Cheerappanchira
Cheerappanchira is an ancient noble Ezhava family renowned for its Kalari in Muhamma, Alappuzha District.The headman of the family holds the title 'Panicker' and known as in the name of 'Cheerappanchira Panicker'[1] The former minister of Kerala, Susheela Gopalan, hails from the Cheerappanchira family as the daughter of Cheerappanchira Panicker.A. K. Gopalan met her and later both fell in love each other after AKG was given a 3 month confidential asylum in the ancient Cheerappanchira Tharavad of Alappuzha in 1946. [2][3] Politician C. K. Chandrappan also hails from this Tharavad.
Overview
According to mythology, Lord Ayyappa was learning martial arts from Guru Panickar at the Cheerappanchira Kalari in Muhamma, where he was living as Manikandan, the King of Pandalamm's adoptive son. [4][5][6][7]
Maalikapurathamma was the daughter of Cheerappanchira Panikkar, who taught Kalaripayattu to Lord Ayyappa. Her real name was Lalithambika, also known as Poongodi. She used to train Ayyappan in Kalari when her father was not available. Eventually, Ayyappan and Pongodi both fell in love with each other, but unlike AKG and Susheela, they could not unite due to reasons that remain historically unclear, apart from legend and belief stories[8][9][10]
Ayyappan, before going to war with a bandit visited Cheerappanchira Kalari in order to gather enough soldiers from the Cheerappanchira Kalari, and to seek blessings from his Guru, Cheerappanchira Pancicker. Upon hearing this, Ayyappan left his body armor at Cheerappanchira as a message for him upon his return. This body armor of Lord Ayyappa is still preserved in Cheerappanchira.[11][12]
Sabarimala and Mukkal Vettom temples
Mukkal Vettom Ayyappa Temple was built by the Cheerappanchira in the tharavadu because the elders of the family were not able to go for pilgrimage to Sabarimala.
The importance of the relation of these two ancient temples is evidenced by the Thirupattaya Charthu (the royal decree) of the Pandalam King, by which the right to conduct the fireworks offerings at Sabarimala was given to Cheerappanchira family. Till this date, people of old age and women who can't undertake a pilgrimage to Sabarimala come to this temple to offer their prayers on the belief that, by the darshan at Mukkal vettom, Ayyappan will shower the same blessings as the darsan at Sabarimala. In 2001, as instructed by the Ashtamangala Deva Prasnam, (the astrological findings) held at Sabarimala, Sabarimala temple authorities conducted special poojas and offerings as penance at this temple.[13]
Swamy Muttom or Mutt
The Kudil (Hermitage) where Ayyappan lived during the period of his martial art training has been preserved in its original form by successive generations of the Cheerappanchira family. Sree Narayana Guru, during his visit to this family, used this Kudil. Hence it has got the name Swamy Muttom.[14]
See also
References
- ^ "Sabarimala - Pilgrim Centres - Pathanamthitta Police". www.pathanamthittapolice.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2007. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "In Memory of a Warrior Deity".
- ^ https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/100118/facts-on-ak-gopalan-tell-a-different-story.html
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzLfTaqMCK8
- ^ "ചീരപ്പന് ചിറ മൂലസ്ഥാനം: മാളികപ്പുറത്തമ്മ പിറന്ന നാട്, സ്വാമി അയ്യപ്പന്റെ കളരി ഗൃഹം".
- ^ "In Memory of a Warrior Deity".
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BxaaDikLy0
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzLfTaqMCK8
- ^ "ചീരപ്പന് ചിറ മൂലസ്ഥാനം: മാളികപ്പുറത്തമ്മ പിറന്ന നാട്, സ്വാമി അയ്യപ്പന്റെ കളരി ഗൃഹം". Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "In Memory of a Warrior Deity".
- ^ "ചീരപ്പന് ചിറ മൂലസ്ഥാനം: മാളികപ്പുറത്തമ്മ പിറന്ന നാട്, സ്വാമി അയ്യപ്പന്റെ കളരി ഗൃഹം". Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "In Memory of a Warrior Deity".
- ^ https://www.deccanherald.com/features/one-more-attraction-for-pilgrims-to-kerala-412978.html
- ^ https://www.deccanherald.com/features/one-more-attraction-for-pilgrims-to-kerala-412978.html