In many stories associated with Goddess Kali or Bhadrakali
in Kerala, her mount or vehicle or vahana is a Vedalam. As per these stories, Goddess
Bhadrakali appeared from the third eye of Shiva to annihilate demon Darikasura.
She chose a Vedalam (Vethalam) residing in the Kailash Mountain as her vahana.
When Goddess Kali asked Vedalam whether he will be able to carry her, the
Vedalam replied that he is capable of carrying her and her entire army on his
back.
The Vedalam was in a state of perpetual hunger for thousands
of years and Goddess Kali promised him that he will be served the heart and
liver of the demon at the end of the war. Vedalam carried Goddess Bhadrakali to
the fort of the demon. The Goddess was blessed with eighteen different types of
weapons by Shiva. An unimaginable and never before seen war was fought between
the demon and the Goddess for seven days. The demon lost the strength of an
elephant at the end of each day of the battle.
On the eighth day, Goddess Bhadrakali lifted up the demon and
place him on the tongue of the Vedalam and split him into pieces using her
nails. She drank the blood of the demon, gave the body parts to Shiva Bhuta Ganas
and the head was presented to Mahadeva Shiva. She gave the liver and heart of
the demon to the Vedalam.
The drawing of Goddess Bhadrakali atop the
Vedalam is drawn during the Kalamezhuthu Pattu festival in many temples in
Kerala.