Religious reverence runs high and the artist himself is said to experience a oneness with the divine in the course of perfoming this dance.Theyyam is also known as kaliyattom.There are more than 400 theyyams performed in kerala. The main deity of worship or whose dance is performed is Shakthi in her various forms such as Bhadrakali, Bhagavathy etc.Theyyams are often performed to appease the spirits and ghosts of the heros and forefathers.Deities such as Naga [ serpent] and other spirits like the forest deities or animal deities etc are also propitiated.