Curated books on Theyyam — from scholarly research and ritual studies to oral traditions and folklore. Includes works by Dr. M V Vishnu Namboodiri, Dr. R C Karippath, Ambikasuthan Mangad, and more.
Author: Dr. M V Vishnu Namboodiri
Category: Anthropology & Ritual Studies
A scholarly examination of the Theyyam tradition by one of Kerala's foremost researchers in folk arts. Dr. Vishnu Namboodiri brings together decades of fieldwork to present an in-depth analysis of the ritual, its performers, and the cultural world that sustains it.
Author: K K Gopalakrishnan
Category: Sacred Arts & Performance
Written from the perspective of a practitioner and scholar, this book offers a rare insider's account of Theyyam as a living theatre of the divine. Gopalakrishnan explores the ritual grammar, the performer's body, and the sacred contract between deity and devotee.
Author: Dr. R C Karippath
Category: Anthropology & Ritual Studies
A comprehensive English-language introduction to the Theyyam universe — its mythology, ritual forms, performing communities, and temple geography. An accessible entry point for readers new to the tradition, and a solid reference for seasoned scholars.
Author: Dr. R C Karippath
Category: Anthropology & Ritual Studies
A deep study of the Theyyam cosmos — the divine cosmology, mythological narratives, and ritual order that animate each performance. Dr. Karippath maps the relationships between deities, communities, and sacred geography across North Malabar.
Author: Ambikasuthan Mangad
Category: Folklore & Oral Traditions
Stories of the Theyyam, retold by acclaimed Malayalam author Ambikasuthan Mangad. Drawing on the rich oral tradition of the Pottiyamma legend and related Theyyam myths, this book brings the living narratives of the tradition to literary form.
Author: Chanran Muttath
Category: Folklore & Oral Traditions
A literary work rooted in the world of Theyyam, exploring the lives, devotion, and inner worlds of those bound to the ritual tradition of North Malabar.
Author: Murali Mohanan K V
Category: Anthropology & Ritual Studies
A focused study of Kathivannoor Veeran, one of the most revered warrior-deities of the Theyyam pantheon. The book traces the legend, ritual practice, and cultural memory surrounding this powerful Theyyam form.
Author: Ambikasuthan Mangad
Category: Folklore & Oral Traditions
A literary retelling of the Maakkam legend — one of the most poignant female Theyyam traditions of North Malabar. Ambikasuthan Mangad gives voice to the story of a woman deified through grief, sacrifice, and community memory.
Author: Dr. R C Karippath
Category: Anthropology & Ritual Studies
A study of the Mappila Theyyam tradition — a lesser-documented but vital strand of Theyyam practice in which Muslim community figures and martyrs are venerated through ritual performance. Dr. Karippath charts the syncretic religious history behind these unique Theyyam forms.
Author: Dr. Y V Kannan
Category: Anthropology & Ritual Studies
An in-depth study of the mythology and ritual tradition surrounding Muthappan, the most widely venerated deity in the Theyyam pantheon. Dr. Kannan examines the Puravrutham — the ancient oral narrative — alongside the living performance tradition at Parassinikadavu and beyond.
Author: T Ajeesh
Category: Folklore & Oral Traditions
A collection of stories drawn from the mythological universe of Theyyam — the origin tales, heroic legends, and divine narratives that form the spiritual backbone of each ritual performance. Ajeesh retells these with literary care, making them accessible to a new generation of readers.