Vageesh Express
November 2006
Edition
Deity of the Month
Deity of the Month
Ayyappan
Ayyappan, also called as Sastha,
is the favorite deity of Malayalee as well as Tamil
people. Puranas
explaining the story of Ayyappan start with Asura princess Mahishi performing
severe tapas in order to avenge the death of her
brother Ramban.
Brahma appeared and offered her
any boon except that of immortality. Mahishi thought
cunningly and asked Brahma only the son created out of the union of Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (
In addition, the Devas also incurred the wrath of Durvasa Muni and his curse. Bhagavan Mahavishnu advised Devas that this curse could only be removed by drinking Amrutham (heavenly nectar) taken from Palazhi, or Ocean of milk. In addition, it would also confer on them immortality. The Devas, with the help of Asuras churned the ocean to get Amrutham. To prevent Asuras from partaking Amrutham, Mahavishnu disguised himself as Mohini, and started giving the Devas the Amrutham. Asuras simply sat just looking at Mohini’s captivating beauty. Lord Shiva saw Mohini and succumbed to her beauty; out of their union, a male child Ayyappan was born.
On the day
King Rajasekara went for hunting in the forest near
In the Sabari Hills of Kerala lies the
renowned temple to Lord Ayyappan. Built on a plateau
about 40 feet high, the Ayyappan temple commands a
lofty view of the mountains and valleys all around. The ancient temple has been
rebuilt after a fire in 1950. It consists of a sanctum sanctorum with a
copper-plated roof and four golden finials at the top, two mandapams,
the belikalpura which houses the altar, and the
flag-staff. Replacing the earlier stone
image of the deity is a beautiful deity of Ayyappan
in panchaloha, about one and a half feet tall.
Devotees
climb eighteen steps, or, Patinettampadi to have the darshan of Ayyappan. There are several explanations regarding the
significance of the Patinettampadi. Some believe the eighteen steps denote the 18
puranas. Some say that 18 weapons with which Lord Ayyappan destroyed evil denotes the 18 steps. Others are of
the belief that the first five steps denote the indriyas
(eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin). The next eight steps signify the ragas (tatwa,
Most important festival for Ayyappan at Sabarimalai is the Makara Jothi (usually on January 14th) falling on Makarasankranthi Day or Thai Pongal. Onam, Mandalapoojai, Pankuni Uthram (Ayyappan’s Birthday, also of Murugan) and Vishu (falling on Tamil New Year’s day) are the other festivals celebrated in Sabarimalai with pomp and glory.
Pilgrimage
to Sabarimalai begins from the 1st of the month Karthigai, staring in the middle of November. Millions of devotees undertake the pilgrimage
from all parts of
Ayyappan is also lovingly called Dharma Sastha
or Sastha. He
is known by other names as Manikantan, Harihara Putran. Ayyappan has
temples in many places in
Let us pray to Ayyappan in order to cross over the eighteen steps and realize spirituality.
Swamiye Charanam Ayyappa!
Source: http://www.mydivineplanet.com/sabrimalai/ayyappa.htm
Submit feedback to newsletter@mahaganapati.org with subject line as <Deity of the Month> Disclaimer: Views of readers/column
writers are that of their own and not necessarily of the Temple
