Long ago, in the mystical land of Kerala, Lord Shiva and Parvati, deities of divine origin, assumed human forms as Valluvan and Valluvathi. As mortals, they were blessed with two children; Karuval and Kuttichathan. Among these offspring, Kuttichathan stood out, possessing a black body, a radiant flower adorning his forehead, and three eyes that hinted at his exceptional nature.
In their earthly forms, Shiva and Parvati entrusted Kuttichathan to a childless Namboodiri; a Malayali Brahmin from the esteemed Kalakatt Illam (the abode of Namboothiris). Recognizing the child's extraordinary potential, the Namboodiri made the choice to send young Kuttichathan to a Guru for his education. However, Kuttichathan was not one to readily conform to rules and customs, especially those of the Brahmanical tradition. His insatiable curiosity and unmatched intelligence often left his Guru grappling with his challenging questions.
As Kuttichathan continued to resist his Guru's teachings, conflicts ensued, culminating in a tragic event. In response to Kuttichathan's defiance, the Guru imposed a punishment, only for Kuttichathan to retaliate by taking the Guru's life, leaving the place in turmoil.
Upon hearing of Kuttichathan's grave actions, the Namboodiri and his wife, Atholamma, decided to sever all ties with him and withhold any form of sustenance. In his dire hunger, Kuttichathan beseeched Atholamma for some milk, but her heart remained unyielding. Driven to desperation, a famished Kuttichathan resorted to killing a bull, drinking its blood for the sake of survival.
Consumed by anger and shame, the Namboodiri made a dreadful decision to end Kuttichathan's life once and for all. His gruesome act saw the child's body dismembered into 390 pieces, incinerated in 21 blazing fireplaces. Yet, this gruesome deed only led to the emergence of multiple Kuttichathans from those sacred kilns, each seeking retribution for the grave injustice inflicted upon him.