The Myth Behind The Origin Of Lord Ayyappa
AndThe Divine Sabari Hill Temple
Thousands and thousands of Ayyappa disciples visit the famous temple of Sabari every year from all around India. Several modifications to the original temple and surroundings are happening year by year to accommodate exceedingly growing number of disciples visiting the temple. However, by destroying the dense forest around the focal points continually deteriorating the God given natural beauty of the Sabari Hill. During respective seasons one can approach the shrine using various modes of transportation via either Chalakkayam town or more intensively through the mountain trails of Erumelli Township, climbing over the Karimala Mountains in bare foot (~50 Km). The main pilgrimage season is from November to January. Short seasons are extended more frequently nowadays. The shrine is located 914 m above sea level amidst dense forests. Vehicular traffic cannot go beyond Pamba, situated on the Pamba river valley and the last five kilometers to the shrine can be best reached by trekking. Modern facility such as tramway is currently under construction. However, manly carried chairs are also available for handicaps. Note that tourists and foreigners, as well as women between the ages of 14 and 40, approximately puberty and menopause, are not officially allowed entry to the main temple.
The origin of Sabari Hill and the divine birth of Lord Ayyappa can be best explained if we go much deeper into the myths. Therefore, it is inevitable to search the origin of two other important mythical characters such as "Mahishasura" and "Mohini" whose involvement in the current story is highly inter-dependent.
The Story of Mahishasura
The myth teaches us that the people live in Heaven are belived to be "Devas" and the people in the hell (the world beneath or pathala) are "Asuras". Devas are divine personality while the Asuras are demons. Let me take you to those ages. "Ramba" and "Karamba" were the sons of "Dhanu". Once both Ramba and Karamba undertook severe penance. Karamba had immersed himself up to neck-deep in water and Ramba in blazing fire to propitiate Lord Agni (the Lord of Fire). "Devendra", the king of Devas has foreseen the danger of his throne. He assumed himself as a crocodile, and killed Karamba while in deep meditation. Ramba after realizing his brother’s fate got frightened and prepared to commit suicide. Lord Agni couldn’t resist himself at this juncture of his disciple who has strong belief in him preparing for suicide as a cause of what Devendra had done to Karamba. Therefore, Lord Agni appeared before Ramba and asked him what boon he wanted. Ramba requested for a son who would not be killed by Devas, Asuras or men. The boon is granted.
On his way back home, Ramba met a beautiful female buffalo. One should also remember that all Asuras were believed to have buffalo head. The male buffalo (male Asura) is called Mahishan" and the female buffalo (female Asura) is called "Mahishi". He has fallen in love with her at first sight and decided to take her home. They had to halt a night in a jungle during their trip back home. At midnight while Mahishan (Ramba) was making love with the Mahishi, another wild male buffalo got intervened and killed Ramba. The grief-stricken she-buffalo also had given up her life by jumping into the funeral fire of Ramba. It is fact in the myth that once a boon is given, under any circumstances the boon has to materialize. Therefore a baby boy is born from the funeral fire of Ramba and the she-buffalo. The boy is later named as "Mahishasura".
The Story of Enchanting "Mohini"
Mahishasura is brought up by Ramba’s relatives and trained him as their king. Mahishasura was always looking for more power. He worshipped Lord Brahma and performed sever penance for a boon. The Lord is pleased and appeared before him. Mahishasura obtained a boon from Lord Brahma by which no men could kill him. After receiving the boon, Mahishasura began expanding his kingdom. Finally he entered the heaven and conquered Devendra. All Devas are then exiled from heaven. Devas approached the male Trinity- Brahma, Vishnu and Siva and pleaded for help. The male Trinity decided to consult female Trinity- Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi. They decided to create a female character by name Durga with a combined power of Devas and a combined beauty of female Trinity. Durga provoked Mahishasura by her laughter to wage war with her. Mahishasura accepted the challenge and a fierce battle ensured in which Durga killed Mahishasura and his followers. The battle and Mahishasura’s murder are ritually performed in Kerala as "Mahishasura Vadham" even nowadays.
"Leela", Mahishasura’s cousin decided to take revenge on Devas after realizing the horrible death of her cousin. The Mahishi also undertook severe penance and propitiated Lord Brahma and received a boon to the effect that she would attain her end only by a baby who could born from "Hari" (Vishnu) and "Hara" (Siva), two male characters. If such a baby is born, prior for he or she could kill her, must serve in a royal family for a minimum period of twelve years in an earthly kingdom. As part of her strategy, she attempted to provoke Devendra, the king of Devas. However, Devendra realized the danger up-front and approached Lord Vishnu for solution. Lords Vishnu and Brahma created Datta, a male Asura to divert the attention of Leela from Devendra. Though the trick worked out temporarily, Devas decided to seek a permanent solution. But how could she be killed?
The question is not answered by anyone for a while.
Finally Lord Siva came on to the stage for rescue. As part of the solution, Devas invited Asuras to churning the ocean of milk called "Paalazhi" to recover "Amrutha" or nectar, the taker of which made one immortal. They have chosen the "Manthara" mountain as the churning stick and Vasuki, Lord Siva's snake (Lord Vishnu used to sit as well as sleep on a similar mythologically significant snake called Ananda) as the churning rope. During churning, first came the worst poison, "Kalakootha". Lord Siva, once ralized that the poison could destroy the whole world, tried to swallow himself. Parvathi, his wife throttled him to save her husband’s life. Thus the dark blue colored poison remained at all time at his throat. Hence the name "Neelakhandan" to Lord Siva.
Then came the nectar. However, a quarrel broke out between Devas and Asuras in obtaining adequate amount of the nectar as share. Devas could not afford Asuras becoming immortal. Therefore Lord Vishnu assumed himself the form of a beautiful maiden woman called "Mohini" to entice the Asuras away from the nectar. That was how Mohini originated in the myth. Mohini successfully confused the Asuras and taken them away from the beech while Devas without wasting any time flew away to heaven with the whole "Amritha".
The Arrival of "Mohini"
The most appealing version of Mohini’s arrival narrates as follows. Once upon a time a Bhasmasura, one of the powerful Asura worshipped Lord Siva and performed severe penance. The Lord was pleased and granted the requested boon that whoever he touched with his hand would be turned to ashes. However, Bhasmasura couldn’t believe that Lord Siva would grant such a powerful boon. Therefore he decided to test the validity of the boon on Lord Siva himself. The Lord ran away with fear and approached Lord Vishnu pleading rescuing him from destruction. Lord Visnu decided to trick the Asura. He appeared before Bhasmasura in the form of an enchanting female named herself as "Mohini". Bhasmasura was excited with his passions and forgot his objective. He wanted Mohini to marry him. Mohini agreed subject to one condition that he should promise her by touching his own forehead that he would not think of another women then onwards. Overcome by passion, Bhasmasura forgot the consequences and touched his forehead. Momentarily he turned into ashes. Mohini returned to Lord Siva with the happy news. But on seeing Mohini Lord Siva himself enticed by her beauty. He succumbed to her charms and the result was the birth of "Sastha" or "Ayyappa". Ayyappa was born on the last day of the month of "Dhanu" on a Saturday (More precisely the myth corresponds to January 13th).
Incarnation of Lord Ayyappa and Sabari Hill Temple
The birth of Lord Ayyappa from Lord Siva (Hara) and Lord Vishnu (Hari) as stated above was a great relief to Devas. They believed that "Hariharan" would be their savior who could put an end to Leela Mahishi whose story was described in Page 2. Therefore Lord Siva asked "Sastha" to serve an earthly king for twelve years which was one of the pre-requisites to kill Leela Mahishi. For this purpose Ayyappa was abandoned on the banks of river Pampa.
Rajashekara, the King Pandalam was hunting in the forest of Pumpa during that time. While he was resting at night, heard the cry of a little boy nearby. The king and the Queen were worshipping the Lord for sometime for a baby. The king immediately ran to the banks of river Pampa where he found the new-born baby with a golden bell around his neck. The King believed that the child was sent by the Lord. He took the baby to his palace. The queen was jubilant and welcomed the unexpected gift from the Lord. Since the baby was wearing a golden bell around his neck they decided to call him "Manikandan".
The divine boy was brought up in a fine manner. He was provided with complete line of physical and mental education. In a short period of time the boy master minded all lessons. The teacher was extremely happy at the achievements of his disciple and at the same time realized the boy’s divine power. At the time of accepting "Guru Dhakshina" (fees) the Guru refused to accept any material benefits. He requested Manikanda to bless his son who was both blind and deaf. The dutiful disciple with his miraculous touch restored the boy’s sight and speech. Thereon, many more of such feats followed.
Subsequent to the arrival of Manikanda, the queen was blessed with an additional child. Both boys grew up as loving brothers. The time has come to pass on the throne from the King to the next generation. The King decided to pass the throne to the elder son. However, the queen was slightly inclined to her own biological son. The general of army was also in her side. They decided to stop the King’s decision by tricking him. They approached the royal physician and sacked him with promises. The queen pretended to have severe stomach ache. The physician approached the King and convinced him the seriousness of the queen’s condition and prescribed leopard’s milk as the only remedy.
The King stood aghast at the incomprehensible remedy prescribed. "How could a leopards be approached for milk". He asked. "And who would undertake such a dangerous mission?" Upon hearing this Manikandan appeared in front of the King and agreed to take the mission to save his mother. But the King did not agree at first to hear such a thing from his beloved son. However, after a series of talk Manikandan could convince his father and departed for the forest.
The King advised him to take a coconut representing "Trinethra" Lord Siva, his family deity, to protect himself from dangers. Manikandan started his adventurous journey with a coconut and ingredients for preparing food on his way to the forest. The "Rishees" envisioned his arrival and summoned for inviting him to their land. They seated him in a golden place believed to be 16 kilometers from Pampa called "Ponnambalamedu".
D evas realized that the arrival time of Ayyappa to the forest for achieving the aim of his "Avathara". Having been blessed by Devas, Manikandan began his tough fight with Leela Mahishi. After a long tough fight, Mankanda killed Leela Mahishi near the river called Azhutha.
Lord Siva descended to the earth to share the joy with Manikanda. They dumped the body of Mahishi ina place called "Kallidaam kunnu". The Lord upon his arrival tied his ox in a place called "kaala ketti". Manikanda danced over the body of Mahishi with joy. Leela emerged, redeemed from her curse. She wanted to marry the brave Manikanda. The Lord declined her request since he was a pure bachelor. However, he permitted Leela Mahishi to be seated near him as his "Sakthi". Her location is now called by the name "Maalikapuram". It is believed that she is still waiting there with the hope that Lord Ayyappa may once change his mind and marry her. In order to prevent any such temptation from lord Ayyappa’s end, even now adult women is not allowed to visit the Sabari temple. However, we haven’t seen yet how the Sabari temple was built.
Lord Ayyappa after fulfilling his duties to Devas, insisted that he should go back to his mother with leopard’s milk as he promised her. Devendhran, the king of Devas turned himself into a leopard. Lord Ayyappa mounted and commanded to proceed to the palace. Upon seeing Manikanda back in the palace the ing overjoyed and the queen contrite. They were convinced that Manikanda was an "Avathara" of God himself. They prayed for mercy and forgiveness. They all requested Manikanda to remain and rule the kingdom as their savior. However, Manikandan insisted that he should return to the place where he belongs.
A s a last wish before his depart, the King requested the Lord to make his abode in his kingdom. He should be blessed to build a temple for Him wherever He chose in his territory. Lord Ayyappa agreed and to indicate the exact spot, he shot an arrow and said that the place where the arrow fell would become famous "Sabari Hill". He further explained to the King that the temple that he would build should have an entrance with eighteen steps. These steps represent five "Indriyas’. The eight "Ragas", the three "Gunas", "Vidhya" and "Avidhya". He also pointed out a nearby place where his "Sakthi" should be saved forever. That place is now called "Maalikapram".
It is believed that Lord Ayyappa visit all eighteen "Sastha" temples of Kerala and the temple of Sabari on the day of "Makara Sankranthi" every year. Thousands and thousands of Ayyappa disciples every year abide proper austerities and travel from all around the nation to visit the Sabari Temple irrespective of caste. Lord Ayyappa’a friends ‘Kadutha’ and ‘Vavar Swami’ are also sitting nearby as safe guards to Lord Ayyappa
