Vedic Threads | Self paced
Theyyam
Carrying the Deity
This session explores the sacred ritual of Theyyam, an ancient form of worship from northern Kerala where a performer (theyyakkaran) becomes a living embodiment of a deity. Pepita Seth highlights the depth of preparation, lineage, and discipline required to “carry the deity,” allowing divine presence to interact directly with devotees. The ritual exists between two realities—human and divine—where dance, dialogue, and blessing become expressions of this union. The reflection session deepens this by examining the psychological, spiritual, and energetic dimensions of embodiment, inviting contemplation on devotion, surrender, and our responsibility in understanding and honoring such living traditions.
Guest Instructor
Pepita Seth
Pepita Seth is an acclaimed author, photographer, and cultural documentarian known for her deep engagement with the living traditions of Kerala. Originally from a film background, her journey to India was inspired by her great-grandfather’s 1857 diary, eventually leading her to settle in Thrissur. For decades, she has documented Kerala’s ritual practices, especially Theyyam, culminating in her landmark book In God’s Mirror: The Theyyams of Malabar. A Padma Shri awardee, she has exhibited and lectured internationally, and her work reflects a profound respect for tradition, capturing the spiritual and cultural essence of India with rare depth and sensitivity.
Theyyam
Carrying the Deity with Pepita Seth
Topics Covered:
- the challenge of translating the word, “Theyyam”
- what it means and takes to, “carry a deity.”
- what kind of preparation a man (or the exception of one particular woman) undergoes when preparing to carry a deity, a Theyyam. After the session, Pepita
- emailed: “Valli, the Theyyam’s name, is the only one carried by a woman”
- The first time Pepita encountered Theyyam
- the difficulty of carrying particular deities
- how the Theyyam exists and interacts in two different realities
- The desire of the Theyyam to enter a body and interact with the devotees
- how the theyyakar exists and interacts in two different realities
- how the devotees interact with the Theyyam
- what is our responsibility –as outsiders to this practice– in carrying this knowledge
Learning Objectives:
- Be able to attempt to describe theyyam
- Be able to begin to understand the meaning of, “carrying the deity”
- Be able to begin to imagine the background it takes to carry the deity
Session 2
Reflections & Integration with the Instructors
Topics Covered:
- what it takes to prepare to carry the Theyyam
- the physiological changes that take place when someone carries the deity.
- What it takes for Pepita ji to talk about Theyyam even after studying it for 20 years
- what is the relationship of the Theyyam deities to the Hindu deities that are more commonly known when one studies Hinduism
- When we worship a deity, what are we worshipping? A part of ourselves? Something external?
- the role of sattva, rajas and tamas in worship and in the context of saṅkhyā philosophy
- the role of sattva, rajas, tamas, chanting and surrender in cancer and other serious illness.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the inner and outer dimensions of deity worship, including whether divinity is experienced as internal, external, or both.
- Explore the physiological, psychological, and spiritual preparation involved in carrying Theyyam, and the transformation it entails.
- Examine the role of guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas) and practices like chanting and surrender in shaping consciousness, healing, and responses to serious illness.
About Vedic Threads
Every Indian wisdom tradition carries within it a vast web of ideas, stories, and living knowledge. Vedic Threads is an invitation to explore that web — one theme at a time, in the company of lifelong practitioners and sincere seekers from around the world. Join hosts Drs. Ramkumar and Claudia Welch and Navneet Raman, and our distinguished guest instructors, for conversations that deepen your understanding of Ayurveda, yoga, and the traditions they emerge from.
