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.