is the serpent.
Serpent is worshipped in many temples of Kerala. They are Mannarassaala, Vetticode, Kannannoor Devi Temple, Paambu Mekkaat, Trippara Temple and Ametamangalam. Perasseri temple is one of the ancient temples in Kannur district.
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