Parasini Madappura Sri Muthappan Temple in Kannur district of Kerala seems to establish a connection between humans and other living beings. The biggest identity of this temple situated on the banks of Valapattanam river is the two bronze statues of dogs standing outside its door. This temple is of Lord Muthappan, devotees consider Lord Muthappan to be the incarnation of Lord Shiva and Vishnu. Devotees believe that dog is the favorite animal of Lord Muthappan. In such a situation, every day thousands of devotees come to the temple premises to worship the God as well as the dogs. When the prayers of the God are completed, the Prasad is first served to the dogs.
The importance of this temple increases even more because this temple is located in the stronghold of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his party. When Pinarayi Vijayan’s Left Front government came to power in Kerala eight years ago, one of the biggest decisions of his cabinet was to kill dangerous dogs. There was a global outcry against this decision of the government, its effect was so much that the travelers traveling to Kerala even started a campaign to boycott Kerala.
What is the history of the temple
The history of Parasini Temple is linked to the oppressive customs of the Malabar region. These customs and traditions had deprived the different castes of the society from respect and freedom. Devotees view Lord Muthappan as the savior of the frontier dwellers, who maintained their close relationships with domesticated animals, especially dogs.
According to mythology, Lord Muthappan came here to remove the evils of the society and he always had a dog with him. For this reason, dogs are considered sacred here and hence they are not stopped from coming to the temple. Dogs have been getting food here for a long time, hence a large number of dogs roam around here.
More than 9 thousand devotees come every day
According to a relative of a trustee of the temple, he said that our estimate is that more than 9 thousand devotees come to the temple every day for worship while on weekend days more than 25 thousand devotees come. Every morning and evening, a ceremony of Nayuttu or feeding of dogs is held in the temple. The fodder is mainly made from dry fish. “Dogs in and around the temple premises come looking for Nayuttu,” says Madappura, who has been working at the temple for over a decade. They know when it is time to feed.
