Lord Muneeswaran

Swamiye Saranam......

Muneeswaran worship , a very sad scene has developed in the worship tradition that i would like to talk about today. A great myth has been perpetuated and spread all over. They have an illustrious history that has been hidden and a fake story has been given prominence.

Many are familiar with the Dhakshan story , the father of Shakti , who humiliated her during a yagam by not inviting Lord Shiva , and for that Mother Shakti gave her life up. The yagam was then ended by Lord Shiva’s army led by the fierce Maha Kali and Veerabhadran, who cut off Dhakshan’s head and threw it into the sacrificial fire.

That is a great story from our ancient history.

But people have modified that story for their own purposes.

There is a famous myth going around our region that the Munis history came from that legend too. That is a great lie.

If one searches the puranas and other ancient text that mention’s the Dhakshan story , no where is muneeswaran mentioned there.

So why did this myth came about?

Certain sects of ayyars (priests), wanting to structure Muneeswaran worship as Shivan worship created this story. They use Lord Shiva’s mantras in temple worship place of the true Muneeswaran mantras that can be found in the many villages in India.

Of course Muneeswaran accepts Shiva mantras. He himself is a devotee of Lord Shiva. But wouldnt it be better if we gave our great warrior god his own mantra , that are already around in India?

Muneeswaran is From Shivan. But Shivan Is Not Muneeswaran. Muneeswaran is a drop from the Great Lord Shiva. But even he will be the first to say he is different from him.

The muni clan is vast , with over 108 Munis. They came from the Pandi Muniyaandi vamsam. In fact , in ancient days , nobody knew the name muneeswaran , they were all called as Muniyaandi rather than muniswaran. Later on , due to a request to Lord Shiva , they were allowed to adopt the name Eeswaran into their back of their true name.

Most of the Muneeswarans came from the various parts of the Great Lord Shiva himself. The very famous Jada Muniandi ( now prayed to as jada muni or sada muni ) came from the Jadai (hair) of Eesan himself. He is the great shadow that is always behind Lord Shiva, so you can imagine how great a power he really is.

Raja muni , one of the munis holding the highest pathavi at the moment among muneeswarans (muniyaandis) also came directly from Shiva. There is a famous portrait of him seated in a yogic post , with black hair and gold moustache. In fact he has white hair and gold moustache , and in many trance sessions , you can see other gods calling him the “kelaivan” (old man) . Here is a picture of him below.



There is also another retired muni , older than Rajamuni himself (rajamuni took over from him) , who held the position of General in the muni clan for the longest time. Many people have heard of him as the kilavan , holding a walking stick with a bend back , with santhanam spread all over his body. He is also very respected by all karuppargal and muniyanmargal.

He currently goes around checking on people who are giving arul vaaku and correcting their mistakes. I shall not mention his name here as per his wishes.

As you can see , each muni has an illustrious history of their own. There is no reason to lump them as Lord Shiva . This was a political move trying to implement a non vedic deity into the vedic system.

Munis are Lord Shiva’s amsam , not his avathaaram. Lord Shiva doesnt have Avathaarams , only Maha Vishnu does.

The munis are great powerful beings, constantly in meditation and communion with the Great Lord Shiva , the world’s father. They are as great if not greater than the humans mahaans and rishis we hear about. Rishis and Mahaans are humans who reached God. Munis are those who came down from the Great Lord himself.

Give them the respect they deserve and they will guide you to Lord Shiva.

Aum Raja Muneeswaraneh Namahe..

Source from www.karrupar.com

Aum Namah Shivaya.....Swamiye Saranam

The Management Committee cordially invites all devotes to participate in thie 20th Annual Festival & Chariot Procession 2013. Your cooperation and assistance will be appreciated. All devotees and worshippers are kindly requested to give their full support. Everyone r invited

PITHRU POOJA

Aum Namah Shivaya......

The following auspicious days fall in the month of KANYA known as Purattasi in Tamil and Bhadrapada in Sanskrit.
1. Parivartana Ekadashi 2. Shravana Dwadashi 3. Vishwaroopa Yatra 4. Mahalayam 5. Beginning of Navaratri .
It is the month the Sun enters in to Kanya Rasi.

(Yajur Veda 6.1.6). That is why parents beget children.
The above sentence is told by Suparna to her sons. Kadru made Suparna her slave. To redeem her from the slavery is the duty of her sons. Even though not able to protect themselves during difficulty, parents protect their children. When the parents are not in a position to protect themselves, is it not the duty of the children to protect their parents?
Jagati and Trishtup the two sons of Suparna went to Swarga to bring Soma to redeem their mother from slavery. But they could not win in their attempts and came back losing all their strength. Gayathri the other son then went to heaven. He was successful in his attempt. He not only brought Soma but also the things that his brothers lost in the heaven. He redeemed his mother from slavery.

The same story is told by Vyasa who had given to the world the eighteen Puranas. Kadru the mother of snakes made Suparna, the mother of Garuda her slave. Kadru told Garuda that the slavery of Suparna can be redeemed only if nectar from Swarga was brought and given to her. Garuda took the blessings of his parents and elders and went to Swarga, fought there, won the battle, brought the nectar and saved his mother. This is the story as told by Vyasa as per the Vedic principle.
Our parents leave the world leaving behind the body which is made of five elements. They obtain a watery body and become PITRUS and also become the citizens of the kingdom Vaivasvata Aadi. There they will not be in a position to get the things they need for their very existence. Only under such circumstances they expect the assistance of their children. Yamadharma out of compassion for the PITRU DEVATAS, sends them to earth with an instruction to take food from their children. The period when Yamadharma allows them to this world is called MAHALAYA PAKSHA. Either to cleanse the place where PITRUS lived once or to consume the food offered by the children, PITRUS are sent to this world. The PITRUS fond of getting the six type of food eagerly come down. During the sixteen days the children would perform MAHALAYA SHRADDHA ceremony. The PITRUS feel as if they are part of a festival with their children. That is why this period is called MAHA AALAYAM i.e. Meaning great temple. If the children do not celebrate all the days, and if not even for a day, the PITRUS return to their abode, disappointed, cursing their children. Their curse will be as follows. “ Since you have not done the SHRADDHAM to us, you will not beget children to do this to you and you will suffer in the world without food to eat”.
Let us not become eligible for the curse of the PITRUS.

Maharishis say that even those who live through begging should give at least give some amount of food to their departed parents. During `the MAHALAYA PAKSHA Shraddha shall be performed if not on all the fifteen days, at least on the following days: MAHABHARANI, VYATIPATA, MADHYASHTAMI, TRAYODASHI. Performance of Shraddha on those days will give greater results (Phalan). Even in the day to day life we say thanks to those who help us. Parents who had given us life, protected us, brought up to a good position, visit us during the MAHALAYA PAKSHA. Is it not our duty to extend welcome to them and feed and keep them comfortable? At least the day on which they passed away (TITHI) one should perform Shraddha. As children enjoy the assets left behind by the parents and it is their duty to repay them.
The DHARMA SHASTRAS order as follows:

Do Shraddham on all fifteen days of MAHALAYA PAKSHA
If you do not have facilities to do so, do atleast on PANCHAMI OR ASHTAMI up to AMAVASYA
Do Shraddham as ordained to be done
If it is not practicable to do so do as HIRANYA Shraddha
Even if this is not practicable do TARPANAM with sesame (TILA) with water

By doing with all sincerity the PITRUS feel happy, hence bless and
return. In the olden days people were doing on all the sixteen days during MAHALAYA PAKSHA every year. There are specific results for the performance on each TITHI says Rishi Apastamba. Failure to perform will result in not begetting children because of the curse of the PITRU DEVATAS.

Panchami according to Jabali is the duration from Panchami to Ashtami. For those who had taken SANYASA in the family DWADASHI is the apt TITHI and for those who died by weapons CHATURDASHI is the apt day for performing the rites. Those who perform Shraddha for the entire Paksha should do two TARPANAS on the Amavasya day. One should not do two Shraddhms in a day. But on the day of AMAVASYA, TARPANA shall be done for two sides of the family (ie) PITRUS from the father’s side and PITRUS from the mother’s side. During the MAHALAYA PAKSHA TARPANA ought to be done to KARUNIKA PITRUS too.

KARUNIKA PITRU DEVATAS
The following are called KARUKINA PITRU DEVATAS:
Younger brother of the father
Elder brother of the father
Elder brother
Younger brother
Sisters
Ones own sons
Aunt (Sisters of father)
Aunt’s son (Amman)
Wife of father’s elder brother
Wife of father’s younger brother
Daughters and sons of father’s brothers
Wife
Father in law
Mother in law
Daughter in law
Wife’s brothers
Guru
Master under whom one serves
Friends

For all the mentioned TARPANS are to be performed during the MAHALAYA PAKSA. Should we not do ANNA MAHALAYA Shraddha at least once in our lifetime?

Antyesti-kriya: Funeral Rites..

Aum Namah Shivaya.........

hari-namadmoksara-yuktom bhale gopl-mrddnkitam tulasi-mdlikoraskarh sprseyur na yamodbhatah
"Those whose body is adorned with tilaka or gopi-candana, and marked all over with the Holy Names of the Lord, and whose neck and chest are adorned with tulasi-mala, will never be approached by the Yamadutas." (Skanda Parana)

1. Introduction
This is the last samskara, the last ritual associated with the body which it will purify one last time.

This ritual is performed in order for the soul to become detached from the body and not have to take on the form of a ghost (preta), as well as to make sure the departed soul is promoted to a better world.

This universe is also called the kingdom of death! Yet man foolishly thinks he can become immortal by fighting the invincible material nature (see Mahabharata, Vana-parva 313.116). But in the Svetasvatara Upanisad (3., it is said that only those who know the Absolute can transcend the world of

birth and death.
Thus devotees who worship the Lord, their heart filled with love, and constantly chant His Holy Names are sure to carry on their spiritual activities in this world or the kingdom of God (Vaikuntha). Therefore their family and friends are not so attached to executing all the rites of antyesti-kriya. Actualy.

In the Shrimad-Bhagavatam, Maharaja Parikslt asks Sukadeva Gosvami before dying: "Tell me of the duty of everyone in all circumstances, and specifically of those who are just about to die." (S.B.I.19.24). Sukadeva Gosvami answers: "The highest perfection of human life is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life." All the samskaras performed during one's life help a person to become purified and remember the prime duty: reach the original abode (Goloka Vrndavana). Samskaras help us to mold our existence so as to remember the Lord at every step.

Canakya Pandita says that if we seek salvation, then we must remember that death is always near, waiting to seize us at every moment. But if we seek sense gratification instead, we had better think that we shall never die. As for whoever remembers Krishna at the time of death, they will live with Him.

(B.G. 8.5, 6). No more rebirth, for they never return to this world as promised by Shri Krishna (B.G. 8.15-16). That is the conclusion of the Vedanta, as expressed in its last sutra...

2. The Procedure
Rituals are more or less the same according to time, place and circumstances (kala, desa, pdtrd). In the section dealing with rituals, we will explain the procedure used in India.

"There is no coming back because of God's word; no, there is no coming back because of God's word." (V.S. 4.4.22). formalities so that cremation of the body is done as soon as possible. The Jayakhya-samhita explains that boys under five years and girls under seven years should be buried instead. In that case, tarpana rites do not have to be performed.

Make sure that cremation does not take place on Ekadashi or Maha-dvadasi. (otherwise, postpone it until the next day). Cremation should take place during daylight hours.

On that day, family members should fast all day and eat light food (salads, fruits, etc.) for three days. It is even recommended to eat outside one's home and avoid having to cook for consciousness permeates the food. Mourning inspires a certain modesty, a respect full of dignity and gravity. There is no question of distraction (television, cinema, cafe, restaurant, amusement park, etc.), during mourning; it is better to read the scriptures. On that same day, perform one last ceremony in the crematorium shrine where a reading of the scriptures should be held for family and friends, etc. A soft klrtana should be performed as the body is carried to the incinerator while a brahmana offers prayers.
Retrieve the ashes from the cremation service and before one year has passed, bring them to India and throw them in a sacred river like the Ganges, the Yamuna, the Godavari, the SarasvatI, the Narmada or the Kaveri as advised by local Brahmins. Most Brahmins take the ashes of the departed to Holy rivers and scatter them in the Yamuna at Kesi-ghata or Ganga at Navadvipa. Before doing so, mix them with panca-gavya and earth from the banks so as to form a homogeneous ball.

Three days after the death, a feast should be offered to the Lord's arca-vigraha on behalf of the departed. Devotees will honor this prasadam along with the family of the departed afterwards.

The brahmana who took part in the ceremony will accompany the other members of the family to their home where the children will enter first. The home will then be purified by burning dried cow dung coated with ghee while the brahmana recites auspicious mantras.

According to some authorities, the ashes should be collected on the fourth day.

3. Asaucham or Contamination Period
The death of a relative involves a contamination period whose length varies according to family status. During this time, one should not study the holy scriptures, perform fire sacrifices, worship the Deity (or only through mdnasa-puja), or receive guests. However, if one has taken vows which involve daily Deity worship or study of the scriptures, etc., such vows should not be broken. One must take advantage of this period to settle all the administrative problems linked with death. This asauca period lasts 10 days for a brdhmana, 12 days for a ksatriya, 15 days for a vaisya and 30 days for a sudra. If death strikes a distant relative, the asauca period lasts 3 days.

The priest performing the funeral rites is not involved in the contamination (asauca) periods linked with the deceased.

4. Sraddha-kriya: Rite for the Welfare of Forefathers
So that the deceased does not wander like a ghost in the ether with only a subtle body, but instead takes on a body with which he may live pleasantly on the planet of the Pitrs, which offers certain delights, one must make offerings to him and at end of sraddha to the other Pitrs. During the contamination period, one offers the deceased daily water. The eleventh day after the demise (for the relative of a brahmana), the house is purified, offerings are made to the departed and eleven brahmanas are fed.

From that day on, sraddha ceremonies should be performed every month for a whole year. On the sixth and twelfth month, two special sraddha ceremonies should be added to the usual ones. Afterwards, an annual sraddha is performed on the anniversary day of the departed's demise.

In the realm of karma-kanda, the sraddha ceremony is performed for those who received the antyesti-kriya-samskara. It makes it possible to offer the wandering spirit a material "support". According to the Upanisad, the soul no longer has a physical body (sthula-sarira) after death, but wanders in a subtle body (linga-sarira) the size of a thumb and can neither drink nor eat. In this state, the soul is called preta.

The soul thus stays three days in water, three days in fire, three more days in space then travels on the wind on the tenth day. On the eleventh day begins the pinda ceremony which consists in offering food - small balls of rice cooked in milk with black sesame, ghee and honey - to the deceased and his forefathers. Performed by the eldest son, this ritual is repeated every month for eleven months along with two sraddha ceremonies during the year. The pinda ceremony ends with a last offering, during the twelfth month, known as sapindadi-karana which enables the preta to obtain the body of a Pitr to enter the heavenly Pitrloka planet ruled by Yamaraja.

Of course, such rituals do not erase the karma accumulated by the living entity throughout his past lives.

The Garuda Purana (11.34.44) explains that the offering of pinda re-forms a temporary body with organs and senses that are equivalent to those we are familiar with. This body is built as follows according to the Garuda Purana:

* 1st offering: the head

* 2nd offering: the eyes, the ears and nose

* 3rd offering: the cheeks, the mouth and neck

* 4th offering: the heart, sides, stomach, sexual organs

* 5th offering the waist, the back and anus

* 6th offering: the thighs

* 7th offering: the ankles

* 8th offering: the calves

* 9th offering: the feet

* 10th offering: hunger and thirst

The sraddha ceremony can also be performed during the twelve days following the death of the deceased, on the basis of one offering per day.

Thus in due course of time, the living entity will rejoin his forefathers' community on the planet of the Pitrs, who will bestow their blessings upon the family that keeps performing this ritual and protect its descendants.

Sri Dayaanidheeswarar temple

Aum Namah Shivaya.......

Sri Dayaanidheeswarar temple (1000-2000 years old), Tamilnadu, India
The Lord of this place graces us as Swayambu Lingam. This is a temple to be worshipped by pregnant women.

The stone image of Nataraja, Sivagami Ambigai, Ardhnaareeswarar, Twin Bhairavas, Sooriyan, Naagar, Saneeswarar, Lingodhbhavar, Lord Brahma, Subrahmanyar, Kaasi Viswanaathar, Mahalakshmi, Chandikeswarar – all these deities are installed to grace the devotees.

Hanuman also had worshipped here to be relieved off some of his sins. To worship the Dakshinamurthi here enhances the ‘gurubalam’, the strength of Guru.

Pregnant women considerably visit this temple. It is usually said that the pregnant women should not go to the temples. Since Lord Siva had graced a pregnant woman, the belief is that visiting this temple would result in safe delivery. The place is consecrated by Tirujnaanasambandar and Arunagiri Naathar. A person’s wealth gets increased, by worshipping Mahalakshmi of this place during Navarathiri days.

Importance of Durga : Here Vishnu-Durgai graces us with Chakra and Conch in her hands. This Durgai has eight arms and it is surprising that if milk abhishekam is done to this deity, the milk turns blue in colour. In no other Durgai sanctum such a miracle happens. Mental strength gets enhanced by worshipping this miraculous deity, during the Navarathiri days.

Lord Siva has revealed in many places His miracles. Kurankaaduthurai is the place where Vaali was graced to have his tail grown. It can be asked when Vaali’s tail got cut. Even Ravana was afraid of Vaali. It is said that perhaps the tail was cut when Vaali hit him hard with his tail. He prayed to Lord Siva that his tail should grow. He came to Kurankaaduthurai, prayed to get back his strong tail and his tail grew. Here Lord Siva is called Dayaanidheeswarar. Ambal is Jataamakuta Naayaki.

Here Lord Siva has bestowed moksa even to a sparrow. Hence He is also called ‘Chittilingeswarar’. He has poured mercy to all as His name ‘Dayanidhi’ denotes. A pregnant woman, ‘Chettippenn’ with acute thirst was walking along near this temple. She was likely to die because of thirst. There was no water in the surrounding. As she was about to breathe her last, she worshipped the Sivalingam there. Lord Siva appeared, bent the nearby coconut tree, plucked the tender coconut and gave her. The lady’s thirst was quenched. So, there is also the name to the Lord, ‘Kulaivanankinaathar’.The Lord of this place graces us as Swayambu Lingam.

Hara Hara Mahadeva... Thy Will be done, O Lord Shiva... Om Namah Shivaya

Aum Namah Shivaya.......

Death came to a guy and said, "My friend, today is your day!"

The guy said, "But I'm not ready!"

Then death said, "Well, your name is the next on my list...."

Guy: "Okay, then why don't you take a seat and I will get you something to eat before we go?"

Death: "All right.... "

The guy gave death some food with sleeping pills in it. Death finished eating and fell into a deep sleep.....

The guy took the list removed his name from top of the list and put it in the bottom of the list.

When death woke up, he said to the guy, "Because you have been so very nice to me, I will start from the BOTTOM of the list...."

Moral: Accept whatever is written in your destiny. Destiny will never change, no matter how much you try......

Om Namah Shivay

***Write " Om Namah Shivay " if you ask for God's blessing on your life today. Please Like, Tag and Share to bless others!

TRISHUL or TRISHULAM

Aum Namah Shivaya.........|

The trihsula (also spelled trishul or trisula, Sanskrit for "three spear") is a trident spear that is the emblem of the god Shiva. The weapon symbolizes empire and the irresistible force of transcendental reality.

The three prongs of the trishula represent Shiva's three aspects of:
1.creator,
2.preserver
3.destroyer

as well as the three shaktis (powers): it means 3 Maha Shakti's Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and Trishula is female.. Trishul is male.. and Trishula is the space between when Druga turns to Kali :-
1. will
2. action
3. wisdom
Also known as past, present and future, the three gunas. When looked upon as a weapon of Shiva, the trishula is said to destroy the three worlds: the physical world, the world of the forefathers (representing culture drawn from the past) and the world of the mind (representing the processes of sensing and acting). The three worlds are supposed to be destroyed by Shiva into a single non-dual plane of existence, that is bliss alone.

The fearsome goddess Durga also brandishes a trishula in one of her seven hands.

In the human body, the trishula also represents the place where the three main nadis, or energy channels (ida, pingala and shushmana) meet at the brow. Shushmana, the central one, continues upward to the 7th chakra, or energy center, while the other two end at the brow, there the 6th chakra is located. The trisula's central point represents Shushmana, and that is why it is longer than the other two, representing ida and pingala

Swamiye Saranam......

18 Steps Meaning Of SABARIMALA
1.Step:-GETTING KNOWLEDGE AND CONSCIOUSNESS TO MAKE THINK IS CALLED FIRST STEP.

Lord Ayyappa

Swamiye Saranam.......

Ayyappa as Kaliyuga Varada - Why Ayyappa ia known as Kaliyuga Varadan?

One among the numerous names of Hindu God Ayyappa is Kaliyuga Varada. The popular belief is that Ayyappa protects the devotees in Kali Yuga until the arrival of the Kalki Avatar of Sri Vishnu. This is the reason why Ayyappa is also known as Kaliyuga Varadan.

Like Kalki, the vehicle, or Vahana, of Ayyappa is a horse. Kalki, the tenth incarnation of Sri Vishnu, will put an end to the present cycle of creation and usher in the changes on earth required for the next cycle of creation.

In Kali Yuga, Ayyappa protects those devotees who follow the path of Dharma. He is Kaliyuga Varadan. He annihilates Adharma and makes sure that those devotees who observe Dharma attain Moksha. 

Five Important Temples Dedicated to Ayappa in Kerala........

There are five important temples dedicated to Lord Ayyappa in the Western Ghats in Kerala including the famous Sabarimala Shrine. It is believed that these temples were founded by Lord Parashurama. Dharma Shasta or Lord Ayyappa is represented in different stages of his life in these temples. Legend has it that Lord Ayyappa passed through Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu and Achankoil on his return to Madurai with the milk of leopardess.

In the Ayyappa temple at Kulathupuzha near Thenmala in Kollam District, Lord appears as Balaka or child and is known as ‘Manikantan.’

At Aryankavu in Kollam District, Lord Ayyappa appears as a young man - Brahmachari. The temple is closely associated with the Pandi Raja of Madurai.

At Achankoil Sasta Temple in Pathanamthita District, the Lord appears as a Grahastha with his two consorts Poorna and Pushkala. The idol of Ayyappa here is in Rudraksha Shila.

At Sabarimala, Lord is depicted in the Vanaprastha form. And this is the most popular shrine.

At Ponnambala Medu or Kantamala, the Lord appears as yogi and the ‘Makaravilaku’ emanate from here. (Public is not allowed to visit this part of the forest.)

It must be noted that temples dedicated to Lord Ayyappa or Dharma Shasta can be found in several parts of Kerala, in other Indian states and in foreign countries. In Kerala, even in temple dedicated to other gods in Hindu pantheon, there will be a Sasta shrine.

 

Ayyappa, the son of Vishnu & Shiva

Lord Ayyappan or simply Ayyappa (also spelled as Ayappa) is a popular Hindu deity worshiped mainly in South India. Ayyaappa is believed to be born out of the union between Lord Shiva and the mythical enchantress Mohini, who is regarded as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, Ayyappa is also known as 'Hariharan Puthiran' or 'Hariharputhra,' which literally means the son of both 'Hari' or Vishnu and 'Haran' or Shiva.

Why Ayyappa is called Manikandan

Ayyappa is also commonly known as 'Manikandan' because, according to the legend of his birth, his divine parents tied a golden bell (mani) around his neck (kandan) soon after his birth. As the legend goes, when Shiva and Mohini abandoned the baby on the banks of the Pampa river, King Rajashekhara, the childless monarch of Pandalam, found the newborn Ayyappa and accepted him as a divine gift and adopted him as his own son.

Why the Gods Created Ayyappa

The legendary story of the genesis of Lord Ayyappa in the Puranas or ancient scriptures is intriguing. After Goddess Durga killed the demon king Mahishasur, his sister, Mahishi, set out to avenge her brother. She carried Lord Brahma's boon that only the child born of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva could slay her, or, in other words, she was indestructible. To save the world from annihilation, Lord Vishnu, incarnated as Mohini, wed Lord Shiva and out of their union Lord Ayyappa was born.

The Story of Ayyappa's Childhood

After King Rajashekhara adopted Ayyappa, his own biological son Raja Rajan was born. Both the boys grew up in a princely manner. Ayyappa or Manikantan was intelligent and excelled in martial arts and the knowledge of various "shastras" or scriptures. He surprised everyone by his superhuman powers. Upon completing his princely training and studies when he offered 'gurudakshina' or fee to his guru, themaster aware of his divine power asked him for a blessing of sight and speech for his blind and dumb son. Manikantan placed his hand on the boy and the miracle happened.

Royal Conspiracy Against Ayyappa

When it was time to name the heir to the throne, King Rajashekhara wanted Ayyappa or Manikantan, but the queen wanted her own son to be the king. She plotted with the diwan or minister and her physician to kill Manikantan. Feigning illness, the queen made her physician ask for an impossible remedy - lactating tigress's milk. When no one could procure it, Manikantan volunteered to go, much against his father's will. On the way he chanced upon the demon Mahishi and slew her on the banks of the river Azhutha. Manikandan then entered the forest for tigress' milk where he met Lord Shiva and at his behest sat on the tiger, and came back to the palace.

The Deification of Lord Ayyappa

The King had already understood the queen's machinations against his son and begged Manikantan's forgiveness. Manikantan then left for his heavenly abode after telling the king to build a temple at Sabari, so that his memories could be perpetuated on earth. When the construction was complete, Lord Parasuram sculpted the figure of Lord Ayyappa and installed it on the day of Makar Sankranti. Thus, Lord Ayyappa was deified.

The Worship of Lord Ayyappa

Lord Ayyappa is believed to have laid down strict religious adherence to receive his blessings. First, the devotees should observe a 41-day penance before visiting him in the temple. They should maintain abstinence from physical pleasures and family ties and live like a celibate or 'brahmachari.' They should also continuously contemplate on the goodness of life. Moreover, the devotees have to bathe in the holy river Pampa, adorn themselves with three-eyed coconut and 'aantha' garland and then brave the steep climb of the 18 stairs to the Sabarimala temple.

The Famous Pilgrimage to Sabarimala

Sabarimala in Kerala is the most famous Ayyappa shrine visited by over 50 million devotees it every year, making it one of the most popular pilgrimages in the world. Pilgrims from around the country brave the dense forests, steep hills and inclement weather to seek the blessings of Ayyappa on the 14h day of January, known as Makar Sankranti or Pongal, when the Lord himself is said to descend in the form of light. The devotees then accept 'prasada' or the Lord's food offerings and descend the 18 steps walking backwards with their faces turned towards the Lord.