Ayyappan is a distinct Hindu deity of Kerala, popular in the Southern India. Ayyappa is also known as the Hindu god of self-control. He is considered to be the epitome of dharma, truth and righteousness and is often called upon to obliterate evil. The worship of Ayyappa has become very popular in the state of Kerala by members of all communities, in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. The deity is mentioned in various scriptures and is revered in south Indian Hindu traditions.
The Sabarimala Temple is a temple complex located at Sabarimala hill inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Perinad Village, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimage sites in the world with an estimate of over 40 to 50 million devotees visiting every year. The temple is dedicated to a Hindu Brahmachari (Celibate) deity Ayyappan also known as Dharma Shasta, who according to belief is the son of Shiva and Mohini, the feminine incarnation of Vishnu. The traditions of Sabarimala are a confluence of Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and other Śramaṇa traditions.
Vavar, known reverently as Vavarswami, is a legendary figure from Kerala. He is the celebrated Muslim acquaintance of Hindu deity Ayappan. There is a shrine dedicated to Vavaraswami at Sabarimala, as well as Vavaraswami's mosque at Erumely opposite to an Ayyappan temple. The devotion of Vavaraswami to Ayyappan and the key role that the Islamic Masjid has in the Ayyappa Pilgrimage, highlights the communal harmony in Kerala. The devotion of Vavaraswami also highlights the relevance of Ayyappa devotion for members of all faiths, and the equality shown to all, whether they are Muslims, Hindus or Christians.
Ayyanar, is a Hindu deity particularly praised in South India and Sri Lanka. His worship is prevalent among Tamils, Malayalis and Kannadigas. Some studies suggest that Ayyanar may have also been worshipped in South east Asian countries in the past. He is primarily worshiped as one of the guardian folk deities of Tamil Nadu. The village temples of Ayyanar are usually flanked by gigantic and colorful statues of him and his companions riding horses or elephants.
Cheerappanchira is a noble Ezhava tharavad renowned for its Kalari in Muhamma, Alappuzha District. Recently, the family Kalari was reopened and around 40 students are being trained in the martial art of Kalarippayattu. The former minister of Kerala, Susheela Gopalan, hails from the Cheerappanchira family.
Parakkal Unnikrishnan is an Indian Carnatic vocalist and playback singer.
Maalikapurathamma Is a goddess enshrined in a small temple at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Maalikapurathamma Temple is visited after darshan of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Malikapurathamma Temple is in front of Manimandapam. Malikappurathamma is this concept of the family of the goddess Madurai Meenakshi, the goddess of the Pandalam royal family. The Pandalam royal family and their associates worship Malikapurathamma as a mother. Usually, everyone in the Pandalam royal family who visits Sabarimala stays in Malika behind Manimandapam. Long before this deity was placed on Malika for this deity was called Malikapurathamma. Usually in Kerala, the deity named as abode Maalikapurathamma is considered the mother of Ayyappa Swamy because Ayyappa Swamy is the adopted son of the Pandalam royal family. Ayyappan Swami grew up in Pandlam Palace at the age of 12. Ayyappan Swami worships Malikapurathamma as the goddess of pandalam family.
A. Ayyappan was an Indian Malayalam-language poet in the modernist period. He is considered as the "Icon of anarchism" in Malayalam poetry.He was also an iconoclast figure who had a thick friendship with famous malayalam film director John Abraham.
Swami Ayyapan is an Indian soap opera that launched on Asianet channel.The show was produced under the banner of Merryland Studio. It was one of the top rated serials in Indian television. The first season from the series was directed by Suresh Unnithan .The series was dubbed into Tamil as Swami Ayyapan in Vijay TV and Telugu as Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa on MAA TV.
Theeyaattam also known as Theeyaattu (Tīyāttu) is a traditional dance form. There were two types of Theeyaattam – Bhadrakali Theeyaattu and Ayyappan Theeyaattu. Bhadrakali Theeyattu is performed by Theeyaattunnis whereas Ayyappan Theeyaattu is performed by Tīyyādi Nambiars (Ambalavasi).
Thathwamasi is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language Hindu mythological film directed by Swami Viswa Chaithanya (Sunil). Vineeth, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy Master Dhananjay and Manikkuttan plays the lead roles in this film.
Malamakkavu Ayyappa Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to lord Ayyappan, located in Anakkara Panchayath in Palakkad district of Kerala. A special flower called "Chengazhinir Poovu" which is traditionally used as offering to deity is found and grown only in the temple pond. This temple was depicted in the Malayalam movie Neelathamera, though the film was recorded elsewhere as no permission was given to shoot the film on the temple premises.
Anna Nagar Ayyappan Koil is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Ayyappan in Chennai, India. It is located at the junction of 6th Main Road and 2nd Avenue in Anna Nagar.
Asan Memorial Poetry Prize or Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram is a literary award instituted in 1985 by Asan Memorial Association in memory of Malayalam poet Kumaran Asan. It is given annually to honour outstanding poets in Malayalam language. The Award comprises a purse of Rs 50000, sculpture and certificate.
Rajah Annamalaipuram Ayyappan Koil is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Ayyappa in Chennai, India. It is located at Raja Annamalaipuram, a coastal neighbourhood of Chennai.
Shabarimale Swamy Ayyappa is a 1990 Indian Kannada-language film, directed by Renuka Sharma and produced by Subramaniam Kumar and V. Swaminathan. The film stars Sreenivas Murthy, Geetha and Master Sanjay. The film has musical score by K. V. Mahadevan. The film was dubbed in Malayalam under same title and in Tamil as Manikandan.
The Udukku, also known as Udukkai,, is an Indian traditional percussion instrument of Tamil origin, once popular in Tamil Nadu Kerala, and north and east parts of Sri Lanka, similar to Damaru and Edakka, larger than the former but smaller than the latter.
Sabarimala Temple is a temple of Shasta situated in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. Women of reproductive age were not permitted to worship there, in keeping with a tradition associated with the celibate nature of the deity. A Kerala high court judgement provided a legal justification to this interpretation, and since 1991 the entry of women to the temple was forbidden by Indian law.
Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS) is an organization of Ayyappan devotees and an affiliate of the Sangh Parivar. It is a registered public charitable trust started on 13 November 2008 with headquarters at Pathanamthitta in Kerala. SASS aims to serve Ayyappa devotees in their pilgrimage to Sabarimala and inculcate dharmic values in them and their families and bring them together to further the larger aim of Hindu unity. SASS activities can be listed in 5S: Satsang, Swaadhyay, Seva, Samarasta and Sangharsh.
Ayyappanum Koshiyum is a 2020 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Sachy. It was produced by Ranjith and P. M. Sasidharan under the company Gold Coin Motion Picture Company. The film stars Prithviraj and Biju Menon. The story revolves around the conflict between Koshy Kurien, an influential and wealthy ex-Havildar and Ayyappan Nair, a Sub-inspector in Attappadi. The music was provided by Jakes Bejoy.
