Ayyappan is a Hindu deity, particularly popular in the South Indian state of Kerala. Ayyapa is considered to be the union of Mohini (Vishnu) and Shiva. Although the worship of Ayyappa was more widespread earlier, his worship is now mainly confined to South India. Ayyappa is considered to be the ruler of the universe, and thus meditates alongside Vishnu and Shiva. 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 and Andhra Pradesh. The deity is mentioned in various scriptures and is a revered in south Indian Hindu traditions.
Pathanamthitta District is a district in the southern part of Kerala, India. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municipalities in Pathanamthitta: Tiruvalla, Adoor, Pathanamthitta and Pandalam.
The Sabarimala Temple (Malayalam: ശബരിമല) 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.
Pandalam is a municipal town in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is considered a holy town due to its connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala. Rightly recognised as the educational and cultural headquarters of Central Travancore, Pandalam hosts educational institutions ranging from reputed schools to post graduate, training, ayurveda, and engineering colleges. There are seven colleges and 23 schools at Pandalam, including N. S. S. College, Pandalam. The Kerala state government plans to make the place a special Township, by including the Pandalam municipality and Kulanada panchayat. The Pandalam area conists of Pandalam municipality, Kulanada panchayath, Pandalam Thekkekara panchayath & Thumpamon panchayath.
Makara is the name of a zodiac sign in Indian languages known as Capricorn in English. "Jyoti" means "light" in Sanskrit. Thus "Makara Jyoti" means "Light of Capricorn".
Vavar is a figure that related to lord Ayyappa in Hindu belief. There is a shrine dedicated to Vavaraswami at Sabarimala, as well as Vavaraswami's mosque at Erumely next to an Ayyappa 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.
Cheerappanchira is a 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. Former minister of Kerala, Susheela Gopalan, hails from the Cheerappanchira family.
Makaravilakku is an annual festival held on Makara Sankranti in Kerala, India at the shrine of Sabarimala. The festival includes the Thiruvabharanam procession and a congregation at the hill shrine of Sabarimala. An estimated half a million devotees flow to Sabarimala every year to have a darshan (vision) of this ritual this day.
The Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple is one of the "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars located near Aranmula, a village in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, South India. Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, who is worshipped as Parthasarathy. The nearest railway station to the temple is located in Chengannur, while the nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport.
Harivarasanam is a lullaby for Lord Ayyappan at Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, situated in the state of Kerala, India. This divine soothing song became popular through the first stanza in the ‘Keerthanam’ known as "Hariharatmajashtakam" (ഹരിഹരാത്മജാഷ്ട്ടകം)
Perunad (Ranni-Perunad) is a scenic hilly village in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala state, India It's located on the banks of Pamba River and Kakkadu River.
Rakthakanda Swamy Temple, Omallur, Pathanamthitta District, known as "Omallur Temple" traces its history to 8th century AD. It is a pilgrim centre on the way to Sabarimala from Pandalam, the birthplace of Sree Ayyappan. The Temple is famous for its annual festival of 10 days in the month of Medom of Malayalam Era. The 10-day festival is celebrated by 10 Karayogams in and around Omallur. During the festival days, there is a customary Arattu procession to the river Achenkovil. More than 10 elephants decorated with Nettipattom will be a speciality of this Arattu. The Temple has a Golden Flag Staff erected in the year 1952 AD. Omallur is 4 km south from the district headquarters Pathanamthitta and 11 km from MC Road. Omallur Temple has many interesting stone carvings. Kallunadasvaram and Kalchangala are two among them.
Thiruvabharanam is the sacred ornaments of Ayyappan, the presiding deity of Sabarimala temple. The ornaments are made of gold. It is believed that these ornaments are made at the orders of the Pandalam King, who adopted Ayyappan as his child. Thiruvabharanam is kept at Srambickal Palace, which is close to the Valiyakoikkal Temple, inside the Pandalam Palace premises. At the end of the pilgrim season every year, the ornaments are taken to Sabarimala as a procession and poojas are performed on the idol adorned with the ornaments. After the season, the ornaments are taken back to the Srambickal Palace for safe custody. Thiruvabharanam and the caskets are made available for darshan at Srambickal palace during the pilgrim season and at Valiyakoikkal Temple on the day of the procession.
Kudassanad is a village near Pandalam in the State of Kerala in India. Geographically it is situated in the eastern ending of Alappuzha District and western part of Pathanamthitta District. The southern end of Kudassanad is on the verge of Kollam District. Part of Palamel Panchayat and Mavelikara Taluk, Kudassanad comes under the Mavelikara Parliamentary and Mavelikara Assembly Constituencies.
Gurunathanmukadi Sri Ayyappaguru temple is situated on a hill in a beautiful landscape, near the banks of Achankovil River, on the opposite side of Pandalam Sri Valiyakoickal Dharma Sastha temple. The legend of Ayyappaguru temple is intertwined with Pandalam kingdom. The legend says when Sri Manikandan was brought up at Pandalam palace, he learned ‘vidya’ from the guru called Sri Gurunathan who was an incarnations of Sivachaithanya and was a Mahayogi. Sri Gurunathan reached Pandalam as guided by Lord Siva in a dream.
Swami Ayyappan is a 1975 Indian bilingual film. Directed and produced by P. Subramaniam, it was simultaneously shot in Malayalam and Tamil languages. It stars Gemini Ganesan, Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair, Master Raghu/Karan, K. Balaji, Sekhar, Srividya, Unnimary, Lakshmi, Raghavan, Rani Chandra and Vinodini. The film met with critical acclaim and became a box office success. It won four Kerala State Film Awards.
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.
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.
Thalappara Kotta and Villaliveera are closely related to Sabarimala rituals and ceremonies. According to myths, Manikanda on his journey to Sabarimala was accompanied by Villaliveera, the Thalappara chief. Manikanda considered him as his own father, thus like the Pandalam royal representative, members of Kochuvelan lineage are not permitted to cross the Sabarimala pathinettampadi.
Pandalam dynasty a royal dynasty emerged from a branch of Pandya kingdom.
