Ayyappa: Encyclopedia - Ayyappa

Ayyappa

The Hindu god Ayyappan is one of southern India’s most revered deities. Known also as Dharmasastha, Hariharan, Manikanta, Ayyanar and Bhoothnath, Lord Ayyapa is worshipped in a number of shrines across India. At Kulathupuzha, in Kerala he is worshipped as a child; at Achankovil in conjunction with his consorts, Pushkala and Poorna; and at Sabarimala as an ascetic, a celibate meditating in solitude for the benefit of all mankind.

Lord Ayyappa is considered a symbol of unity between the Vaishnavites and Saivites, two schools of thoughts in Hinduism. His origin being traced to a union of Siva and Vishnu. Lord Mahavishnu in the disguise of Mohini, went to the Asuras and got back the Amrutham and restored it to the Devas. When Lord Shiva, went to see Lord Mahavishnu, who was in the guise of a Mohini succumbed to her beauty and out of their union, was born a child, who was named Dharmasastha. Dharmasastha grew at Kailasham.

Information on the life and teachings of the Lord Ayyappa are mostly based on legends. In fact, there are many popular stories associated with Him among the devotees. These differ from one to another depending on the imagination of the narrator and inherent variations due to the passing down of the stories from generation to generation. However, there are a few events which are common in all the stories and which can stand historical scrutiny.

Examples are:

• All stories confirm that Ayyappa lived in the Pandalam Palace as the son of the King.

• He had had superhuman or divine knowledge, wisdom, and courage and had great liking for the King and his people.

• He protected the King and the kingdom from the attacks of enemies.

• At the end of His life at Pandalam, He vanished into the forests near Sabarimala and is ever since worshiped at the Sabarimala temple.

Ayyappa - Ayyappaswami in Sabarimala

• In Hinduism in the south of India, Ayyappan (alternate names Ayyappa, Ayyappaswami) is a god of fertility and growth. He is most venerated in Sabarimala, in Kerala.

Pilgrimage to Sabarimalai begins from the 1st of Vrichikam, a Malayalam month coming in the middle of November (probably between 14-16). The most important day for Ayyappan is Makarasamkranthi Day, which is the 1st of Makara (a month of the Malayalam calendar). This day will fall between January 14-16. Currently millions of devotees come from all parts of India to Sabarimala for a glimpse of Lord Ayyappa.

Ayyappa - Widely accepted story

The most popular and widely accepted story goes to say that Lord Ayyappa had had His human sojourn as the son of the Raja (King) of Pandalam. At that time, Raja Rajasekhara ruled the kingdom of Pandalam. During one of his hunting expeditions, the Raja was puzzled to hear the wails of a child on the banks of the river Pampa. He moved in the direction of the voice to find a resplendent infant there. The beautiful baby with radiant face wore a bead ('mani') around his neck. Mythology has it that Manikantan was Ayyappan, born of Hari and Hara. The King, though pious, charitable, just, and God-fearing had no children. He accepted the child as God's gracious response to his fervent prayer for an heir to his throne. Manikantan was given proper education and training and he grew into a boy well versed in academic lore and martial arts of the time. Meanwhile the Rani (Queen) gave birth to a son. The King regarded Manikantan as his elder son. He decided to crown him as the Yuvaraja. The King's corrupt Minister had had a deep dislike for Manikantan. The Minister made the innocent Queen believe that adverse consequences would befall her if Manikantan was crowned Yuvaraja and that the kingdom actually belonged to her son.

They conspired between them to get rid of Manikantan. They bribed the royal physician into becoming an accomplice of theirs. The Rani pretended to be afflicted with severe pain in the stomach, and the physician prescribed the milk of a tiger as the only cure for the ache. The King was in an agonizing fix. He knew that none could be deputed for a mission that was so potently suicidal. However, the youthful and valiant Manikantan stepped forth and volunteered to fetch the milk. Despite the worried protestations of his foster-father, he set out for the forests.

Days later Manikantan entered the palace precincts riding a fierce tiger and followed by a pack of its cubs. The schemers were frightened into confessing their plot. They were convinced of His divine origins, and prayed to Him to be with them for their own salvation and for the safety of the kingdom.

Filled with emotions of happiness, grief, fear, wonder and 'bhakthi' (devotion to God) and self-surrender, the king stood praying for the mercy and blessings of Manikantan. He repented he could not fully visualize the truth of the divine powers of the Lord and repeatedly requested Him to forgive him for behaving as if He were his son only. The Lord lovingly embraced the King who prayed to bless him by freeing from egos and the worldly life of birth and rebirth and grant 'moksha’ (salvation).

Manikantan then enlightened the King on the path of attainment of 'moksha'. The Lord told the King that he could construct a temple at Sabarimala, north of the holy river Pampa and install His deity there. Ayyappa also explained how the Sabarimala pilgrimage shall be undertaken, emphasizing the importance of 'vrutham' and what the devotees can attain by His 'darshan'.

The Lord further consoled the King saying that the devotees who held him and his descendants in 'bhakthi' shall happen to be devoted to Him as well. Manikantan then blessed the King and all others assembled there, and vanished. The King duly constructed the temple at Sabarimala, dedicated to Him.

There are various lores connected with Lord Ayyappa. These relate to discovery of the child at Pampa, Manikantan's youthful days in the Pandalam palace, bestowing the power of hearing and speaking upon the deaf and dumb son of His teacher as Guru-dakshina, His friendship with Vavar (a person belonging to the Islamic religion), bringing the tiger's milk, accomplishing His divinely destined mission of annihilation of the demoness Mahishi, eliminating the forest-thug Udayanan, bestowing immortality on Sabari, blessing His foster-father with immortality and so on.

Legend also goes to say that Manikantan was the incarnation of Lord Dharmasastha. Raja Rajasekhara was in his previous birth a rich and pious 'brahmin ' by name Vijayan who was a very strong believer and devotee of Lord Dharmasastha. Such was Vijayan's ' bhakthi' towards the Lord that He blessed the brahmin by granting his wish to be born as his son in his next birth when the Lord would offer him "moksha'.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Ayyappa", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki