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==Life and legends==
==Life and legends==
{{refimprove-section|date=August 2017}}
{{refimprove-section|date=August 2017}}
===Core story===
===Birth===
A [[demoness]] called [[Mahishi]] undertook severe penance to avenge the death of her brother, the asura king [[Mahishasura]] killed by Goddess [[Durga]]. She pleased the creator God [[Brahma]] and asked for the boon of invulnerability to all but a son of Shiva and Vishnu. As both Shiva and Vishnu were male Gods there was no possibility of such an offspring and therefore this privilege would make her virtually indestructible. Emboldened by the boon she went on a rampage pulverizing people and plundering the world.
While the legends of Ayyappan kept changing with time, the core story was kept intact. The ruler of Pantalam found a baby boy in a forest. On asking an ascetic, he is told to raise the child until the age of 12, when he will know his identity. The child was named Manikantha.<ref>https://books.google.co.in/books?id=VqPmCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA22&dq=ayyappan+story&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi59-b3h_LVAhUGPBoKHcBNC8oQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=ayyappan%20story&f=false</ref> When Manikantha reached 12, the king wanted to crown him as the heir, but a minister convinces the queen that her son should be the king. The queen pretends to be sick and the physician lies that the cure for her sickness is tiger's milk. Manikantha returns, riding a tigeress. The king, realising Manikantha is a divine being, constructs a shrine 30 kilometres from Pantalam. Manikantha then transforms into the divine being Ayyappan, and the day is believed to be on Makara Sankranti.<ref>Younger, p.18</ref>


On the request of Shiva, Vishnu defeated [[Bhasmasura]] in the form of Mohini. After seeing Mohini, Shiva united with her, and a child was born out of their union. The legend has it that the Gods then decided Ayyappan be raised by the king Raja Rajasekara Pandiyan of Pandalam, a devotee of Shiva.
===Medieval interpretations===
In the medieval age, stories of Ayyappan were modified to reflect not only the original setting of a hunting and gathering society but also to reflect one where trade was important and plundering outlaws was necessary. Ayyappan came to be portrayed as a military genius. In one of the stories, Ayyappan is portrayed as a child of a priest whose father was murdered by the outlaw Udayanan. In one variation of the story, the rulers of Pandalam sent Ayyappan as a mercenary to the Pantya rulers to whom the ruler of Pandalam was related. In another version of the story, Ayyappan forms an alliance with the Muslim warrior Vavar against Udayanan.<ref>Younger, p. 21</ref>


===Childhood and youth===
Further changes to the story occurred due to the fact that by the late medieval times the devotees of Ayyappan also worshipped other Hindu deities and may have felt the need to provide a cleaner account of Ayyappan's heritage. During the seventh and eighth century, hymn singers sang praises of Vishṇu and Shiva, whose religion became orthodox Hinduism in South India. One of the additions to the story is that of the water-demon Mahishi. According to the story, the divine beings Datta and Lila came to earth as humans. Lilia wanted to stay, so Datta cursed her to become a Mahishi, or water buffalo. Lila in turn cursed him to become a Mahisha. Orthodox Hindu stories state that Mahishi was granted a boon to be invulnerable to all except a son of Vishnu and Shiva. Vishṇu took the form of Mohini, Shiva was entranced by her and their child was found abandoned by the Pandalam king in the forest. In this story, the child is named Harihara, after his parents.<ref>Younger, p.21-22</ref>
During one of his hunting expeditions Rajasekhara heard the wails of a child on the banks of the river Pampa. He rushed to the spot where he heard the wailing from only to find a resplendent infant there, a beautiful baby boy with a radiant face and a bead (mani in [[Malayalam]]) around his neck. The king, who had no children, considered the boy as gift from the God for his fervent prayer for an heir to his throne and took Him along when he returned. Thus Ayyappan began His human sojourn as the son of the king of Pandalam.

Named ''Manikanta'' he grew into a boy well versed in academic lore and martial arts. As Manikanta was growing up in the palace the queen gave birth to a son. Nonetheless, the king regarded Manikanta as his elder son and decided to crown him as Yuvaraja (the heir to the throne) at the age of 12. Flustered at this decision the king's diwan, who had a deep seated animosity towards Manikanta, hoodwinked the innocent queen into believing that the throne actually belonged to her son and that ill would befall her if Manikanta was crowned Yuvaraja.

They conspired to get rid of Manikanta by hook or crook and hatched a plan. The diwan advised the queen to feign illness and grease palm the royal physician so that he prescribed the milk of a tigress as the only relief. The diwan knew that none could be deputed for a mission that was so patently suicidal and young Manikanta would be impelled to go to forest to fetch the tigress milk. So, one day the queen pretended to be afflicted with severe headache and stomach pain. Unaware of the developments, the king summoned the royal physician at the behest of the queen who immediately prescribed that only the tigress milk could cure her disease. As none came forward to undertake such a perilous mission Manikanta volunteered and, much against his father's wishes, set out for forests.

In the forest he encountered Mahishi, and in the ensuing fierce battle he prevailed over her. He climbed on to her chest and commenced dancing so violently that it reverberated not only on earth but also in the celestial world. Lord Shiva Himself witnessed the spectacle from a place called [[Kalaketty]]. Manikanta slew her on the banks of river Azutha. A beautiful woman named Leela, who had been cursed to be born as Mahishi, redeemed herself and requested Ayyappan to take her as His consort. Ayyappan being a celibate firmly refused and told her instead, she would be given a place in his abode at Sabarimala where she would be known as [[Maalikapurathamma]]. And He gave his word to her, that he would marry her the year no ''Kanni Ayyappan'' (a person who goes to Sabarimala for the first time or one who visits Sabarimala for the first time on or after turning 18) visits him at Sabarimala.
Pleased by the conquest, Indra offered to ride with him to the palace in the guise of a tiger and other female 'devathas' as tigresses. Mounted on a tiger, Manikanta entered the palace precincts with a pack of tigresses. Astonished and frightened, the people realized that Manikanta was no ordinary being. 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. The schemers were frightened into confessing their nefarious plot. Enraged at the tricks played at Manikanta, the king ruled that the involved persons be punished severely. But Manikanta intervened saying that the incident happened as it was destined to happen and requested the king that they be acquitted.
Filled with happiness, grief, fear, wonder and bhakti and self-surrender, the king prayed for the mercy and blessings of Manikanta and implored that he be the protector guardian of the kingdom. However, Manikanta rejected his request and was determined to leave the kingdom as he had fulfilled his divine mission (of annihilation of the demoness Mahishi). Ayyappan consoled the king saying that:
: ''I am to free you from all worldly sorrows and to grant you moksha. All those who are and would be born in your family shall have my blessings unfailingly. I am always accessible to bhakthi and only bhakthi.''
He enlightened the king on the path of attainment of ''moksha'' (salvation). These words of the Lord are contained in ''Bhuthanathageetha''.

When the king expressed his desire to build a temple for Ayyappan, Ayyappan drew an arrow out of his quiver and shot it. The arrow landed at Sabarimala, north of the holy river Pampa and he instructed the king construct a temple there and install his deity. Ayyappan also explained how the Sabarimala pilgrimage shall be undertaken, emphasising the importance of ''vrutham'' and what the devotees can attain by his ''darshan''. Manikanta then blessed the king and all others assembled there, and vanished. The king duly constructed the temple at Sabarimala dedicated to Ayyappa, adviced by sage [[Agastya]]. The deity was installed by sage [[Parashurama]] on the first of the Malayalam month of [[Makaram]].

There are other legends as well, often variants of the one above, connected with the origin of Lord Ayyappa. One says that Manikanta was the incarnation of Dharmashaastha. Raja Rajasekhara was in his previous birth a rich and pious Brahmin by name Vijaya who was a very strong believer and devotee of Dharmashaastha. In another one Ayyappan as Manikanta born to Pandalam Maharaja was set to conquer
the Buddhist king Udayan who had been harassing the people of Pamba region. Maharaja send Manikantan to learn martial arts Kalari to Cheerappanchira, the Muhamma of today in Alappuzha district and Cheeram Chira Mooppan there trained Him of Kalari. Nila, the Moopan's daughter, fell in love with Manikanta and proposed to Him. But He refused to marry her telling He was a brahmachaari and was on mission. It was here she offered a sweet payasam to Ayyappan which was what turned out to be the ''Aravanapayasam'' of today.

A third one describes the discovery of Manikanta as a baby boy at Pampa, His youthful days in the Pandalam palace, bestowing the power of hearing and speaking upon the deaf and dumb son of His guru as guru dakshina, His friendship with Vavar, bringing the tigress's milk, accomplishing His divinely destined mission of annihilation of the demoness Mahishi, eliminating the forest thug Udayanan, bestowing moksha on Sabari, blessing His foster-father with moksha and so on.


== Temples ==
== Temples ==
Line 46: Line 65:


==Other religions==
==Other religions==
In Buddhism, Ayyappan is considered to be an incarnation of the [[Buddha]].<ref name=Quinn/> Although there is no archaeological evidence, many scholars think there was Buddhist influence in the ritual that Ayyappan was called as Dharmashasta or just [[Shasta]] meaning "Teacher", as Buddha was, and the chanting of "saranam" is like the chant of the Buddhists.<ref> Younger, p.21</ref> He is also revered by [[Islam in Kerala|Muslims in Kerala]]<ref name=Quinn/> due to his friendship with [[Vavar]],<ref>Mohammada, Malika (23 August 2017). [https://books.google.ae/books?id=dwzbYvQszf4C&pg=PA333&dq=ayyappan&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjT4eGyue3VAhWBahoKHUwKAQcQ6AEIWTAJ#v=onepage&q=ayyappan&f=false "The Foundations of the Composite Culture in India"]. Aakar Books. Retrieved on 23 August 2017 &ndash; via Google Books.</ref> who is identified as a Muslim brigand in local versions of the Ayyappan myth.<ref>Osella, Caroline; Osella, Filippo (23 August 2017). [https://books.google.ae/books?id=yGLrI8-io_AC&pg=PA148&dq=ayyappan+deity&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0qoX1ze3VAhXBbBoKHSUvB8cQ6AEIMzAD#v=onepage&q=ayyappan+deity&f=false "Men and Masculinities in South India"]. Anthem Press &ndash; via Google Books.</ref>
In Buddhism, Ayyappan is considered to be an incarnation of the [[Buddha]].<ref name=Quinn/> He is also revered by [[Islam in Kerala|Muslims in Kerala]]<ref name=Quinn/> due to his friendship with [[Vavar]],<ref>Mohammada, Malika (23 August 2017). [https://books.google.ae/books?id=dwzbYvQszf4C&pg=PA333&dq=ayyappan&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjT4eGyue3VAhWBahoKHUwKAQcQ6AEIWTAJ#v=onepage&q=ayyappan&f=false "The Foundations of the Composite Culture in India"]. Aakar Books. Retrieved on 23 August 2017 &ndash; via Google Books.</ref> who is identified as a Muslim brigand in local versions of the Ayyappan myth.<ref>Osella, Caroline; Osella, Filippo (23 August 2017). [https://books.google.ae/books?id=yGLrI8-io_AC&pg=PA148&dq=ayyappan+deity&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0qoX1ze3VAhXBbBoKHSUvB8cQ6AEIMzAD#v=onepage&q=ayyappan+deity&f=false "Men and Masculinities in South India"]. Anthem Press &ndash; via Google Books.</ref>


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
Line 79: Line 98:
* [[Temples of Kerala]]
* [[Temples of Kerala]]


== Notes ==
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}
===Bilbliography===
* {{cite book|last=Younger|first=Paul|title=Playing Host to Deity: Festival Religion in the South Indian Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VqPmCwAAQBAJ|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=2002|location=|isbn=0195140443}}


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 13:27, 25 August 2017

"Ayyappa" redirects here. For other uses, see Ayyappa (disambiguation).
Ayyappan
God of Growth
Ayyappan
Ayyappan in a Yogic posture
Malayalamഅയ്യപ്പൻ
AffiliationDeva
AbodeSabarimala
MantraSwamiye Saranam Ayyappa
WeaponBow and arrow
SymbolsBell
MountTiger, Horse, Elephant
ParentsShiva and Vishnu in the form of Mohini
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Ayyappan is the Hindu god of growth, particularly recognised in Kerala.[1] He is said to be the son of Shiva and Mohini, an avatar of Vishnu.[2] The legends about Ayyappan state that he was abandoned by his parents with a bell tied around his neck and adopted by King Rajasekara Pandiyan of Pandalam. His tales and songs in Malayalam and Kodava focus on his later life, in which he defeats and earns the worship of the Muslim brigand Vavar.[3] Ayyappan probably emerged as a fusion between a Dravidian god of tribal provenance and the puranic story of Vishnu's sexual interaction with Shiva.[4]

The most prominent Ayyappan shrine is the one at Sabarimala, in the hills of Pathanamthitta in Kerala. The shrine receives over ten million pilgrims every year, making it one of the largest pilgrimage sites in the world.[5] The pilgrims visiting Sabarimala take strict vows of celibacy and abstain from meat and liquor for a traditional period of 41 days. Pilgrims climb barefoot to the hilltop where the shrine is located, during which social and economic differences between the piligrims are reduced.[6] Ayyapan may share a historical relationship with the Tamil deity Aiyanar.[6] The mantra of Ayyappan is Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa which translates to Lord Ayyappa, I seek refuge in you.[7] While devotion to Ayyappan was prominent in Kerala,[8] it is a relatively recent development in Hinduism and became popular in South India[9] in the late 20th century.[8]

Names and iconography

The name Ayyappan originates from, states Thomas Merton, the Sanskrit word Arya.[10] Ayyappan is also known as Hariharaputra[8] - son of Hari and Hara, the names given to Vishnu and Shiva respectively. He is also called Manikanta because the king Rajasekara Pandiyan of Pandalam found Ayyappan abandoned in a forest with a mani (bell) tied around his kanta - meaning neck in Sanskrit.

Ayyappan is a warrior-hunter deity. His iconography is usually shown with a bow and arrow upraised in his left hand, while in his right he holds either a bow or a sword diagonally across his left thigh.[11] Other depictions of Ayyappan, particularly paintings, generally show him in a yogic posture wearing a bell around his neck[6] and sometimes shown riding a tiger.[12]

Life and legends

Birth

A demoness called Mahishi undertook severe penance to avenge the death of her brother, the asura king Mahishasura killed by Goddess Durga. She pleased the creator God Brahma and asked for the boon of invulnerability to all but a son of Shiva and Vishnu. As both Shiva and Vishnu were male Gods there was no possibility of such an offspring and therefore this privilege would make her virtually indestructible. Emboldened by the boon she went on a rampage pulverizing people and plundering the world.

On the request of Shiva, Vishnu defeated Bhasmasura in the form of Mohini. After seeing Mohini, Shiva united with her, and a child was born out of their union. The legend has it that the Gods then decided Ayyappan be raised by the king Raja Rajasekara Pandiyan of Pandalam, a devotee of Shiva.

Childhood and youth

During one of his hunting expeditions Rajasekhara heard the wails of a child on the banks of the river Pampa. He rushed to the spot where he heard the wailing from only to find a resplendent infant there, a beautiful baby boy with a radiant face and a bead (mani in Malayalam) around his neck. The king, who had no children, considered the boy as gift from the God for his fervent prayer for an heir to his throne and took Him along when he returned. Thus Ayyappan began His human sojourn as the son of the king of Pandalam.

Named Manikanta he grew into a boy well versed in academic lore and martial arts. As Manikanta was growing up in the palace the queen gave birth to a son. Nonetheless, the king regarded Manikanta as his elder son and decided to crown him as Yuvaraja (the heir to the throne) at the age of 12. Flustered at this decision the king's diwan, who had a deep seated animosity towards Manikanta, hoodwinked the innocent queen into believing that the throne actually belonged to her son and that ill would befall her if Manikanta was crowned Yuvaraja.

They conspired to get rid of Manikanta by hook or crook and hatched a plan. The diwan advised the queen to feign illness and grease palm the royal physician so that he prescribed the milk of a tigress as the only relief. The diwan knew that none could be deputed for a mission that was so patently suicidal and young Manikanta would be impelled to go to forest to fetch the tigress milk. So, one day the queen pretended to be afflicted with severe headache and stomach pain. Unaware of the developments, the king summoned the royal physician at the behest of the queen who immediately prescribed that only the tigress milk could cure her disease. As none came forward to undertake such a perilous mission Manikanta volunteered and, much against his father's wishes, set out for forests.

In the forest he encountered Mahishi, and in the ensuing fierce battle he prevailed over her. He climbed on to her chest and commenced dancing so violently that it reverberated not only on earth but also in the celestial world. Lord Shiva Himself witnessed the spectacle from a place called Kalaketty. Manikanta slew her on the banks of river Azutha. A beautiful woman named Leela, who had been cursed to be born as Mahishi, redeemed herself and requested Ayyappan to take her as His consort. Ayyappan being a celibate firmly refused and told her instead, she would be given a place in his abode at Sabarimala where she would be known as Maalikapurathamma. And He gave his word to her, that he would marry her the year no Kanni Ayyappan (a person who goes to Sabarimala for the first time or one who visits Sabarimala for the first time on or after turning 18) visits him at Sabarimala.

Pleased by the conquest, Indra offered to ride with him to the palace in the guise of a tiger and other female 'devathas' as tigresses. Mounted on a tiger, Manikanta entered the palace precincts with a pack of tigresses. Astonished and frightened, the people realized that Manikanta was no ordinary being. 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. The schemers were frightened into confessing their nefarious plot. Enraged at the tricks played at Manikanta, the king ruled that the involved persons be punished severely. But Manikanta intervened saying that the incident happened as it was destined to happen and requested the king that they be acquitted.

Filled with happiness, grief, fear, wonder and bhakti and self-surrender, the king prayed for the mercy and blessings of Manikanta and implored that he be the protector guardian of the kingdom. However, Manikanta rejected his request and was determined to leave the kingdom as he had fulfilled his divine mission (of annihilation of the demoness Mahishi). Ayyappan consoled the king saying that:

I am to free you from all worldly sorrows and to grant you moksha. All those who are and would be born in your family shall have my blessings unfailingly. I am always accessible to bhakthi and only bhakthi.

He enlightened the king on the path of attainment of moksha (salvation). These words of the Lord are contained in Bhuthanathageetha.

When the king expressed his desire to build a temple for Ayyappan, Ayyappan drew an arrow out of his quiver and shot it. The arrow landed at Sabarimala, north of the holy river Pampa and he instructed the king construct a temple there and install his deity. Ayyappan also explained how the Sabarimala pilgrimage shall be undertaken, emphasising the importance of vrutham and what the devotees can attain by his darshan. Manikanta then blessed the king and all others assembled there, and vanished. The king duly constructed the temple at Sabarimala dedicated to Ayyappa, adviced by sage Agastya. The deity was installed by sage Parashurama on the first of the Malayalam month of Makaram.

There are other legends as well, often variants of the one above, connected with the origin of Lord Ayyappa. One says that Manikanta was the incarnation of Dharmashaastha. Raja Rajasekhara was in his previous birth a rich and pious Brahmin by name Vijaya who was a very strong believer and devotee of Dharmashaastha. In another one Ayyappan as Manikanta born to Pandalam Maharaja was set to conquer the Buddhist king Udayan who had been harassing the people of Pamba region. Maharaja send Manikantan to learn martial arts Kalari to Cheerappanchira, the Muhamma of today in Alappuzha district and Cheeram Chira Mooppan there trained Him of Kalari. Nila, the Moopan's daughter, fell in love with Manikanta and proposed to Him. But He refused to marry her telling He was a brahmachaari and was on mission. It was here she offered a sweet payasam to Ayyappan which was what turned out to be the Aravanapayasam of today.

A third one describes the discovery of Manikanta as a baby boy at Pampa, His youthful days in the Pandalam palace, bestowing the power of hearing and speaking upon the deaf and dumb son of His guru as guru dakshina, His friendship with Vavar, bringing the tigress's milk, accomplishing His divinely destined mission of annihilation of the demoness Mahishi, eliminating the forest thug Udayanan, bestowing moksha on Sabari, blessing His foster-father with moksha and so on.

Temples

A crowd in front of the Ayyappan temple, Sabarimala

There are many temples in Kerala whose presiding deity is Ayyappan, the most famous among them being the Sabarimala temple. The temple attracts millions of visitors every year during mandala season from mid November to mid January. Other important temples are Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple, Aryankavu Sastha Temple, Achankovil Sree Dharmasastha Temple, Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple and Ponnambalamedu Temple.

Other religions

In Buddhism, Ayyappan is considered to be an incarnation of the Buddha.[2] He is also revered by Muslims in Kerala[2] due to his friendship with Vavar,[13] who is identified as a Muslim brigand in local versions of the Ayyappan myth.[14]

In popular culture

See also

References

  1. ^ Chandra, Suresh (23 August 1998). "Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses". Sarup & Sons – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c Quinn, Edward (14 May 2014). "Critical Companion to George Orwell". Infobase Publishing – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Hindu pilgrims pray at a mosque in Kerala - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". 12 January 2010.
  4. ^ Vanita, R.; Kidwai, S. (11 September 2000). "Same-Sex Love in India: Readings in Indian Literature". Springer. Retrieved on 23 August 2017 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Press Trust of India (June 23, 2011). "Safety Manual for Sabarimala prepared". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  6. ^ a b c "Ayyappan - Hindu deity".
  7. ^ Ganesan, Parur (January 15, 2003). "Speaking Tree - Unique Makara Jyoti In Sabarimala Hills". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  8. ^ a b c Kumar, P. Pratap (11 September 2014). "Contemporary Hinduism". Routledge – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Long, Jeffery D. (9 September 2011). "Historical Dictionary of Hinduism". Scarecrow Press – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Merton, Thomas (28 February 1975). "The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton". New Directions Publishing. Retrieved on 23 August 2017 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Williams, Joanna Gottfried (23 August 1981). "Kalādarśana: American Studies in the Art of India". BRILL – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "The mount of Swami Ayyappan is tiger". media4news.com.
  13. ^ Mohammada, Malika (23 August 2017). "The Foundations of the Composite Culture in India". Aakar Books. Retrieved on 23 August 2017 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ Osella, Caroline; Osella, Filippo (23 August 2017). "Men and Masculinities in South India". Anthem Press – via Google Books.
  15. ^ Jayan, Arun (December 17, 2012). "Toon 'Swami Ayyappan' all set to hit theatres". New Indian Express. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  16. ^ "Ayyappan now in toon avatar". The Hindu. June 20, 2012. Retrieved 2014-06-21.

External links

Media related to Ayyappan at Wikimedia Commons

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