Akavoor Chathan is one among the 12 persons in the famous Parayi Petta Panthirukulam. He was the servant of Akavoor Mana near Chowara and therefore he got the name Akavoor Chathan. He is also known as Kalpanappalli Raman.
It is said that once a Namboothiri went to Kashi to take
bath in the Ganga River as part of sin redemption. Akavoor Chathan gave a
churakka (a kind of gourd vegetable) and asked the Namboothiri to dip the
vegetable in the Ganga River and return it back to him. The Namboothiri returned
with the vegetable after performing the holy dip and gave it to Chathan. He
cooked the vegetable and reported to the Namboothiri that the vegetable was
bitter and therefore sin redemption did not happen. One needs to do introspection
and repent and do the necessary correctional activities for sin redemption. Sin
redemption does not happen by visiting sacred places.
Once a Brahmin was performing Parabrahma pooja. Chathan asked
the Brahmin what kind of form Parabrahma has. The Brahmin contemptuously told Chathan
that he looks like a male buffalo (Madan Pothu). Chathan did intense penance and
it is said that Bhagavan appeared before him in the form of a madan pothu.
Akavoor Chathan then visited Oachira temple and here took
part in an annual battle and got killed. It must be noted here that Oachira
temple is dedicated to Parabrahma.
Parayi Petta Panthirukulam, is a popular story in Kerala.
According to this folktale, Vararuchi, one of the nine wise men of Emperor Vikramaditya’s
(57 BCE- 78 AD) court married Panchami, a girl belonging to Paraya, a lower
caste. The couple set out a long pilgrimage. On the way, they were blessed with
12 children but all the children were abandoned by the father and they were
brought up by people belonging to different profession. Akavoor Chathan is one
among the 12 children. It is believed that he was brought up by a farmer and
later became a caretaker.