Modes of living created traditional occupations that suited to a man’s environment and circumstances. The occupations gradually acquired the shade of a caste or class. These castes were considered as specialists in a specific profession. Each traditional profession devised tools suited to the profession. It is generally assumed that there was no competition to such class-based skills. But the analysis of available data shows that different tribes adapted to similar set of professions in the timeline as in the case of Thiyyas, Ezhavas, Billawas and others.
The aboriginals pushed to a remote area on social, professional, economic and political considerations were compelled to subsist on the natural resources confined to its ‘natural ecological niche’*. Compartmentalized professionals, with social and political justification of high and low status, enjoyed, nevertheless, an equally important place in the religio-cultural evolution of the Tulu Nadu.
Belchada or Thiyya
One of the communities that played significant role in the cultural evolution of Kerala and Tulunadu is of Belchadas or the Thiyyas. The term Belchada (or Belchade) is more popular in Tulunadu, wheras they are known as Thiyyas, Ezhavas or by other equivalent names in different parts of Kerala. Anthropologist LAK Iyer elucidates that in North Malabar up to Calicut, they are known as Tiyyas; in South Malabar, Izhava or Thandans; and in Cochin and Travancore- Chovas andIzhavas. They are said to be allied to the Tamil speaking Shanars of the Tinnalvelly District, Tamilnadu and to the Billavas of Dakshina Kannada district and to the Halepaiks of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. They are also called Velans andUralis, in some areas, attendant with changes in traditional occupation. In Kerala the two castes of Thiyya and Ezhavas merged into one Community of Ezhavas sometime during the end of 19th century or beginning of 20th century, but it is said that some Thiyya were not happy with this equation. Izhuvans are also known as Iluvars.
According Mr. F. Fawcett, as quoted by Thurston, Thiyyans of Malabar “…. have been summed up as the middle class of the West Coast, who cultivate the ground, take service as domestics, and follow trades and professions anything but soldiering, of which they have an utter abhorrence……” (Castes & Tribes of Southern India, Vol. 7, e-book, pp. 3-9, # 37-115). It is commonly supposed that the Thiyyans and Izhuvans came from Ceylon. The Thiyyans were noted as Izhavan in documents concerning land, in which the Zamorin or some Brahman or Nayar grandee appears as landlord. The Thiyyans look down on the Izhuvans and repudiate the relationship. Yet they cannot but submit to be called Izhuvans in their documents, for their Nayar or Brahmin landlord will not let them have the land to cultivate unless they do so (Reason: A superior caste treats an individual lower in social scale as equal, without distinction and ignore to make a distinction.)” Malabar tradition tells us that some of these Dravidians migrated again from Iram or Ceylon northwards to Travancore and other parts of the West coast of India, bringing with them coconut or Southern tree (tengina mara= coconut palm) and being known as Tivars (islanders) or Iravars, which names have since been altered to Thiyyars & Ilavars.
“Thiyyan, Malayal Thiyyan or Tivan (pl. Thiyyar or Tivar): The name what may be called the third caste (in rank) of Malabar. The word signifies ‘islander’ (from Mal. Tivu, Skt. Dvipa, an island); and the people have supposed to have come from Ceylon” (Hobson-Jobson Dictionary-1903, Henry Yule & A.C. Burnell, p. 924).
Toddy Tapping: They are considered to have introduced coconut palm and the art of toddy tapping to the West Coast. Extracting intoxicating liquids from plants and fruits, was a common practice by human beings right from hunting and food gathering stage of human evolution. Such potable liquids or decoctions like ‘Soma rasa’ gained acceptance in Vedic and other religious rituals. Since antiquity, the Toddy is being offered to Divine Spirits and manes in rituals all over the world. The toddy tappers are considered as natives of Sri Lanka. They moved to South India as archers and toddy tappers via Laccadives (Lakshadwipa). There are indications of their migration to South India and back to Sri Lanka. Tapping Toddy mainly from Palmyra palm or the toddy palm in the West Coast, is a profession carried on traditionally also by Biruvas (.>Billavas, the ‘archers’) in Tulunadu, and Edigas in Malnad Karnataka, which probably they inherited from Maleyāli Billavassuch as Thiyyas and Ezhavas.
The knife used by a Thiyyan or Toddy Drawer for scarifying the palm trees is known as ‘Tier Cutti’ in Malayalam (Hobson-Jobson Dictionary, 1903, p. 919).Note that ‘Tarkatti’ (ತರ್ಕತ್ತಿ) in Tulu (and coastal Kannada) is comparable to the ‘Tier Cutty’ described above. Tarkatti is a curved sickle of toddy tappers. The term ‘Tier Cutti’ could have become ‘Tarkatti’ in Tulu. Or else,alternately, Tar(i)= to chop, katti = sickle in curved shape.
Tulu Proverb: ‘Tarkatti taarigu, parkatti keyiku’, which means, Curved sickle for palm trees, sickle with teeth for paddy harvesting (Tulu Lexicon, p.1426) , signifies usage of different tools for different works.
Alternately, V. Ananda gives another analysis in the Souvenir-2005 brought out on the eve of Punar-Pratishta Brahmakalashotsava of Kudroli Shri Bhagavati Kshetra, popularly known as ‘Kootakkala’. He dissects the word ‘Thiyyar’ as ‘Thi (=fire) + eyer (one who throws) (Letter ‘e’ pronounced as ’e’ in et cetera). Thiyyar may also represent highly skilled archers, with arrow-tips specially fitted with fire-producing elements.
Spirit dancing: The Belchada or the Thiyya were also the traditional Spirit dancers, authorized to participate in the mass possession rituals such as Vishnumoorthy Kola (Tulu Lexicon, p.2382).The Tulu term ‘Bhuta’(Spirit) is known as ‘Teyyam’ in Malayalam. The Dravidian Etymological Dictionary (p. 506; # 5544) described Belchada as ‘a devil dancer, possessed withKāli.’ The Kannada words ‘deyya’ or ‘devva’ (devil) apparently is related to the Malayalam usage Teyyam. Belchada were traditional spirit dancers’, possessed with Divine Primordial Energy, which is called by different names as Durgā, Kāli, Bhagavati, Vishnu Moorthy, etc, according to event-specific incarnations. Walking on fire/cinders is an attendant ritual in annual celebrations for some Divine Spirits.
Traditionally, Thiyyas worshipped Sri Bhagavati in small shrines known as kāvu. It contained a ‘māda’ or kalimāda, a sacred seat to keep masks, swords and other objects of Spirit worship.
They are also known as ‘Belchappade or Belchapaade’ and Velicappatan in Malayalam. Its archaic usage is ‘Belchampade’, who were the ordained Pātri (priest) of Bhagavati Temples with ritualistic wearing of ‘kai bale or kadaga’ (bracelets) – as is in vogue with spirit impersonators. They have to observe some ‘dos’ and don’ts for cleanliness or purity. [It is proverbial when elders often rebuke youngsters for their refusing a work as: ‘Are you wearing a holy bracelet’?].
Mannanars: According to L.A.K. Iyer, the Thiyyas of Malabar are the offspring of Chirakkal Mannar Raja, who was the son of excommunicated Nambuthiri lady from Royal family of Chirakkal. ‘Mannan’ means ‘a king’. It is a Title for subordinate king in Malayalam. It corresponds to ‘Manneyaru or Manya>Mane in Kannada. It is recorded that a Thiyya Mannan (chieftain) took care of ostracised Nambuthiri women by either marrying them or treating them as sisters. As a gesture of appreciation, King of Chirakkal donated him land.
Ezhavas and Tandan: They are a community, nestled in natural environs and are engaged in toddy tapping and agriculture. High caste Hindus used to treat them as untouchables and were denied of modern education and employment. Under erstwhile feudal lords or landed gentry, they were land-tenants or bonded labour in agricultural fields. They were well-versed in the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and were designated as Baida or Vaidya and the ancient knowledge of curative herbs and plants has evolved into Ayurvedic system of medicines. Under a liberal Buddhism, they were open to Sanskrit learning. This was initiated by Vagbhata, a Buddhist Teacher (6th-7th C.) from Sindh, who migrated to South when Buddhism lost its sheen in Northern India on the decline of Mauryan Empire.
Ezhavas were Buddhists to begin with but now are Hindus but the Purity-Pollution concepts of High classes considered them a Polluting Caste classified as Scheduled Caste in Kerala. The leader of the lower castes in a village was a Tandan, an Ezhava..
Etymology of Belchada
1.‘Bel’ in Tulu/Kannada/Malayalam is an action word. It gives a concrete meaning as ‘to offer into fire or with fire as ghee, animals, etc. Beluve: Oblation with fire, burnt offering; Belamba: Destruction of human life in fire. Velvi/Vezvi means ‘sacrifice’ in Malayalam.
Cetu (ಚೆಟು) = chip; Chekke/chakku (Tulu/Kannada) = cut pieces, trim or reduce by cutting away edge. Chettuka (M) = Pare, curve. Chettukaran = Toddy rapper. Cheytha (Adj) = made by. Chey (V) = to do, make, create, cause.
In Telugu: Velucu = to put or throw on sacrificial fire; Vel(u)pu = God or Goddess, Diety, Divinity, a celestial, Demi-God;Velpudu = worship.( DED-5544)
‘Bel’ is also a qualifying word. It means ‘white’, speckless, spic and clean or virtuous. One who is without blemish in speech and deed is treated as ‘belia’, i.e. ‘Big or Great (person)’. ‘Ecchi’ means ‘trance or possession’. When a Divine Spirit possesses medium or impersonator, it is called ‘ecchidu barpuni’. Divine Spirit shows his/her identity or form through the medium. The medium should be man of good character, to be called a ‘bel or belia’. The event of possession is called ‘belicchapadu’. Impersonator becomes ‘Belicchapad’ or ‘Belchade’, commanding honour and respect. The appellation ‘Belchade’ is gradually applied to whole community in general as ‘Poojari’ is to ‘Billava’. Migrant Thiyyas imbibed the Tulu culture but to differentiate with Billavas, they preferred to identify themselves as ‘Belchada/Belchade’.
2. Other angle is to identify ‘Bel or Bol’ as a tribe or group. It is a prefix in place names, as explained elsewhere in our Posts. Dr. P. Gururaja Bhat made passing remarks in his Book ‘Tulu Nadu’, hinting at tribal signature. Prefix ‘Bel/Bol’ in place names may not apply to the settlement of Belchades as a tribe or caste. Nevertheless, they are found in villages, having ‘Bel’ or ‘Bol’ as suffix in place-names (eg. Bolar, Bolnad, etc. It is worth considering Bolinj locality in West Virar, Maharashtra). Whether they are Bellas or Velalas is a matter of further studies.
Ravi Mundkur prefers to analyze the ethnonym, Belchada as Bel+ch+Da, where ‘bel’ means white, which in turn represents white skinned tribes. Prehistoric India was dominated exclusively by dark skinned tribes to begin with. In course of progressive human evolution people with white or fair skin were evolved during a specific phase due to certain genetic aberrations from the original dark pigmented skin. During a specific historical period, influx of white skinned tribes into India created wide spread awareness in the natives and the colonies of immigrants were denoted as ‘white’ villages and settlements, like: Bellara, Bellari, Belgaum, Belman, Belgumba, Belavadi, Belkunja(> Balkunje), Bellipadi, Belur, Bola, Bolar, Bolur, Bolman, etc. Similarly the white immigrant tribes were named Belchada, Bellara, Vellal, Bellala(>Ballal) etc.
Therefore, according to Ravi Mundkur, the Belchada originally meant one of the immigrant ‘bel’ (white skinned) tribes. The ‘cha’ is a pre-Dravidian Prakrit-Pali agglutinitive meaning of or relevant to.(As in Paichār, Punacha, KomchāDi etc). The suffix Da means zone, area, tribe, etc. Thus, in overall analysis the term Belchada originally meant a specific white skinned immigrant tribe.
Thiyyas of Kerala
It is said that they were first brought to Tamil Nadu by Karaikala Chola when he conquered Sri Lanka. He brought many families of soldiers and engaged them as security guards and bonded labourers at earthen bunds/dams, constructed during his reign for agricultural purposes. Unable to tolerate the excesses of King’s personal guards, they fled to hills and forests of Wayanad. Being adept archers, they could overcome the menace of wild animals. They led a life of hunters and toddy tappers. Seeking greener pastures on plains and they started migrating to coastline in groups. First they found a place in Kolattanadu (now Kannur). Thence they started moving Northwards to Kasaragod and from there spread to fertile land of Tulu Nadu in plains and sea shores. The early migrant Thiyyas joined Feudal Chieftains armies as archers and sacrificed their lives for enlarging the borders of their lords. They spread from Kasaragod to Kalyanapura of Tulu Nadu, bordered by Seeta River on the North and Payaswini (Chandragiri) river on the South.
Wherever they went, they did not forget their culture and customs. They bought their Deity ‘Wayanada Kulavan’ aka ‘Thondachchamaran’. The Periplus 1AD does not mention coconuts or its derivatives as an exportable item of Malabar. But coconut produce is mentioned in the Cosmas indicopleustes in 520-550 AD. It is also stated that in the copper plate grants that the Tiyyars were an organized guild of coconut plantation professional farmers.
According to Sadasivan, the Ezhavas and Thiyyas were the original aborigines of Kerala who followed Buddhism. Subsequent influx of Nambuthiris and Nairs destroyed the Buddhism in favour of revived Hinduism. Under the renewed equations, the aborigines who complied with Brahmins and Nairs were classified as a lower caste.
The Arabic word ‘nu tiyya’ is sailor, where nu or nau is boat. Possibly this suggests that Tiyya were sailors who came from islands.
Dr Shyamalan opines that there is an identity crisis among the Thiyyas of Malabar who are being categorized with the Ezhava community in Kerala. He says that his DNA testing revealed that it matches with the Indo-Aryan race that came all the way from South Africa through Kyrgyzstan and the origin of the race goes back to 300 BC. According to him the name of the community Thiyya was derived from the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan.
Bari –Illam system
Thiyyas distinguish eight groups of ‘Bari’ or ‘Illam’ (equivalent of Gotra). The original house of the family is called a ‘Taravad’, (or ancestral house). The term Taravad appear to have been a relic of Buddhist period, being derived from Prakrit- Pali lingos. In the matrilineal system followed in Tulu Nadu, like the Tulu communities each Thiyya Bari or clan has its own Moolasthana.
The eight clan names among the Thiyya and their Tulu equivalents are: (1) NellikaThiyya (equal to Tulu Bari ‘Kunder’), (2)BaThiyya (=’Bangera’), (3) Padam kudiya (=’Kotian’), (4) Pullamchutti/PullamchiThiyya (=’Suvarna’), (5) KarakaThiyya(=’Karkera’), (6) Then kudiya/ Thenkudi Thiyya (=’Salian’/’Palan’), (7) Paimba kuriya / PaimbaThiyya (=’Kukyan’,’Uppiyan’) and (8) Nangudiya/Kuttiporatha (= ‘Amin/Gujaran’).
The present generation of Belchadas prefer to put surnames of Tulu equivalents. These Clans are associated with four Taravads in Mangalore region, namely at (a)Kodialabailu, (b)Bolar near Ferry, (c)Jappu-Kudupadi and (d) Kadri-Kannabettu. Ordained ‘Gurikaras’ (community leaders) guide the socio-religious activities of members of Taravads. Gurikara system among Thiyyas is similar to the one prevailing in Tulu Nadu.
Language & Customs
Religious rituals and customs from birth to death are more or less the same as native Tulu people. They speak a corrupt Malayalam with more words of Tulu and Kannada. Their Malayalam dialect cannot be fully compared to ‘Byāri Bhāse’. They also speak in Tulu and Kannada fluently.
Thiyyas have inseparable connection to Goddess Bhagavati. Eighteen pilgrimage centres of Goddess Bhagavati are sacred to all Thiyyas. Each Taravada member offers oblations annually to Bhagavati temple. Goddess Bhagavati is worshipped in all her various manifested forms with all her attendant Divine Spirits, Village Deities and also of Gods of Hindu pantheon. So it is a complex centre of worship for Thiyyas and all other communities. These Sri Bhagavati Kshetra complexes are located at: (1) Eriyakota,Kavugoli Chowki, P.O. Kudlu-671124 (Kasargod), (2) Patla, Kudlu, P.O. Patla-671124 (Kasargod), (3) Padi (Pullikaringali), Meethelepadikkal, Via Chengala, PO Edaneer-671541, (4) Mogral, PO Shiribagilu, Via Kudlu-671124, (5)Talangara, Kasargod-671121, (6) Kumbadaje PO, via Perdala-671551 (Styled: Sri Cheerumba Bhagavati Kshetra), (7) Padikaladka, Adoor Post Via Urdoor-671543 (Styled: Adoor Sri Aivvar Mahavishnu Thambarati Kshetra), (8) Kuttikkal PO, Via Chengala-671541 (Styled: Kuttikol Sri Thamburatti Bhagavati Kshetra), (9) PO Muliyar-671542 (Kasargod) (Styled: Kodavanji Sri Pullikaringali Bhagavati Kshetra), (10)Arikkadi, PO Kumbla-671321 (Pare Sri Padangara Bhagavati Alichamundi Kshetra), (11) Adka, Mangalpady, Kasargod-671324, (12) Uppala-671322, Kasargod, (13) Pattathoor, Ballangudelu. PO Majibail, Via Manjeshwara-671323, (Styled Sri Padangara Bhagavati Kshetra) (14) Kanila, B. Manjeshwar, Manjeshwara-671323, (15) Ullal, Dakshina Kannada-574159 (Styled: Sri Cheerumba Bhagavati Kshetra), (16) Kodialabail, Mangalore-575003 (Styled: Kudroli Sri Bhagavati Kshetra*), (17) Sasihitlu, Haleangadi PO-574146, and (18) Pullikunnu, Kasargod (Styled: Pulikunnu Sri Aivvar Bhagavati Kshetra).
Thiyyas in Mangalore
Thiyyas further settled at the ancient port towns of Mangalore and Mulki. During British India, Mangalore was the District Head-quarters of South Canara, which included Kasargod and North Malabar, until States Reorganisation.
Initially, the Bhagavati Temple at Mangalore was located at Bokkapatna sea shore, Kudroli, which was the location of Ancient Mangalore Port during Vijayanagar Period. Due to migration estuary and sea erosion, it was shifted to Kodialabailu at a place, donated by Manjanna Nayaka, who was landed gentry of Kodialabailu. It was around 450 years ago. The issueless land-lord was bestowed with a son thereafter, as was promised by the Deity in his dream. The Temple is still called as Sri Kudroli Bhagavati Kshetra and popularly as ‘Guttyamma Kshetra’. The name Guttyamma might have been derived from the word Guttu or it might have been named after the Goddess of Chandrgutti,(Shimoga District) traditionally worshipped by Nayaka Chieftains. Land transfer registration is now made in the name of the Deity by Raghurama Rao couple, a scion of Manjanna Nayaka.
Legend of Goddess Bhagavati
According to Bhagavati Purana, Lord Shiva ordered Cheerumba Bhagavati and her attendants to remain on earth to protect the innocent people and punish cruel people. First she appeared at Kodangallur, Thrissur (Kerala). Then proceeded northwards to Talangara (now Tallisseri, Kasargod) and then up to Mulki-Hejamadi and established Temples through Thiyya community at her will. The Bhagavati and her retinue returned to Kudroli and shown her presence as embodiment of other thirteen primordial energy manifestations, consisting of four manifestations of Sri Cheerumba Bhagavati (Sankritised as Sri Kuru Amba), five of Sri Padangare and another five of Sri Pulluraali. It is, therefore, called ‘Kootakkala’ of Shakti, a complex of fourteen Deities enshrined in three Temples. It happened at the beginning of Thirteenth Century, more than 800 years ago. (Source: Kootakkala Souvenir, 2005, Kudroli Sri Bhagavati Kshetra).
According to Bhagavati Purana, Darigasura (Darika+Asura) was a wicked Asura King of Darikapura in Pātāla (Nether world, supposed to be West Coast). He became powerful with Lord Shiva’s boon on his doing a penance. He became invincible in all three Worlds. Suffering defeat and disgrace and ill treatment, the celestials and sages complained to Shiva for redressing their problem. Swayed by pity on the plight of the people, tears trickled down from Shiva’s eyes. He became angry and at the same time, a Divine Lady sprang out from a drop of tear. The Lady was called Goddess Bhagavati (aka Cheerumba). (It may be noted that in ‘Bappanadu Sri Kshetra Mahime’, it was Lord Vishnu who created Sapta Matrikas/Durgas, i.e. Seven Divine Mothers, from his tears, which fell down on the earth).
The Goddess Bhagavati, sitting on the shoulder of her attendant Aadimela (aka Guliga), went to the kingdom of Darigasura. Darigasura was then on his way to the river for taking bath as a routine before offering prayers to Shiva. The Divine Lady in the guise of an old woman, begged for a meal. He advised her to ask his wife at the palace. On reaching the palace, the Goddess asked for his magic weapons given by Lord Shiva (Note that according to the other version, it is Lord Vishnu). Logically thinking, his wife refused to give the demanded weapons and called out her husband for clarification. The King, as he was already late, got irritated on getting delayed. So he shouted at the queen and told her to give whatever the old lady would ask. On returning to Prayer Room, he could not find his weapons and other materials used for prayers. He realized his mistake and was furious. Sri Bhagavati appeared before the King in her real form, along with her other manifestations. In the fierce battle, Bhagavati killed the tyrant and maintained peace and happiness on the earth. Shiva (or Vishnu) ordered her to settle down on the earth with her other manifestations to ensure peace and prosperity to her devotees.
Goddess Bhagavati then set sail to the Earth in a Sandal wood boat and crossed Kasargod, Kumble, Uppala, Pattathur, Manjeshwara, Udyavara (South of Mangalore), Ullala and Kudroli. The retinue halted at Sasihitlu near the estuary of Nandini and Shambhavi Rivers. Taking offence on Bhagavati (elder sister) accepting tender coconut from a Thiyya, then considered as lower caste, other sisters left her behind at Sasihitlu. Elder sister then settled down at Sasihitlu. Durga Parameshwari emerged at the confluence of Nandini and Shambhavi and manifested formless to Bappa Byari, a marine trader, and settled down in Bappanadu in the form of a Linga, consecrated by Vedic rites in a Temple built by Bappa Byari with the help of local Samantha Chieftain. Remaining retinue returned to Kudroli where the other elder Bhagavati with thirteen other incarnations, settled down to be worshipped by Thiyyas and other communities.
Brahmashri Guru Narayana Swami
Today, various sects of toddy tappers worship and follow the principles advocated by Brahmashri Guru Narayana Swami (1856-1928). He was a spiritual Guru, a great social reformer, born in a family of Ezhava Ayruvedic Pandits. He spearheaded movement of social justice for the down-trodden of Kerala. He was respected and venerated by high and low and people from far and near. He preached ‘oneness of Humanity under one Supreme God’, rejecting compartmentalization on the basis of castes and religions. His thoughts are contained in his Sanskrit work ‘Advaita Deepika’. Guru Narayana built temples at Calicut, Tellicherry and Cannanore. There is an idol of Guru Narayana at Kudroli Gokarnanath Temple, Mangalore.
Thiyya are widely considered to have immigrated to Kerala from an island like Srilanka or Lakshadweep. Similarly, Ezhava are considered to have come from Iram or Srilanka. Thiyya , Ezhava and other communities contemporaneously practiced toddy tapping, Spirit dancing, Kalari teaching and propagating Ayurvedic medicines. They were also archers, soldiers and farmers. The existence of independent bari or illam patterns among these different communities suggest independent origin and evolution of tribes even though they adapted similar professions in the due course. The language also played an important role in unifying or separating these tribes. Thiyya, Ezhava and other related communities followed Spirit worship and Buddhism that was prevalent in the Tulunadu-Kerala region in the early centuries of the Common Era. With the advent of Vedic Hinduism in the region, the cult of Goddess Bhagavati, came into prominence, imbibing the essence of Spirit cult combined with Vedic concept of Goddesses, in the background of dominant matrilineal system. Guru Narayana (1856-1928) is responsible for converting the tribes from Spirit worship into Vedic Temple worships.
Genetic haplotype studies of 104 Ezhava samples by Parvathy Seema Nair (2011) showed pronounced genetic heterogeneity and also indicated European paternal derivation having similarity of genotypes with Jat-Sikhs and Turks. Similarly Dr. Nelliatt Shyamalan also suggested European (specifically Kyrgyzstan) genetic origin for Thiyyas based on limited DNA studies. The genetic heterogeneity concluded by Seema Nair reveals antiquity of the tribes as well as extensive interbreeding among the contemporaneous tribes. More genetic studies would be essential to trace detailed evolution of various tribes that shaped our cultures and customs along the time line.
1. ERIYAKOTA SRI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA. Kavugoli Chowki, Kasargod Dist P.O.Kudlu-671124. Ph-0499-422485.
2. PATLA SRI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA. P.O.Patla-671124, Kasargod Dist,Kudlu.
3. PADI SRI PULLIKARINGALI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA. Meethelepadikkal, Via Chengala, Kasaragod Dist, P.O. Edaneer- 671541
4. MOGRAL SRI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA.P.O. Shiribagilu, Via kudlu,Kasargod Dist-671124.
5. TALANGARA SRI CHEERUMBA BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA. Talangara, Kasargod-671121
6. KUMBADAJE SRI CHEERUMBA BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA.P.O. Kunbadaje, Kasargod Dist, Via Perdala-671551.
7. ADOOR SRI AIVVAR MAHAVISHNU THAMBARATTI KSHETRA.Padikaladka , Adoor Post, Via Urdoor, Mulleria-671543
8. KUTTIKOL SRI THAMBURATI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA.PO Kuttikkal , Via Chengala-671541.
9. KODAVANJI SRI PULLIKARINGALI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA.Kasargod Dist, P O Muliyar – 671542.
10. PARE SRI PADANGARA BHAGAVATHI ALICHAMUNDI KSHETRA. Arikkady , Kasargod Dist, PO Kumbla-671321.
11. ADKA SRI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA.Adka, Mangalpady, Kasargod Dist-671324.
12. UPPALA SRI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA.Kasargod Dist, PO Uppala-671322.
13. PATTATHOOR (BALLANGUDELU) SRI PADANGARA BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA. Ballangudelu , P.O. Majibail ,Via manjeshwra-671323.
14. KANILA SRI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA. Kanila, B. Manjeshwar ,Manjeshwara-671323.
15. ULLAL SRI CHEERUMBA BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA. Ullal, D.K. Dist-574159.
16. KUDROLI SRI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA. Kodialbail, Mangalore-575003. PH-0824-493999.
17. MULKI SRI BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA. P.O.Halengadi,Sashihittalu, Mulki-574146.
18. SRI CHEERUMBA BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA Bolnad.
18a. PULIKUNNU SRI AIVVAR BHAGAVATHI KSHETRA. Pulikunnu, Kasargod-
–Hosabettu Vishwanath, Pune
With inputs from Ravi Mundkur