Pilicode Kothali Marana Gulikan Devasthanam temple is located at Pilicode in Kannur district, Kerala. The annual theyyam – thira festival in the temple is famous for the rare Marana Gulikan theyyam. There is not much information about this temple. It is a small shrine that performs pujas mainly on Sankranti day.
Marana Gulikan theyyam is worshipped to overcome fear of enemies
and also to gain strength to overcome fear of death.
Marana Gulikan is one among the eight Gulikan theyyams
performed in the tharavadu, kavu and temples in North Kerala. The story of
Maarana Gulikan theyyam is associated with Shiva annihilating Yama, the god of
death, to protect Saint Markandeshwara, the ardent devotee of Shiva. With Yama
disappeared from the universe there was no death. This caused immense problems
in nature. When Shiva realized the mistake he gave birth to Marana Gulikan from
the left thumb. He pressed the left thumb of his leg down and Marana
Gulikan appeared holding Trishul and pasha or rope to tie souls. It is believed
that Marana Gulikan keeps a track of all the good and bad deeds of a person.