From Kerala's first horror movie 'Bhargavi Nilayam' to the recently released horror comedy 'Romancham', scriptwriters reveal that their inspiration often stems from real-life incidents. Surprised? Well, though science does not vouch for the existence of ghosts, most of us are intrigued to listen to such stories.
The film 'Bhargavi Nilayam,' based on Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's short story 'Neelavelicham,' is said to have instances from the author's own life experiences. One such scene portrays the hero encountering a beautiful woman on the beach, mirroring a real-life encounter where Basheer claims to have seen a woman taking a bath on a beach and when he tried to speak to her she disappeared.
Similarly, people who have been to Kerala's so-called haunted places claim to have seen so many such ghostly appearances. Women in white saris, ghostly apparitions, shadows, people twice taller than an average human, ghostly screams, etc. But how do we explain these phenomena?
Dr. Sreedevi N.V., an Ayurveda doctor and enthusiast in parapsychology, metaphysics, and spirituality explains that when a person's body or mind is weak, they become prone to hallucinations. Belief in local myths and legends, combined with fear, can amplify even the slightest stimuli, causing individuals to perceive everyday occurrences, such as the fall of a leaf or the movement of a cat as extraterrestrial.
Let us put it this way: if a foreigner were to sit in a Sarppakavu, they would likely not feel any fear or encounter anything unusual. However, if a local, who believes in Nagaraja, Naga devatas, and follows the practices of offerings, rituals, and rites, were to accidentally step on a rope in a Sarppakavu, it could trigger immense fear, leading him or her to mistake it for a snake. This phenomenon is known as Sarpa rajju bhranthi, a Sanskrit term describing the tendency to confuse a rope with a snake.
Moving on, let's explore some of Kerala's most infamous haunted places. In the film 'Sreekrishna Parunthu,' the character Vadayakshi, a Yakshi residing near a banyan tree, was brought to life on the silver screen. Similarly, the story of a spirit resting in a tree is still quite famous in Wayanad. Karinthandan.
The haunting tale of Karinthandan dates back to the colonial era when a British engineer sought the assistance of the local tribal chieftain, Karinthandan to navigate the dense forests of Wayanad. After revealing the route, it is believed that the engineer murdered Karinthandan, to steal the credit for discovering the route. Since then, travellers along the Lakkidi-Wayanad route have reported eerie encounters attributed to Karinthandan's vengeful spirit. According to local tales a Manthravadhi resolved the issue by summoning Karinthandan's soul and attaching it to a tree.
Today, if you come across a gathering of people by the roadside on this route, you've found the Karinthandan Temple and the Chain Tree. Truck drivers often halt their vehicles here, offering prayers and donations to seek the protection of Karinthandan . Sethu, a local , says, though he doesn't know the exact story behind Karinthandan, every time he passes the route he offers coins and prays to Karinthandan for he believes that it will protect him throughout the journey. Interestingly, the Karinthandan Temple also attracts a great number of curious youngsters, drawn to the site after it gained fame as one of Kerala's haunted places. However, Karinthandan's spirit now rests in peace, causing no further trouble.
In Kerala, there is another place famously haunted by ghostly folklore-the Kariavattom campus, Trivandrum. When you enter the vigour-filled Kariavattom Campus, one might not anticipate that there is an abandoned pond in the middle of this 450-acre campus known for its ghost stories. Legend has it that Hymavathi took her life in this pond after her lower-caste lover was murdered by her relatives. For years, students were filled with fear, avoiding the pond and believing in Hymavathi's ghostly presence.
Dr. George Mathew, a parapsychologist and former head of the Psychology department at Kariavattom Campus, explains that Hymavathi did not actually die in the campus pond. Instead, her death occurred in a different pond, around 2 kilometre away from the campus. The currently known Hymavathi pond was built much later after the campus was established. During that time, the University faced water supply issues, due to which female students from the hostel occasionally used the campus pond for bathing and washing clothes. However, certain female workers began sharing stories of Hymavathi's ghost with the girl students, instilling fear in their hearts. Additionally, over the years, various departments started performing plays centred around Hymavathi during college fests, modifying and spreading the story, which gradually gained popularity and intensified the students' trepidations.
Currently, many of the students in the Kariavattom Campus are aware of the legend, some do not even have a clue but none of them are afraid to visit the pond. And this is mainly because Hymavathi Pond isn't like how it was years ago. In March 2018, the story changed, when a group of brave students decided to confront the fear head-on, spending the night at the pond and debunking the myth. Their actions led to the renovation of the pond, transforming it into a freshwater source and a popular hangout spot for students.
The list of Kerala's haunted places doesn't end there. The stories continue with Sumathi Valavu, Trivandrum, a place that still evokes fear among travellers. After the tragic murder of a woman named Sumathi in 1953, numerous reports have emerged of a white-clad female figure haunting the road. However, the police here share a different perspective, revealing that criminals exploited the ghostly legend to carry out robberies. Their method was to appear on the roads at night wearing white clothes and frighten the passengers and rob them of money and valuables.
Kerala has no shortage of such tales that traverse diverse landscapes, ranging from grand mountains and thick forests to old bungalows, winding roads, and meandering streams. However, the myths surrounding these alleged haunted places in Kerala are now being shattered. As Dr. Sreedevi points out, when such myths and ghostly stories are passed down through generations, they often gain widespread belief and adherence. Nevertheless, when individuals choose to deviate from the well-trodden path, critically analyse the situation, break free from their ingrained belief systems, and overcome their fears, they begin to recognize the truth and reality. In doing so, they gradually dismiss superstitions and embrace a more rational perspective.
+5
Published: 21 Jun 2023, 01:03 pm IST
Related Topics
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.