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Ayyappan

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Hindu deity
"Ayyappa" redirects here. For other uses, seeAyyappa (disambiguation).

Ayyappan
God of Truth, Righteousness, Self-Discipline and Brahmacharya
Ayyappa(n) seated on a tiger
AffiliationHinduism
AbodeSabarimala
MantraSvāmiye Śaraṇam Ayyappa[1]
WeaponBow and arrow,sword
SymbolsBell,bow and arrow
DaySaturday
MountTiger,Stallion
TextsBrahmanda Purana
GenderMale
FestivalsMakaravilakku
Genealogy
Born
Manikandan
Parents

Ayyappan, also known asDharmasastha andManikandan, is theHindu deity of truth and righteousness. According to Hindu theology, he is described as the son ofShiva andMohini (the female avatar ofVishnu), thus representing a bridge betweenShaivism andVaishnavism.

Ayyappan is a warrior deity and is revered for his ascetic devotion toDharma, the ethical and right way of living. He is usually depicted as a youthful man riding or near aBengal tiger and holding abow and arrow. In some representations, he is seen holding a sword and riding anIndian elephant or ahorse. Other iconography generally shows him in a yogic posture wearing a bell around his neck.

The legend and mythology of Ayyappan varies across regions, reflecting a tradition that evolved over time. According toMalayalam lore, Ayyappan is presented as a warrior prince ofPandala kingdom. In the later years, the stories of Ayyappan expanded with various versions describing him as a warrior who protected people from evil doers while helping restore Dharmic practices and he evolved to be a deity. In some regions, Ayyappan andTamil folk deityAyyanar are considered to be the same with similar characteristics.

Although Ayyappan worship has been prevalent earlier inKerala, his popularity spread in the 20th century to most ofSouthern India. His abodeSabarimala is located on the banks of riverPamba in the forests of theWestern Ghats, and is a major pilgrimage destination, attracting millions annually. Pilgrims often engage in weeks of preparations in advance by leading a simpler life, remaining celibate, and trekking to the hill barefoot while carrying anirumudi (a bag with offerings) on the head.

Names and etymology

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The name Ayyappan is a combination of two wordsayyan andappan.[2][3]Ayyan inTamil and the similarMalayalam wordacchan meaning "father".[4][5]Appan also means "father"; in Tamil, both words are also used ashonorific titles.[2][6] He is described by Hindu texts as the son ofMohini (the female form ofVishnu) andShiva with the name Ayyappan connoting as "lord-father".[7][8] The name could have also been derived from the combination ofaryan andappan with the former meaning "revered".[9]

InHindu scriptures such asVishnu Purana andSrimad Bhagavatham, he is referenced asDharmasastha andSastha, meaning "ruler of the realm".[8][10][11] The wordSastha could have also be derived fromBuddhism as Ayyappan is seen as an incarnation ofBuddha and Buddha was known by the same name, meaning teacher.[8][11][12] He is also known asHariharasuthan, meaning the "son ofHarihara", a fusion ofHari andHara, the names given to Vishnu and Shiva respectively.[10] He is also calledManikanda withmani meaning bell andkanda meaning neck inSanskrit, translating to the wearer of a bell on the neck.[10][13]

Iconography and depictions

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A painting of Lord Ayyappan is depicted in Yogapattasana, a sacred yogic posture.

Ayyappan is a warrior deity and is revered for his ascetic devotion toDharma, 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.[14] He is usually represented as acelibate young man with abow and arrow, riding abengal tiger.[15] 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.[16] Other iconography generally shows him in a yogic posture wearing a bell around his neck.[17] In some representations, such as inSri Lanka, he is shown riding anIndian elephant or ahorse.[9]

Theology and historical development

[edit]

The legend and mythology of Ayyappan vary across regions, reflecting a tradition that evolved over time.[18] According to thePuranas, he is mentioned as an incarnation of Hariharaputra, the son of Shiva and Mohini.[8][10][17] While this interaction between Shiva and Mohini is mentioned in theBhagavata Purana, he is not mentioned by the name of Ayyappa.[19]

According to Malayalam folklore, Ayyappan is presented as a warrior prince ofPandala kingdom.[20][21] As the royal family was childless, the king of Pandalam found a baby boy on the banks ofPamba River.[8][10][22] The king named the boy Manikantha and raised him his own son, on the advice of an ascetic. When Manikantha was 12 years old, the king wanted to formally anoint him as the heir. However, the queen objected to it, favoring her younger biological child.[8][20] 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. He volunteered and went into the forest and returned riding a tigress. He confronted and defeated thedemoness Mahishi.[10] Mahishi wanted to be his wife but Ayyappa being celibate, refused the offer and killed the demoness.[8][20] The king realised his special ability and recognised him to be a divine being and resolved to make a shrine for him. Manikantha transforms into Ayyappa and shoots an arrow to denote the place for the shrine.[23]

There are minor variations in the story in certain versions with Ayyappa renouncing the kingdom and becoming an ascetic yogi in a forested mountain.[24] In another version, he is described as the son of the king's sister, who was born in the forest and sent to his uncle later. When the shrine of Sastha at Sabarimala was destroyed by the king's enemies, he defeated them, re-installed the statue and disappeared into it.[10] In some versions, he was raised by a childless royal couple RajashekaraPandian and Koperundevi, and grew up as a warrioryogi.[25][26][27]

According to Paul Younger, supplementary legends appeared in the late medieval times that linked other Hindu deities and mythologies to Ayyappan.[28] The divine beingsDatta and Leela came to earth as humans. Datta wanted to return to the divine realm, but Leela enjoyed her life on earth and wanted to stay on earth.[1] He became angry and cursed her to become a Mahishi (water buffalo demoness). Leela in turn cursed him to becomeMahisha, a water buffalo demon and they both plundered the earth with their evil acts. Mahishasura was later killed by goddessDurga, while Mahishi was killed by Ayyapan, ending the terror of evil and liberating Leela who was previously cursed.[29] These legends syncretically linked and combined various Hindu traditions aroundShaivism,Vaishnavism andShaktism.[29]

In the later years, the stories of Ayyappan expanded. One such version has roots between the 1st and 3rd century CE, where he evolved to be a deity who protected traders and merchants from enemies such as robbers and plundering outlaws.[28] Histemples and traditions inspired Hindu yogi mercenaries who protected the trade routes in South India from criminals and helped restore Dharmic trading practices.[28] In another version, he is portrayed as a child of a priest whose father was murdered by a fearsome outlaw. The outlaw kidnaps a princess and he makes a daring rescue killing the outlaw in the process.[28] In a variation of the story, Ayyappan forms an alliance with theMuslim warriorVavar against the outlaw Udayanan, which forms the basis for worshiping both in amosque and then in the Hindu temple before starting a pilgrimage to Ayyappa shrine.[28]

According to Eliza Kent, the legends in the Ayyappa tradition seem to be "artificially mixed and assembled into a kind of collage".[30] Ruth Vanita suggests that Ayyappan probably emerged from the fusion of aDravidian god of tribal provenance and the Puranic story of Shiva and Mohini's interaction.[31] In some regions, Ayyappan and Tamil folk deityAyyanar are considered to be the same with similar characteristics and is cited as a reason for his large following amongstTamils.[10][32][33]

Worship

[edit]
Dharma Sastha temple atSabarimala

Although Ayyappan worship has been prevalent earlier inKerala, his popularity spread in the 20th century to most ofSouthern India.[17][34][35] While there are many temples inSouth India whose presiding deity is Ayyappan, the most prominent shrine is located atSabarimala on the banks of river Pamba in the hills ofWestern Ghats inKerala. It is a major pilgrimage center, attracting millions of Hindus every year.[36][37][38] The temple is open only on select days of a year.[39]

Pilgrims carryingirumudi atSabarimala

Pilgrims often 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 asVrutham which is signified by wearing aTulsi orRudraksha mala. The pilgrims do not recognize any form of social or economic discrimination and form a fraternity treating each other as equals.[8][36][40][38] The pilgrims call each other by the same nameSwami meaning "God".[38][41] The pilgrims bath in the Pamba river and embark on a trek to the top of the hill on barefoot while carrying anirumudi (a bag with two compartments containing offerings) on the head.[36][37] Then they climb the 18 steps in front of the shrine, each representing a dharmic value.[36][37] The priests and devotees bring flowers and scatter them near the shrine while chanting variousshlokas.[42] As the deity is believed to be celibate, women in their fertile age are not allowed to enter the shrine.[25][36][37] The most significant festival linked to him is theMakaravilakku, observed around the winter solstice.[43]Harivarasanam is aManipravalamashtakam composed in praise of Shiva but sung as a lullaby for Ayyappan.[44]

Other temples includeAchankovil Sastha Temple,Aryankavu Sastha Temple,Erumely Sree Dharmasastha Temple, andKulathupuzha Sastha Temple in Kerala.[45] Temples at Tamil Nadu are located inAnna Nagar,[46]Mahalingapuram,[47]Perambur,[48] andRajah Annamalaipuram inChennai,[49] andCoimbatore.[50] While Ayyappa 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.[51][52] Some of Ayyappa temples are believed to have been established byParashurama.[53] InPonnambalamedu hillock in the Western Ghats, a ritual lighting of a large flame is carried out duringMakaravilakku.[54]

Vavar's mosque on the way to Sabarimala

Ayyappan remains one of the few deities in Hindu tradition, who is respected by other religious communities, including Muslims, and Christians.[25] As perGovernment of Kerala, there is a theory that the temple of Sabarimala was of Buddhist origin.[55] Ayyappan is also revered byMuslims in Kerala due to his association with Vavar.[17][8] In this mythology, Ayyappa confronts the plunder-driven pirate robber Vavar in the jungle with Ayyappa defeating Vavar, who then becomes Ayyappa's trusted lieutenant helping fight other pirates and robbers.[56] In another version, Vavar is stated to be a Muslim saint from Arabia, who works with him.[57] 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.[56] 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 andpalli shrines may reflect the Hindu approach to accepting and co-opting legendary figures or saints of other religions within its fold.[58]

Popular culture

[edit]

A number of Indian films have been made about Ayyappan. These include:Sabarimala Ayyappan (1961) byS. M. Sriramulu Naidu,Swami Ayyappan (1975) byP. Subramaniam,Saranam Ayyappa (1980) by Dasarathan,Arul Tharum Ayyappan (1987) by Dasarathan,Shiv Putra Swami Ayappa (1990) by P.S. Mani,Sabarimala Sri Ayyappan (1990) by Renuka Sharma,Engal Swamy Ayyappan (1990) by Dasarathan,Ayyappa Swamy Mahatyam (1991),Ayyappa Deeksha Mahimalu (1992) by Guda Rama Krishna,Swami Ayappa Shabarimalai (1993) byK. Shankar,Jai Hari Hara Putra Ayyappa (1995),Bhagwaan Ayyappa (2007) by Irajaral Bhakhta and V. Swaminathan,Swami Ayyappan (2012) by Chetan Sharma and Mahesh Vettiyar,Om Sharanam Ayyappa (2015) by K. Sharath,Sri Omkara Ayyappane (2016) bySai Prakash,Ayyappa Kataksham (2019) by Rudrapatla Venugopal andMalikappuram (2023) by Vishnu Mohan.[59][60]

Asianet launched a Malayalam series namedSwami Ayyappan in 2006. Other series includeSwami Ayyappan Saram (2010),Sabarimala Shri Dharmashasta (2012),Sabarimala Swami Ayappan (2019) andMalikappuram: Apathbandhavan Ayyappan (2023). The story of Ayyappa is dictated byParvati toGanesha in the Indian TV showVighnaharta Ganesha.[61] The story of Ayyappan was adapted as a comic in the673rd issue of the Indian comic book series,Amar Chitra Katha.[62][63]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abYounger 2002, p. 21.
  2. ^abSrikant, C.V. Manoj (1998).Sabarimala: Its timeless message. Integral Books. p. 37.ISBN 978-8-186-10712-6.
  3. ^Younger 2002, p. 166.
  4. ^Andronov, Mikhail Sergeevich (1996).A Grammar of the Malayalam Language in Historical Treatment.Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 49.ISBN 978-3-447-03811-9.
  5. ^Bronkhorst, Johannes; Deshpande, Madhav (25–27 October 1996).Aryan and non-Aryan in south Asia: Evidence, interpretation, and ideology. International Seminar on Aryan and Non-Aryan in South Asia. Harvard oriental series:Opera minora. Vol. 3 (reprint ed.). University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI:Harvard University (published 1999). pp. 177–178.ISBN 978-1-888-78904-1.
  6. ^Mahadevan, Iravatham (2003).Early Tamil Epigraphy from the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D.University of Michigan. p. 106.ISBN 978-0-674-01227-1.
  7. ^Kittel, F., Rev. (June 1872)."Coorg superstitions".Indian Antiquary: A Journal of Oriental Research in Archaeology, History, Literature, Languages, Folklore.Austrian National Library: 168. Retrieved22 August 2024.Ayyappa (Ayya-Appa)†i.e. Lord father ... † Ay, Ayya, is an honorific title among the Dravidians, frequently affixed to proper names, ...{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^abcdefghiJones, Constance; Ryan, James D. (2006)."Ayyappan".Encyclopedia of Hinduism.Infobase Publishing. p. 58.ISBN 978-0-816-07564-5. Retrieved22 August 2024.
  9. ^abDubey, D.P. (1995).Pilgrimage Studies: Sacred places, sacred traditions. Society of Pilgrimage Studies. pp. 136–137.ISBN 978-8-190-05201-6.
  10. ^abcdefghDalal 2010, p. 44.
  11. ^abSekar 1992, p. 19.
  12. ^Griffiths, Paul J. (1994).On Being Buddha: The classical doctrine of Buddhahood.State University of New York Press. p. 64.ISBN 978-0-791-42127-7.
  13. ^Sekar 1992, p. 23.
  14. ^Younger 2002, pp. 21–25.
  15. ^Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas (2002).Collected Essays.Oxford University Press. p. 352.ISBN 978-0-195-65174-4.
  16. ^Williams, Joanna Gottfried (1981).Kalādarśana: American Studies in the Art of India.Brill Publishers. p. 72.ISBN 9004064982.
  17. ^abcdLaser 2014, p. 63.
  18. ^Younger 2002, pp. 18–25.
  19. ^Goudriaan, Teun (1978)."The Māyā of the Gods: Mohini".Māyā divine and human.Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. pp. 42–43.ISBN 978-81-208-2389-1.Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved1 October 2020.
  20. ^abcYounger 2002, p. 18.
  21. ^Laser 2014, p. 64.
  22. ^Denise Cush; Catherine A. Robinson; Michael York (2008).Encyclopedia of Hinduism.Routledge. p. 78.ISBN 978-0-700-71267-0.Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved25 August 2017.
  23. ^Younger 2002, pp. 18–19.
  24. ^Devdutt Pattanaik (2014).Pashu: Animal Tales from Hindu Mythology.Penguin Books. pp. 109–111.ISBN 978-8-184-75692-0.
  25. ^abc"Ayyappan – Hindu deity".Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2014.Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved23 August 2017.
  26. ^Jeffery D. Long (2011).Historical Dictionary of Hinduism.Scarecrow Press. p. 78.ISBN 978-0-810-87960-7.
  27. ^Younger 2002, pp. 17–21.
  28. ^abcdeYounger 2002, pp. 20–21.
  29. ^abYounger 2002, pp. 21–22.
  30. ^Kent 2013, p. 80–83.
  31. ^Ruth Vanita; Saleem Kidwai (2000).Same-Sex Love in India: Readings in Indian Literature.Springer Publishing. p. 94.ISBN 978-1-137-05480-7.Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved1 October 2020.
  32. ^Sekar 1992, p. 20.
  33. ^Pillai, V. Narayana (1939)."Śāsta Cult in Travancore. Is It a Relic of Buddhism ?".Proceedings of the Indian History Congress.3:230–240.ISSN 2249-1937.JSTOR 44252378.Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved30 August 2023.
  34. ^Kumar 2014, p. 212.
  35. ^Chandra, Suresh (1998).Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Sarup and Sons. p. 28.ISBN 978-8-176-25039-9.
  36. ^abcdeFred Clothey (1978). Bardwell L. Smith (ed.).Religion and the Legitimation of Power in South Asia.Brill Publishers. pp. 3–9.ISBN 978-9-004-05674-9.
  37. ^abcdYounger 2002, pp. 18–23.
  38. ^abcDiana L Eck (2012).India: A Sacred Geography. Random House. pp. 13–14.ISBN 978-0-385-53191-7.
  39. ^"Mandala Puja 2022: All you need to know about Mandala Kalam".The Times of India. 17 November 2022.ISSN 0971-8257.Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved15 December 2023.
  40. ^Kent 2013, p. 14-15.
  41. ^E. Valentine Daniel (1987).Fluid Signs: Being a Person the Tamil Way.University of California Press. pp. 244–262.ISBN 978-0-520-06167-5.
  42. ^Stephen Knapp (2009).Spiritual India Handbook. Jaico. pp. 416–419.ISBN 978-8-184-95024-3.
  43. ^Dalal 2010, p. 350.
  44. ^"This Sabarimala season, an updated lullaby for Lord Ayyappan".The Hindu. 19 November 2017.ISSN 0971-751X.Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved25 December 2023.
  45. ^"5 Temples Part of Sabarimala Pilgrimage Circuit".The New Indian Express. 18 January 2016.Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved1 June 2024.
  46. ^"Where service is divine".The Hindu. 17 April 2003. Archived fromthe original on 30 May 2004. Retrieved1 May 2013.
  47. ^"Saraswati Puja celebrated at Mahalingapuram Ayyappan temple in Chennai".ANI News. 8 October 2019.Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved1 June 2024.
  48. ^"Hundreds of kids get ready for Vidyarambham in city".The Times of India. 29 September 2017.Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved1 June 2024.
  49. ^"1008 sanga-abhisekam at Sri Ayyappan Temple on June 10".Mylapore Times. 31 May 2022.Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved1 June 2024.
  50. ^"Onam 2023: Devotees throng Ayyappan Temple in Coimbatore".ANI News. 29 August 2023.Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved1 June 2024.
  51. ^K. Srikumaran (2005).Theerthayathra: A Pilgrimage Through Various Temples.Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 103, 120.ISBN 978-8-172-76363-3.
  52. ^Pattanaik, Devdutt (2014).The man who was a woman and other queer tales from Hindu lore.Routledge. p. 127.ISBN 978-1-317-76630-8.
  53. ^Maria A. David (2009).Beyond Boundaries: Hindu-Christian Relationship and Basic Christian Communities. ISPCK. p. 9.ISBN 978-8-184-65001-3.
  54. ^"The light on Markarsamkarama day an 'aarti'".Zee News. 7 January 2012.Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved16 January 2013.
  55. ^"Sabarimala Temple was Buddhist temple, Kerala government informs High Court".The New Indian Express. 12 November 2018. Retrieved1 June 2024.
  56. ^abKent 2013, p. 81-86.
  57. ^Kumar, KP Narayana."Before arriving at Sabarimala temple in Kerala, devotees visit a mosque".The Economic Times.Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved8 May 2021.
  58. ^Eliza Kent (2013).Lines in Water: Religious Boundaries in South Asia. Syracuse University Press. pp. 84–88.ISBN 978-0-8156-5225-0.
  59. ^Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1999).Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. "Brit"tish Film Institute.ISBN 9780851706696.
  60. ^"Ayyappan now in toon avatar".The Hindu. 20 June 2012.Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved21 June 2014.
  61. ^"Story Time For The Kids - Vighnaharta Ganesh".Sony Liv. Archived fromthe original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved31 December 2019.
  62. ^Shyamala Mahadevan (1975).Ayyappan: The Lord of Shabarimala.Amar Chitra Katha.ISBN 978-8-184-82016-4.Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved23 July 2024.
  63. ^"Ayyappan".Amar Chitra Katha.Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved1 June 2024.

Bibliography

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External links

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  • Media related toAyyappan at Wikimedia Commons
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