Machilottu or the Muchilot Bhagavathi goddess is known as the wonderful and wise Vaniya Goddess. She is also called the Hindu Tutelary Goddess. There are many versions regarding her presence on earth and the purpose for which she took birth. This Hindu deity was full of esoteric knowledge when she was a young virgin. Seeing her abstruse knowledge a top visiting Brahmin almost became discontent with envy. The Brahmin was adamant in embarrassing her so he decided to plot against her with his disciples all through the night.
When the next day dawned he made her stand in front of the public and put forth to her a number of leading questions regarding pain and pleasure. The girl replied innocently but the Brahmin distorted and twisted her replies and projected her as a very naughty girl. This shocked the villagers and they wanted her to leave and go away. The poor horrified girl felt like dying, but decided to contact Lord Shiva.
She made a funeral pyre for herself and placed herself on it, but Shiva cleared her path and on a pillar of flame, she shot up to Heaven. Later the villagers realized about their own silliness on treating Machilottu, the patron goddess of the Vanyas. Her story is often enacted as Theyyam, the ritualistic dance of North Malabar in Kerala. A temple called Sree Kizhkkeykara Sree Krishna Temple is dedicated in the name of Goddess Machilottu Bhagavati, 16 kms from Thaliparamba in Kannur District in Kerala.
