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Lord
Ayyappa is considered as one of the famous deity
worshipped in kerala. In recent times, not only
in kerala, devotees from all around world started
building temples and worshipping Ayyappa. The fact
is that, Ayyappa is believed to be the one god
who protects his devotees from miseries and suffering
in “Kali Yuga”. Ayyappa is also knows
as Dharmasasta, Manikandan, Bhutanathan, Pandala
Raja, and Pamba Vaasan. Ayyappa is worshipped in
many forms in different temples, worshipped as
a child at Kulathupuzha, worshipped with his consorts
Pushpaka and Poorna in Achankovil and meditating
form in sabarimala. Ayyappa was born with composite
energy of Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu, when Lord
Vishnu was taken over mohini form. Lord Vishnu
gifted a bejeweled bell necklace to the new born
Ayyappa and thus, known as "Manikandan".
The
main intention behind Ayyappa’s birth was to
demolish Mahishi, one of the asura demon princesses
who was threatening and plundering the world at that
time. Pandalam King had found this boy in forest
and taken to his palace. Ayyappa was lived in Pandalam
Palace as the son of the Pandalam King. It is found
that he had super-human or divine knowledge, wisdom,
and courage. He learned Veda, Kalari (martial art)
and other war tactics quickly. He had helped Pandalam
king for protecting king and kingdom of Pandalam
from enemy attacks. Ayyappa was forced to go to forest
for seeking “Puli Paal” (tigress-milk)
as his mother was suffering ill. Ayyappa went to
forest and met Mahishi, fought with her and killed.
He had released a beautiful woman who had been cursed
to become Mahishi. The young woman proposed Ayyappa
for marriage, but he declined, being a celibate (brahmachari).
However he consoled her and promised that she would
be housed next to him in his temple and would be
visited by devotees, and if the number of new pilgrims
(kanni swami) visiting him stopped, then he would
marry her. Hence she is now worshiped as Maalikapurathamma.
After
killing Mahishi, Ayyappa left Pandalam and went to
Sabarimala, where he is worshipping in celibate meditation
form. He promised his devotees that who ever comes
to visit me with “Mudi kettu”, I will
protect them from sufferings, miseries, illness.
The very famous and important temple for Lord Ayyappa
is Sabarimala itself. It is believed that over 50
million devotees are visiting this temple every year,
which is of course making this temple second largest
pilgrim center in this world. “Appam” and “Aravana” are
the famous and special offering to Lord Ayyappa
Swamiyee Saranam Ayyppa
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