Ayyavazhi mythology: Encyclopedia II - Ayyavazhi mythology - Incarnational events

Ayyavazhi mythology - Incarnational events

Incarnational events include preparations for incarnation, the event of incarnation, and the proclamations and instructions given to the newly incarnated god. Since Mayon's incarnation, as Ayya Vaikundar, is the foremost power, this is considered to be the most important part in Akilattirattu Ammanai. Below is an elaboration of these events.

Ayyavazhi mythology - Preparing for incarnation

Seeing the degraded status of the Santror, the celestial gods made a plea to Mayon as follows: “Our young brothers, the Santror, are suffering endlessly under the yoke of the centuries old oozhiyam and have lost dignity and respect on account of that. Have you not seen their iniquities?”

After listening to the plea, Mayon prepared for the incarnation. He made all the celestial gods take birth in the world in order to assist in destroying the kali. He set out to create new cattle, reptiles, birds, plants, trees, and all other elements of nature that would befit the new age of Dharma Yukam because the Dharma Yukam was to be characterised by a new life, new people, and new thinking. In that new age Shastras, Vedas and all the religions would be the same; the Tamil language would permeate the world; people would live united as a single humanity; the people of Mayon would live with pristine glory and they would flourish with all prosperity; the earth would yield abundantly; diseases, calamities and the impact of the evil magical practices would not affect the people; the old Shastras would be turned untrue, and instead, a new code would be enshrined.

Ayyavazhi mythology - Mayon — on the identity of his people

Mayon then enunciated the attributes of his children who would be his collaborators in the world. He said:

Ayyavazhi mythology - Final admonition through Thiruvasakam

Before the incarnation of Mayon could take place, the three godheads decided to send a final admonition with the name of Thiruvasakam to Kalineesan that he might amend. (see : Thiruvasakam - 1)

Ayyavazhi mythology - Deciding to incarnate as Vaikundar

Main article: Sampooranathevan

Kalineesan did not pay heed to the Thiruvasakam. Mayon then decided to incarnate as Vaikundar and, to that effect, walked towards the seashore of Thiruchendur.

Meanwhile, in Thamaraiyur, (The alternative name given for the village Tamaraikulam in Akilattirattu Ammanai the source of Ayyavazhi mythology) famed to be the right place for undertaking effective tavam, laid the body of Mayon in Parvatha Ucchi Malai, that he had left behind after his last incarnation in Dwapara Yukam. It was carrying the soul of Sampooranathevan, who had been growing into a human person named Muthukutty as per the divine plan.

This person excelled in dharmam, wisdom, piety and courage. In his seventeenth year, he married a woman and lived a blissful conjugal life. It so happened that he had been struck by a severe disease in his twenty-second year and had suffered for a year. In the year 1008 (AD 1833), his mother had a dream in which Mayon appeared and instructed her to bring his ailing son to Thiruchendur, where the festival had begun on the 19th day of the Tamil month of Maci (February/March). Obeying the divine command, the ailing person was carried to Thiruchendur.

On their way, while they were having their meals at a place near Kudankulam, Mayon, staying at the seashore in Tiruchendur, commanded two of his celestial sages, Kalai Muni and Gnana Muni, to fetch "the life that he had designated". They immediately came over, carried the person (the body of Mayon along with the soul of Sampooranathevan) along the four streets of Tiruchendur, gave it a bath and purified it from all dirt.

The Soul of Sampooranathevan gets unified into the Ultimate soul (granted moksha).

Ayyavazhi mythology - The incarnation

Mayon then instantly went into the sea, amidst the chanting of the celestial gods. Inside the sea, enveloping himself in a scorching flame, he approached Lakshmi who was awaiting his arrival in the form of a Lotus pedestal. Afraid of the ball of flame approaching her, Lakshmi worshipped it with reverence. Mayon revealed himself and took Lakshmi and told her of his intention to create a son. By that time, the body of Mayon too had come into the sea. Mayon then took the body inside the Lotus pedestal, transformed it into his son,(the Ultimate Soul was installed into the body) by and adorned him with sparkling jewels and crown. He then imparted certain arcane knowledge in the form of proclamations and instructions, known as Vinchai, to his newly born son, Vaikundar. (see: Vinchai to Vaikundar)

Having given these exhortations, Mayon called his son intimately as Narayana Vaikundar and told him that if these teachings were observed strictly, the illusory force of kali would be contained and when people learned to live with self-respect, Kali would destroy itself.

Then the whole array of celestial gods sang lullabies (See:Thalattu, Palli Unarthal, Abayam.), praising the special attributes of the newly born child, Vaikundar. They praised him for having been born as the child of Mayon, in the race of Chanar, in order to teach the virtue of Dharmam to the world and to incinerate Kali.

Vaikundar, having received all the instructions from his father, walked out of the sea to go into the world. Mayon sent two celestial sages (Kalai Muni and Gnana Muni) with him as witnesses to his activities.

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