In the quiet village of Ullikal near Iritty in Kerala’s Kannur district, stands the ancient Vaithur Kaliyar Shiva temple reverently known as Bythoorappa by the Kodavas. As preparations begin for the annual festivities scheduled from 13 to 26th January, 2026 the temple once again becomes the focal point of an unique cultural and spiritual bond that has endured for generations across state borders.
More than a place of worship, the Bythoorappa temple represents a shared legacy between the people of Kodagu and northern Kerala. For centuries, traditions here have flowed seamlessly across geography, language and community, held together by faith and mutual respect. The administration of the temple itself reflects this harmony, being traditionally managed by a Trust comprising members of both the Kodava and local communities.
One of the most touching sights during the festival is the procession of bulls carrying offerings of rice from Kodagu. As the bulls walk steadily towards the temple, carrying grains grown by devoted hands , it feels as though the earth itself is offering thanks to the divine. There is a miraculous observation to be made here – the chosen bulls make their way to the temple without being aided – they “know” the way and wait at the destination where the rice is ceremoniously taken as an offering.
Devotees from Kodagu are welcome not as outsiders, but as family returning home. Hospitality here is instinctive, heartfelt and sacred – proof that cultural bonds can be stronger than physical boundaries. In these moments, Bythoorappa becomes more than a deity, and is a sacred guardian of shared heritage,
Among the many okkas spiritually bound by Bythoorappa, the connection of Kodandera Okka stands out rooted in our oral history that speaks of fear, faith and deliverance. Elders recount a grieving period when a Kodava Raja , driven by suspicion and authority, ordered the killing of young boys belonging of a particular clan. As the shadow of death loomed over the Kodandera lineage, an elderly woman of the Gummatira Household is believed to have turned to Lord Bythoorappa in prayerful obeisance.
With no power to resist and nowhere else to seek refuge, she made a solemn vow to the deity, pleading for the lives for the children of her clan and promising lifelong devotion in return. It is legendary folklore that the boys were spared. The clan survived. And with that survival, a sacred bond was sealed.
That vow did not end with her lifetime. Even today a fixed quantity of rice from Kodandera okka is offered at the Bythoorappa temple, faithfully continuing a promise made generations ago. The offering is modest and made with unwavering sincerity. Each grain standing as silent testimony to gratitude, remembrance and the power of belief, which is not ritual alone, but history placed gently at the feet of the divine.
Bythoor, also known as Baithur, represents faith well beyond stone and sanctum. It is History remembered through faith, a testament of centuries of respectful camaraderie and a symbol of harmony rooted in devotion. As long as prayers rise from both the hills of Kodagu and the plains of Kerala, Baithur will continue to stand as a living bond between the two communities united by solemn belief and heritage.
source: http://www.clnews.in / Coffeland News / Home> Articles / by Kodandera Mamatha Subbaiah / January 21st, 2026
