Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa

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History

The miracle of the manifestation of a 'Jyothi' on the Makara

Sankranthi Day every year from the Kantha Malai peaks at Sabari

Malai is attributed the appearance of Swami Ayyappan to bless HIS

devotees. This event is described as 'Makara Vilakku'. A special

Pooja is organized by devotees all over the world to celebrate the

occasion which is known as the annual Makara Vilakku Pooja. This

Pooja is held in the month of January between 12th and 14th; the

last day of the celebration being MAKARA SANKRANTHI Day. Mandala

Pooja extends to 41 days prior to Makara Sankranthi Day.

 

The Mythology

It is believed that Ayyappan was born as progeny of theunion of

Vishnu and Shiva. Vishnu appeared as Mohini, the beautiful

enchantress - the alluring damsel appearing at the time of the

churning of the Ocean Of Milk to entice theasuras and divide the

nectar (Arnrith) among the Devas themselves. Shiva succumbed to the

beauty of Mohini and Ayyappan was born out of this union. Hence the

name Hari Hara Putra - Hari (Vishnu), Hara (Shiva), Putra (son).

Ayyappan is regarded as the third son of Shiva, the other two being

Ganesha and Muruga.

 

In yet another reference, the asura Bhasmasura obtained a boon from

Lord Shiva in that whoever he (Bhasmasura) touched on the head with

his hand would be turned into ashes. To test the efficacy of this

boon, Bhasmasura

tried to touch the head of Shiva himself. The frightened Shiva

sought help from Vishnu. In order to distract Bhasmasura, Vishnu

appeared as the seductress Mohini in front of Bhasmasura. Bhasmasura

lost control of his senses and asked Mohini to be his consort.

Mohini agreed to his request on one condition: that he should

promise her by touching his forehead that he would not take another

wife. Bhasmasura readily agreed to this condition and promised her

by touching on his forehead. Immediately, the boon given to him by

Shiva became effective and Bhasmasura was reduced to a heap of

ashes. In the meanwhile, Shiva was himself enticed by the charm and

beauty of Mohini and as a result of their union, Ayyappan was born

on the auspicious day of Makara Sankranthi, when the star Uttrarn

was on the ascendence. His mortal life was to annihilate Mahishi

(buffalo faced asura).

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The child was abandoned on the banks of the Pampa River. King

Rajasekhara of Panthalarn (in Kerala), who belonged to the Pandya

dynasty of South India, while hunting heard the crying of the child

found lying on the banks of the river, with a radiant face and a

olden bell tied around his neck. The King, who had no child of his

own, took him to the palace and brought him up as his own son. He

was named Manikanda because of the gold bell found around his neck.

Soon after this incident, the Queen conceived and gave birth to a

son. Both sons grew up in the palace as brothers. When the time came

to decide on the heirapparent, the Queen favoured her own son and

the King nominated Manikanda as the Prince (Yuvaraja). The Queen

conspired with the Chief Minister and thought out a plan to get rid

of Manikanda. She feigned sickness and prevailed upon the palace

physician to prescribe a medicine which included the milk of a

tigress. Manikanda was assigned to the task of milking the tigress

and was sent out to the forest. It was the intention that he would

be killed by wild animals in the process. The King advised Manikanda

to take along a coconut of tri-netrom (three eyed coconut) to

represent Shiva in order to protect him and some food items to

sustain him till his return, in a cloth bundle known as irumudi

which was to be carried upon his head.

During his wanderings in the forest of Sabari, the battle between

Mahishi and Ayyappan took place at the bank of Azhutha. Ayyappan

killed Mahishi and threw the dead body into a nearby place called

Kallidurnkunnu. Mahishi's

soul emerged and was redeemed from a curse sustained from her

previous life when she was known as Leela. She requested Ayyappan to

marry her and take her as his consort. As Manikandan was to be a

Brahmachari (celibate ascetic), he refused her request, but he

agreed to give her a place as his Shakti on Sabari Hill. This place

is now known as Malikapurathamma shrine. Manikanda returned to the

palace, using Devandra the king of Devas, to take the form of a

ferocious tigress and riding on it accompanied by a fleet of

tigresses. The King and the Queen realized that Manikanda was an

avatar, a human incarnation of Shiva, and prayed for his mercy

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The history of Ayyappan and the Kingdom of Panthalam revolves around

the notorious robber called Udayanan. Udayanan built up many

fortresses on the mountain of Talippara, Inchippara and Karimala in

the forests of Pathalam. Udayanan used to plunder wealth from the

palace and the village headmen. Udayanan wanted to marry the

daughter of the King of Panthalam. As this was refused by the King,

Udayanan abducted his daughter and kept her in one of his

fortresses. A priest of an old temple, Sabarimala, rescued this girl

from the clutches of Udayanan and married her. Udayanan came to know

about this and he killed the priest. In the meanwhile, the King of

Panthalam conducted a Yaga yajna to get the blessing of Lord Shiva

in order to restore the order and sanctity of his kingdom. Lord

Shiva appeared in his dreams and informed him that his daughter had

been rescued by a priest and that she had married him.

 

A son was born, known as Jayanthan, who would be an avatar of Shiva

and Vishnu with the prowess of martial arts, soldiery and powers of

Tantra to avenge Udayanan. During this period, a Muslim bandit named

Vavar who came from Arabia, came to contact Jayathan while he was

defeating Udayanan. Subsequently, this bandit was converted and he

joined the army of Jayanthan. The King of Panthalam came to know the

bravery of Jayanthan and invited him to the palace, named him as

Ayyappan and accorded him all the powers to rule the kingdom.

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After 12 years of establishing peace in the country, Ayyappan sought

pennission to leave the palace. The king wished to have an abode

made in his memory at the site of the old ruined temple where his

priest-father was killed by Udayanan. Accordingly, a sanctum was

built to install an idol made of panchaloha (an alloy of five

metals), climbing 18 steps to reach the sanctum. These 18 steps to

represent 5 indriyas, 8 ragas, 3 gunas, vidya and avidya. Ayyappan

also advised the king of the nature of the austerities to be

observed before the pilgrimage to this temple. On the day of

consecration and installation of the idol, amidst the sound of

saranam chanting and conches, pipes and drums, Ayyappan was

transformed into a stroke of lightning and got absorbed into the

idol of Dharma Sasta, on his birthday, the auspicious day of Makara

Sankrathi

The Ayyappa devotees have to observe the following ordeals earnestly

and strictly:

Brahmachariam This means celibacy- to always remai pure in mind and

bodySathya Vachanam Always maintaining honesty and truthfulness

Mithratwam To remain friendly and speak kind words to each and every

one Vegetarianism has been prescribed during the 41 days 'Vritharn'

to help achieve the above austerities. Brahmacharya (continence)

will help convert the physical energy to spiritual energy. Self

surrender leads to self realization. The self that surrenders is the

ego and the self that realizes is God. The carrying of irrurnudi on

the head and chanting of saranammantrain is a total surrender to

God. Ayyappa sahasranarnarn (recitation of 1000 times of Ayyappan's

name) together with other bhajan songs, create an elevated mental

condition conducive to invoke a powerful and unique method of

recharging the sub-conscious mind with spiritual vibrations.

( courtesy of canada sri ayyappan hindu temple )