Ayyappan
Ayyappan | |
---|---|
God of righteousness and celibacy | |
Sabarimala | |
Mantra | Svāmiye Śaraṇam Ayyappa[1] |
Weapon | Bow and arrow, sword |
Symbols | Bell, bow and arrow |
Day | Saturday |
Mount | Tiger |
Texts | Brahmanda Purana |
Gender | Male |
Festivals | Makaravilakku |
Personal information | |
Born | Manikandan |
Parents | (mother) |
Ayyappan, also known as Dharmasastha and Manikandan, is the
Ayyappan is depicted as a youthful man, riding or near a
Names and etymology
Ayyappan is literally derived from "Ayyan" and "Appan" both meaning "father" and the root names might denote Mohini (the female form of Vishnu) and Shiva respectively.[2] An alternate theory links it to the Malayalam word acchan and Tamil word appa both meaning "father", with Ayyappan connoting as "Lord-father".[3][4] The proposal is supported by the alternate name for Ayyappan being Sasta, a Vedic term that also means teacher or guide.[4] However, the word Ayyappan is not found in the medieval era Puranas, while the words Sastha and Dharmasastha in the sense of a Hindu god are mentioned in the Puranas.[5] Ayyappan is also known as Hariharasudhan, meaning the "son of Harihara" or a fusion deity of Hari and Hara, the names given to Vishnu and Shiva respectively.[6] He is also called Manikanda with Mani meaning precious stone and Kanda meaning neck in Sanskrit, translating to the wearer of precious stone on the neck.[6]
Iconography and depictions
Ayyappan is a warrior deity and is revered for his ascetic devotion to Dharma, the ethical and right way of living, to deploy his military genius and daring yogic war abilities to destroy those who are powerful but unethical, abusive and arbitrary.[1] He is usually represented as a celibate young man with a bow and arrow, riding a bengal tiger.[7] In some representations, he is seen holding an upraised bow in his left hand, while holding either an arrow or sword in his right hand placed diagonally across his left thigh.[8] Other iconography of Ayyappan, generally shows him in a yogic posture wearing a bell around his neck.[9] In some representations, such as in Sri Lanka, he is shown riding an Indian elephant or a horse.[10]
Theology and historical development
The legend and mythology of Ayyappa varies across regions, reflecting a tradition that evolved over time.[11] According to Sribhutanatha Purana, Ayyappan is mentioned as an incarnation of Hariharaputra, the son of Shiva and Mohini. While this interaction between Shiva and Mohini is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana, Ayyappan is not mentioned by name.[12]
According to Malayalam folk songs, Ayyappa is presented as a warrior hero of Pandala kingdom.[13] As the royal family was childless, the king of Pandalam found a baby boy in a forest.[9][14][15] The king named the boy Manikantha and raised him his own son, on the advice of an ascetic.[13] When Manikantha was 12 years old, the king wanted to formally anoit him as the heir. However, the queen objected to it, favoring her younger biological child.[13] The queen feigned an illness, asking for the milk of a tiger to cure her illness and demanded that Manikantha be sent to obtain the same. Manikantha volunteers and goes into the forest, where he confronts the demoness Mahishi, whom he kills and returns back riding a tigress.[13] The king realizing Manikantha's special ability recognizes him to be a divine being and resolves to make a shrine for him. Manikantha transforms into Ayyappan and shoots an arrow to denote the place for the shrine.[16] There are minor variations in the story in certain versions with Ayyappan renouncing the kingdom and becoming an ascetic yogi in a forested mountain.[17] In some versions, he was raised by a childless royal couple Rajashekara Pandian and Koperundevi, and grew up as a warrior yogi.[9][18][19]
In the later years, the stories of Ayyappan expanded. One such version has roots between the 1st and 3rd century CE, where Ayyappan evolves to be a deity who also protects traders and merchants from enemies such as robbers and plundering outlaws.
According to Paul Younger, supplementary legends appeared in the late medieval times that linked other Hindu deities and mythologies to Ayyappan heritage.
Worship
Although devotion to Ayyappan has been prevalent earlier, his popularity rose in the late 20th century.
Pilgrims begin preparations weeks in advance by leading a simpler life, remaining celibate, eating a vegetarian diet or partially fasting and wearing a black or blue dress. These weeks of rituals are termed as Vrutham which is signified by wearing a
Other temples include Kulathupuzha Sastha Temple, Aryankavu Sastha Temple, Achankovil Sastha Temple, Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple and Ponnambalamedu temple. While Ayyappan temples typically show him as a celibate yogi, a few temples such as the one at Achankovil Sastha Temple depict him as a married man with two wives Poorna and Pushkala, as well as a son Satyaka.[36][37] Some of Ayyappan temples are believed to have been established by Parashurama.[38]
Ayyappan remains one of the few deities in Hindu tradition, who is respected by other religious communities, including Muslims and Christians.[9] He is also revered by Muslims in Kerala due to his friendship with Vavar.[15] In this mythology, Ayyappan confronts the plunder-driven pirate robber Vavar in the jungle with Ayyappan defeating Vavar, who then becomes Ayyappan's trusted lieutenant helping fight other pirates and robbers.[39] In another version, Vavar is stated to be a Muslim saint from Arabia, who works with Ayyappan.[39][40] A mosque dedicated to Vavar stands next to the Kadutha swami shrine at the foot of the pilgrimage path, both as a form of guardian deities. Pilgrims offer a prayer to both, before beginning the trek towards Sabarimala.[39] According to Kent, the mosque does not contain mortal remains of Vavar though the mosque near Sabarimala includes a grave, and no one can date Vavar nor provide when and where he lived, so he may be a myth. The Vavar legend and palli shrines may reflect the Hindu approach to accepting and co-opting legendary figures or saints of other religions within its fold.[41]
Popular culture
A number of Indian films have been made about Ayyappan. These include: Sabarimala Ayyappan (1961) by
See also
References
- ^ a b Younger 2002, pp. 21–25.
- ISBN 978-1-136-52088-4.
- ISBN 978-3-447-03811-9.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-888789-04-1.
- ISBN 978-0-14-341517-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-45257-893-4.
- ISBN 978-0-19-565174-4.
- ISBN 9004064982.
- ^ a b c d e "Ayyappan – Hindu deity". Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2014.
- ISBN 978-81-900520-1-6.
- ^ Younger 2002, pp. 18–25.
- ISBN 978-81-208-2389-1.
- ^ a b c d Younger 2002, p. 18.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7007-1267-0.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8160-5458-9.
- ^ Younger 2002, pp. 18–19.
- ISBN 978-81-8475-692-0.
- ISBN 978-0-8108-7960-7.
- ^ Younger 2002, pp. 17–21.
- ^ a b c d e Younger 2002, pp. 20–21.
- ^ Younger 2002, p. 21.
- ^ a b Younger 2002, pp. 21–22.
- ISBN 978-0-8156-5225-0.
- ISBN 1137054808.
- JSTOR 44252378.
- ISBN 8176250392.
- ^ ISBN 90-04-05674-2.
- ^ a b c d Younger 2002, pp. 18–23.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-385-53191-7.
- ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-8156-5225-0.
- ISBN 978-0-520-06167-5.
- ISBN 978-81-8495-024-3.
- ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ISBN 978-81-7276-363-3.
- ISBN 9781317766308.
- ISBN 978-81-8465-001-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8156-5225-0.
- ^ Kumar, KP Narayana. "Before arriving at Sabarimala temple in Kerala, devotees visit a mosque". The Economic Times.
- ISBN 978-0-8156-5225-0.
- ISBN 9780851706696.
- ^ "Ayyappan now in toon avatar". The Hindu. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
- ^ "Ep. 608 - Story Time For The Kids - Vighnaharta Ganesh". SonyLIV. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
Bibliography
- Younger, Paul (2002), Playing Host to Deity: Festival Religion in the South Indian Tradition, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0195140443
- Kumar, P. Pratap (2014). Contemporary Hinduism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1317546351.
External links
- Media related to Ayyappan at Wikimedia Commons