Lord Ayyappa (Sastha, Sasthavu)

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 Ayyappa !!!


List of Ayyappa Temples in Kerala

  1. Aanaparambu Daramasasthavu, Alappuzha
  2. Aarattupuzha Sasthavu, Thrissur
  3. Achan Kovil Darmasasthavu, Kollam
  4. Akamala Sreedharma Sasthavu, Thrissur
  5. Arakkulam Dharmasasthavu, Iddukki
  6. Arangavu Sasthavu
  7. Areswaram Sasthavu, Thrissur
  8. Aryankavu Dharmasasthavu, Kollam
  9. Ayyankovu Temple
  10. Ayyankuzhikkavu Sasthavu, Thrissur
  11. Ayyappankunnu, Thrissur
  12. Ayyappanpara Sasthavu, Pathanamthitta
  13. Chakkamkulangara Dharmasasthavu, Thrissur
  14. Chambrakulangara Ayyappan, Palakkad
  15. Chamravattam Sasthavu, Malappuram
  16. Changamkari Dharmasasthavu
  17. Chathankottakavu
  18. Cheemeni Dharmasasthavu, Kasaragod
  19. Cheerappanchira Mukkalvattam Ayyappa, Alappuzha
  20. Cherpulasery Ayyappan Kavu, Palakkad
  21. Cheruthazhathukavu Sasthavu
  22. Chethamangalam Ayyappan, Calicut
  23. Chitti Chathakudam Sasthavu
  24. Choottayan Ayyappan
  25. Chovvara Sasthavu, Trivandrum
  26. Devikulam Dharmasasthavu
  27. Edathra Sasthavu, Thrissur
  28. Edathuruthi Ayyappan Kavu, Thrissur
  29. Elampalli Madathil Dharmasasthavu, Kottayam
  30. Eramam Muthukkattukavu Ayyappan, Kannur
  31. Erumeli Dharmasasthavu, Kottayam
  32. Ezhinjillam Sasthavu, Pathanamthitta
  33. Inari Ayyappan
  34. Kaarakkattu Sreedharma Sasthavu
  35. Kaattuvalli Dharmasastha, Alappuzha
  36. Kakkatt Koyikkal Sasthav
  37. Kalleli Sasthavu, Thrissur
  38. Kanathur Sreedharmasastha, Kasaragod
  39. Kanimangalam Sasthavu, Thrissur
  40. Kannadichal Sreedharmasasthavu, Kannur
  41. Kannadiparambu Dharmasasthavu, Kannur
  42. Kannanallur Sasthavu, Kollam
  43. Kanyakulangara Dharmasasthavu, Trivandrum
  44. Karoru Ayyappan
  45. Karthyakulangara Sreedharmasastha, Kottayam
  46. Karukuttikkavu, Trivandrum
  47. Kezhoor Dharmasasthavu, Kasaragod
  48. Kizhakedesam Sasthavu, Ernakulam
  49. Kochambalam, Kollam
  50. Kodannoor Sasthavu
  51. Kodumbu Ayyappa, Thrissur
  52. Kolakkottiri Ayyappankavu, Thrissur
  53. Kolasserykavu Sastha, Thrissur
  54. Kollankodu Pulikkodu Ayyappan, Palakkad
  55. Koodapuzha Marathopalli Sasthav, Thrissur
  56. Koovapalli Narkkalakavu, Kottayam
  57. Kothakulangara Sasthavu, Ernakulam
  58. Kozhikkal Kandan Sasthavu
  59. Kozhimada Sasthavu
  60. Kudamalloor Ayyappan Kavu
  61. Kulathupuzha Sasthav, Kollam
  62. Kumarakam Sasthav
  63. Kunnathrikovu Sasthavu
  64. Kuruvakkavu Ayyappan
  65. Kutiyothu Temple
  66. Kuttoor Sasthav, Trivandrum
  67. Majapra Ayyappan
  68. Malamakkavu Ayyappan, Thrissur
  69. Malamakkavu Ayyappan, Palakkad
  70. Malamel Temple, Kollam
  71. Manakkadu Dharmasasthavu, Trivandrum
  72. Manakodi Sasthavu, Thrissur
  73. Manalithara Mullapallikavu, Thrissur
  74. Manaloor Ayyappan Kavu, Thrissur
  75. Mangalam Ayyappan Kavu, Thrissur
  76. Mangattukavu Ayyappan, Thrissur
  77. Markkadakkavu Sastha
  78. Mattil Sasthavu, Thrissur
  79. Meenachil Sasthavu, Kottayam
  80. Mulankunnathu Kavu Darmasasthavu, Thrissur
  81. Mulayam Koottal Darama Sasthavu
  82. Mundamuka Ayyappan, Palakkad
  83. Mundarakodu Ayyappa, Thrissur
  84. Mupuramkavu Sreekandansasthavu, Trivandrum
  85. Muramel Sree Darama Sasthavu, Palakkad
  86. Muttichur Ayyappan
  87. Nagalassery Ayyappankavu, Palakkad
  88. Nandikeswarankavu Sastha
  89. Nangulam Sasthavu, Thrissur
  90. Narayanamangalam Ayyappankavu, Thrissur
  91. Neervilagam Dharmasastha, Pathanamthitta
  92. Nenminipurathu Ayyappan Kavu
  93. Neriyamangalam Sasthavu, Ernakulam
  94. Nettissery Sasthavu, Thrissur
  95. Niram Kaithakkotta Sasthavu, Malappuram
  96. Paandangari Dharmasastha
  97. Paduvilakkavu Sastha, Kannur
  98. Pakkil Darmasasthavu, Kottayam
  99. Panayamcherry Ayyappa, Kollam
  100. Pandavam Darmasasthavu
  101. Panoli Sree Ayyappa, Kannur
  102. Parakulangara Ayyappan
  103. Pathanamthitta Sasthavu
  104. Pattikkadu Dharmasastha, Thrissur
  105. Perumbavoor Darma Sasthavu
  106. Perungottukavu Sasthavu
  107. Ponnabalamedu, Pathanamthitta
  108. Poonjal Darmasasthavu, Kottayam
  109. Poothakulam Darmasasthavu
  110. Pottankkavu, Trivandrum
  111. Pullukulangara Darmasasthavu
  112. Punchapadam Pulinkkavu Ayyappa, Palakkad
  113. Punna Sree Ayyappa, Thrissur
  114. Ramangari Darma Sasthavu
  115. Rampuram Sasthavu>
  116. Rarothu Ayyappa, Kollam
  117. Sabarimala Sreedharma Sasthavu, Pathanamthitta
  118. Sakthikulankara Sasthavu, Kollam
  119. Sasthamkotta Sreedharma Sasthavu, Kollam
  120. Sree Darma Sastha Temple Chennancode, Trivandrum
  121. Thakazhi Dhramasasthavu, Alappuzha
  122. Thayankavu Sasthavu, Thrissur
  123. Thechikkottukavu Sastha, Thrissur
  124. Theeyadikkavu
  125. Thenapallikkavu Sasthavu
  126. Thichur Sasthavu, Thrissur
  127. Thiruvarchanamkunnu, Malappuram
  128. Thiruvullakkavu Sasthavu, Thrissur
  129. Thottakkare Molukurussy Ayyappankavu, Palakkad
  130. Thrikkadambu Temple, Kannur
  131. Thrikkunnapuzha Dharmasasthavu, Alappuzha
  132. Thrivuvaniyoor Temple, Ernakulam
  133. Thykkadu Sasthavu, Trivandrum
  134. Udalakkavu Sasthavu, Thrissur
  135. Valiyakoyikkal Sasthavu
  136. Varamsasthamkotta Temple, Kannur
  137. Vayaskkara Dharmasasthavu, Kottayam
  138. Velupilli Dharmasastha, Thrissur
  139. Venganelloore Ayyappan, Thrissur
  140. Vettakkorumakan (Vettakkaran) Kavu, Thrissur
  141. Vyasachalam Sasthavu, Kottayam