Hinduism

AYYAPPAN - deity for exonerating from evils

Aruna PONNAMBALAM Kotagala Group Correspondent

The incarnation of Ayyappan Swami is significantly very important. There is a story behind this. Mahisamuge, a female demon reigned Subterrneam region for a long time tyrannically. Soorapathuman, Greenian, Ravanan and Pathmasuran, kings for demon lineage were continuously killed by deities. So, Mahisamuge had a fear of danger to her community.

She made a severe austerity towards the God, Brammah to keep her from death. She made penance standing on fire and water and eventually she cut her body for the austerity.

Disposition

So requesting a boon from the God she would not meet the death in her life. But Brammah explained that no life escape from the death. This is an unchangeable fate for any life which has birth. So she asked if it so, she wanted to happen her death by an human infant with the body resembling Mahishamuki, God Shiva's disposition and Mahavishnu nature. Further the infant should belong to a royal family Brammah gave this boon laughing to himself.

She was very happy and began to do atrocities to the devas. So devas were suffering a lot and finally surrendered the God Shiva. The time has come to end her atrocities so the Gods employed Shiva and Vishnu to save them from this catastrophe. Vishnu to find a possible solution to the problem. When Vishnu had taken on the karma avatar, he also had to manifest himself as Mohini the enchantress, to save the nector of immortality from the demons who were not willing to share it with the Gods. If he became Mohini again, then the female Mohini and the male Shiva could have the divine child who would combine their powers and beat Mahishi.

Declined

Early childhood Manikantan entered the forest to fulfil his divine duty to rid the world of demonless Mahishi, Manikantan killed her and released a beautiful woman who had been cursed to become Mahishi. The young woman asked Ayyappan for his hand in marriage, but he declined, being a celibate. However, he promised that she would be visited by pilgrims and would be housed next to his temple, and if the number of new pilgrims visiting him, stopped, then he would marry her. Hence she is now worshipped as Maalikapurathamma.

There is also another version of the story. It is believed that Maalikapurathamma was a young girl in Cheerappanchira family where Ayyappan was trained for Kalari, (Martial arts) on the death of Mahishi, Indra - the king of the Gods, who was displaced and banished by Mahishi, led several Tigers for the disposal of Ayyappan.

Days later Manikantan entered the palace precinct riding a fierce Tigress and followed by a pack of her 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. Immediately Manikantan disappeared. The king would not eat anything until Manikantan comes bade. Then Manikantan gave vision (Darshan) to the king.

Filled with emotions of happiness, grief, fear, wonder and 'Bhakti' (Devotion to God) and sell-surrender, the king stood praying for the mercy and blessings of Manikantan.

He repented he could not fully visualise the truth of the divine powers of the Lord and repeatedly requested Him to forgive him for behaving as if He were His son. The Lord lovingly embraced the king who prayed to bless him by freeing from ego and the worldly life of birth and rebirth and grant Moksha (salvation).

He told the king that he was destined to return. The king implored Lord Manikantan to allow him to build a temple and dedicate it him and the Lord asserted.

Manikantan then enlightened the king on the path of attainment of Moksha. The Lord shot an arrow that fell at the top of Sabarimala and told the king that he could construct a temple of Sabarimala, North of the holy river Pampa and instal His deity there. Ayyappan also explained how the Sabarimala pilgrimage shall be undertaken, emphasising the importance of Penance Varatham and what the devotees can attain by His 'darshan'.

But before the departure of the Lord, the King secured a promise from the Lord, that on His birthday on January 14, every year (celebrated as Makara Jyothy all his personal jewellery (usually kept at the palace) will be adorned on His image at Sabarimala.

Hence on the 12th of January every year, the jewellery will be taken on foot from the palace by a special emissary of the kingdom, after the puja with all pomp, devotion and reverence. Immediately when the event is over, Royal Garuda (Eagle) flies over the palace, (which seems to be quite automatic).

The Royal Garuda flies ahead, and guides the pilgrims throughout their journey. Since there was no modern means of communication like telephones or mobile phones, to contact hundreds of thousands of devotees desirous of worshipping Lord Manikantan's jewels enroute to his abode, this Garuda was the sole and absolute signal of advance informant even to the temple authorities at Sabarimala to get ready for hte adorning of the jewels.

Miracle

This journey on the January 12 and 13 finally reaches Sabarimala on January 14th. Immediately after the jewellery is adorned on the deity, there is as Aarti (offering by burning camphor), The miracle is that just after the arti, without losing a second, the Jyothy appears on the east side of hte temple up above the Hills.

But then the Lord further consoled the king saying that the devotees who held him and his descendants in 'Bhakti' shall happen to be devoted to Him as well. Manikantan then blessed the king and all others assembled there and vanished.

Prasadam

The king duly constructed the temple at Sabarimala dedicated to him. The deity for installation was prepared by Parasurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and was installed by himself. A strong liking for sweets is a common factor of all Hindu Gods and Ayyappa is no exception Appam and Aravana (Payasam made of rice, ghee and jaggery) are the prasadams of the Lord. There is an interesting story behind these prasadams. The Raja of Pandalam admitted Ayyappa to a famous Kalari (gymnasium where traditional martial arts of Kalaripayathu is taught) at Cheerappanchira in Cherthala in Alappajha district. The young daughter, Leela of Kalari fell in love with Ayyappa. But Ayappa was so involved in his studies that he didn't notice the girl's infatuation.

It is also believed that she later became Maalika Purathamma who was dejected when Lord Ayyappa refused her marriage proposal after offering her a seat in Saram Kuthi near Sabarimala Devasthunam. Soon the girl started bringing him food to capture his attention. Time passed by and the girl reached her puberty, and her finally following the Hindu tradition prepared special cuisines to celebrate the occasion. One mandatory item on the menu is Rathamathikanji (porridge made using rice with five times the quantity of jaggery). On that day she took this porridge to Ayyappa, who was practising payathu in the Kalari. He liked it very much and requested the girl to bring only the porridge everyday. It is believed that the practice of offering Aravana as prasadam to the God was born from this incident.

There are various Lores connected with Lord Ayyappan. These relate to the 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.

Manikantan was the incarnation of Lord Dharmastha, Raja Rajasekhara was in his previous birth a rich and pious Brahimin by the name Vijayan who was a very strong believer and devotee of Lord Dharmastha.

Such was Vijayan's 'Bhakti' 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'.

Pilgrimage

The Pandale Raja constructed a small temple, 18 steps above the ground as instructed by the Lord himself. Each of these eighteen holy steps represents a desire one must conqueror in life. The 18 steps and the temple have in recent times been coated in gold.

The Vigraham (idol) is also coated in gold and was inaugurated by Parashurama (incarnation of Vishnu).

The common cry heard during the pilgrimages to his shrine is Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa (Oh! Swami, we take refuge in you).

In Makarasankranti, every year without fail miraculous events occur. Firstly at the jewels (Thiruvaabaranam) of the Lord are transported from the old Pandalam palace to Sabaremala, a Krishna paranth (holy Ground Circle above the precious jewels (in fact guarding them) like a protector. This eagle is rarely seen in the midst of people for a long period of time, yet the auspicious bird follows the Theruvaabaranam procession, finally circling above Sanitham at Sabarimale nine times as it pays its respects to Lord Ayyappan. During this time there is not a single star in the sky except for a special Nakshastram.

As the beautiful jewels are placed on the golden body of the Lord within the temple, the several hundred thousand devotees outside crramed into any available free space, chant "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" when the jewels are finally all adorned on the Lord, the Nakshastram in the sky miraculously disappears, as all the Devas and celestial beings leave the sky to get a glimpse of the Lord in all his splendour.

Within moments of the Lord being adorned with the Thiruvaabaranam, an effulgence (Divya Jyoti) appears in the opposite hills of Shabari Mala, appearing 3 times. This hill is called Ponnambalamadu, it is believed that the Lord himself appears in the form of Divya Jyoti.

It is firmly advised that Lord Indra himself lights the divine effulgence. The entire hill side reverberates with the chant "Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa" as the devotees witness this auspicious Darshan, as the Devas and celestial Rishis arrive at Sabarimala to participate in birthday celebrations of Ayyappan effulgence.

Devotees

These auspicious sights are different forms of the Lord Himself appearing. The devotees then dump the 18 holy gold steps to arrive at the Sanidhanam where they finally get a glimpse of the Lord as Himself, in all beauty Manikanta Shri Dharmasatha (adorned) with jewels, it is believed that if one witnesses these events after having undertaken 41 days of severe austerities (Vratham), one can attain Moksha.

During the period of Vratham, Devotees are expected to undergo practices of simple living and absolute cleanliness. The mind and body are to be kept impeccably pure and absolute celibacy is practised.

The devotee is expected to behave in an austere and sober fashion during his Vrutham. Total abstinence from all vice like alcohol, tobacco and non-vegetarian food is stipulated. Personal adornments, hair cutting, shaving etc., are also taboo. The devotee is expected wear black/blue/saffron clothes.

The devotee is expected to pray daily in the mornings and evenings after bathing. The prayer ritual may be performed by going to any temple or in one's own pooja room.

Those devotees who are desirous of worshipping Lord Ayyappa on Makara Vilakku day January 14th (this time 2010, January 15th) may continue their Vrutham till that day.

The Vrutham continues till the pilgrim returns from his pilgrimage to Sabarimala and removes his 'mala' after breaking a coconut and offering prayers.

The Guru (called as Gurusamy or Priyasamy) it is said that chanting the name of the Guru's is equivalent to chanting the name of Lord Shiva, Gunis abode is Kashi Kshetram and water used to wash Guru's feet it Gunga.

The role of the Guru is significant in the Ayyappa cult. The Gurusamy is usually an elderly person who has undertaken pilgrimage to Sabarimala not less than eighteen times and has travelled by the traditional long route and had darshan of Makara Jothi. The devotees treat the Gurusamy as Ayyappan himself.