The word kaav literally means garden, bunch of trees. The term kaav is also used in synonym to a divine residence.In the olden days kaav had significant impact in every believers life.A life with a blind eye towards kaav is almost unthinkable in that era. Every cast had a kaav of their own and a god or godess centric around the kaav.Yearly or in a fixed duration, there would be a festival in the kaav, commonly known by the name kaliyattam. Celebrations are usually performed in the attrium of kaav.This was an occassion, when all the folks associated with kaav cherish and provided everyone with immense mental satisfaction.People belonging to vaniya caste had muchilott kaav, yaadavas has the kannanganatt kaav. theeyas/ezhavas had kazhakam, nairs and pulayars had kottam.Even each house had shrines and kalari for worshipping their own god or godess.

The most respected and the eldest person in the caste were held as rulers of kaav and all the people obliged to all the decisions taken by them in the kaav. The decisions were usually taken in front of kaav so the decision had a godliness in themselves.All disputes, personal vengence, even criminal offenses were settled in the kaav with the elders a the middleman.There was no distinctions based on education or financial status.The people obliged to the decisions in respect to the powerfullness of the god or godess residing in the kaav.

Kaav had become part and parcel as well as portion of their soul. Every incident in social life were revolving around kaav.The first harvest, vishu, pooram, onam were all centric around the kaav.A portion of the first harvest would be usually presented to the godess in kaav.For attaining cattle prosperity, the calf would be tied in front of the kaav as an offering.

There are various forms of kaav. Some of them as are as follows.

1. Naaga Kaav
   Basically the snake gods are idolised and prayed here. Naaga kaali, Naaga Rajan are the famous theyyams in naaga kaav.
2. Puli(Tiger) Kaav
   Apart from snake, tigers are also performed in the form of theyyam. In Puli kaav, tigers are usually performed as theyyam.
3. Paatt Ulsava Kaav
   Basically kalamezhuth or floor decorations are performed in such kaav.
4. Saaktheya Kaav
   Usually saaktheya pooja are performed at this kaav.
5. Cheerma Kaav
6. Kannangad Kaav
7. Poomala kaav
8. Paalott kaav

Majority of kaav are bhagavathy kaav. Poomaala kaav, oravangara kaav, paaramel kaav, pazhacheel kaav, pramachery kaav, maadayi kaav, mekott kaav, vallakulangara kaav, veeranchirakaav, sree porkoli kaav, kakkara kaav, cheerumba kaav are some of the famous bhagavathy kaav. Another area where theyyam are performed is Mundya. Mundya means forest. Mundya are actually the residing location of hunter gods. Some of the prominent theyyam performed in mundya are vayanatt kulavan, vishnu moorthy, chaamundi. These theyyams enact hunting during its performance. Muthappan theyyams are usually performed in a courtyard called podikkalam and madappura.

kottam is a word which originated from kotta alias fort.Theyyams are also performed in kottam. Every caste has their own specific kottam.Time flew, man explored new heights, conquered new worlds. His attittude towards kaav has changed a lot. His vision towards theyyam also has toppled over.Theyyam which our forefathers saw as god itself is now widely regarded as a beautiful people of art for entertainment. The change has come even in the attittude of most of the performers, barring a few.

The older generation were more akin towards the mystery that lies behind the theyyam and this was the cause of divinity.When new generation look more keenly towards the scientific aspects, the mystry and divine aura around theyyam gradually fades away. In the recent days, kaav are frequently converted to temples and the vegetations that surrounds them frequently disappearing.New generation kaav are made of concretes at the expense of big trees which used to provide a habitat for numerous micro and macro organisms.In fact there existed a complete life cycle inside the kaav.The greed of human and modernisation has placed axe on this vegetative life cycle and the greenery that surrounds the earth.

Lets all put our hands together in maintaining our kaav so that the coming generation will believe that such a godliness ever existed in our society.

Introduction to Muchilott Kaav

Muchilott kaav is deeply associated with the cast Vaniya. A peck into the history would reveal that the ancestral tree leads to the folds who invade from Sourashtra. They were called Baniyas. Their goddes, Shri. Bala Parvathy was continued to be worshipped. These people who were well versed in "Vanibha" alias Trade were lated known by the name Vaniyar. Right from the early days, every cast had their own special god and godess who were mostly related to the trade they practised in one way or the other.

In the modern era, vaniya people who are considered to belong to 'nine illams' worship their godess "Muchilott Bhagavathy". "Muchilott Kaav" are plenty in number in the malabar region with the most important and the central one being the one at "Karivalloor". It is belived that, when muchilott bhagavathy first descented from heaven to earth, the goddess first showed her precense in the well of Muchilodan Padanair which is located in Karivalloor.

It was Muchilodan Padanair, who created the first place for Muchilott Bhagavathy and subsequently this worship practise has been followed throughtout the vaniya caste. The purpose of Devis arrival to earth has been to maintain prospeirity, peace and health of followers throughout the world. A very detailed history of Muchilott Bhagavathy and the origin has been narratted here.

Some of the very famous Muchilott are the following Karivalloor, Thrikkarippur, Korom, Kottila, Kavanissery, Valapattanam, Nambrom, Perunthana, Karippoti, Cheruvathoor, Ramanthali, Mathamangalam, Kunji mangalam, Vengara, Thalora, Attadappa, Kunnav.

Most of the Muchilott kaav are in Kannur district of Kerala with couple of them falling in the Kasargode as well.