The tradition of Shiva as Adhinatha has profoundly influenced India and the scale of this influence is immense . Hindhusim, Buddhism and Jainism owes to a great extent to this tradition in many ways. After observing the similarities many scholars claimed that Rishbanatha the first tirthankara and shiva is one and same. However according to Jain mythology Rishbanatha had different family back ground. Which indeed confused me, because I personally believe that these two tradition are one and same but received different interpretations over the period of time. The relic of this tradition exit in our arts, culture, dances. Martial arts and in many areas where it is difficult to identify that this tradition had influenced that particular system. Thayyam as a sacred ritual dance had immense influence from the tradition of shiva. The lasya and thandava form of shiva dance is reflecting in theyyam dances is not an accidental aspect.
While writing Spice trader of Muziris, I tried to give a different perceptive for theyyam. In ancient India especially in south India spirit worship is one of the most popular way of worship. It is believed that dead forefather will protect the descendants. The ayyanar as the guardian deity of the village reflect similar philosophy. Theyyam as ritual dance is a process of possessing the dead spirit and perform unimaginable daredevil acts after possessing the spirit. I spend hours and days for research to understand how this concept originated. The bit and pieces of information stood like jig saw puzzle and solving it become Himalayan task.
I strongly believed that the culture of yakshas give raise to this culture. In ancient days people misunderstood the culture of other people and failed to give human status to them. According to Jainism yakshas are guardian of tirthankaras but for other they are demi gods. The civilization of yakshas is understood only when realise the ancient kings names ending with “sha” sound of word yaksha. Names like Daksh, Hiran Yaksha, mahishasura all names have the sound influence “Sha”. Interestingly shiva had the name of Rudraksha and lord Vishnu had the name kamalaksha. Yaksha kings like Kubera, Suketu and Mahagiri remind us that they had successful civilizations in anicient india. Rakshasha is also phonetially similer to yaksha and from online reasearch I understood that they are gaurds of yakshas. Ravana is the half brother of kubera is considered as a Rakshasa because of his mother Kaikesi. The unique cultural dance yakshagana share striking similarities with theyyam attire.
Agampora is the martial arts prevalent in Sri Lanka in the name Ravana had a division called “mayaangam”. The son of Ravana Indrajit had extraordinary skills in Mayaangam. I thing mayaangam performers dressed similar attires like that we see in yaksha gana to disguise the opponent. Mayaangam as an ancient practice is similar to modern hypnotic practices of mesmerism. The “odividya” technique exist with some tribes in Kerala also influenced from these ancient practices. The martial art taught by shiva become the essence of all these practices and all the art forms like theyyam orignated when yakshas gave their on interpretation and cultural adapatations to the martial arts taught by adhinatha.