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Kailasapuram Ayya Vaikundar Temple


The Kailasapuram Ayya Vaikundar Temple is a Hindu temple in Peruvilai village, Kailasapuram, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Ayya Vaikundar (Ayya Vazhi), a manu Narayana avatar which arose from the sea and manifested in Mudisoodam Perumal (c. 1810 - c. 1857). In 1836, Ayya founded Samathva Samajam, a human rights movement which contributed to the Independence of India and was influenced by the development of socialism in Europe.

In 1836, Ayya Vaikundar, a member of the Hindu lower class, wanted to pull the temple chariot, a task traditionally reserved for the elite. This angered and frightened the members of the upper class. King Swathi Thirunal, who was temporarily residing at Suchindram (4 miles (6.4 km) away), had Ayya arrested and led away, tied to a horse. In Swamithoppu, where the arrest took place, Ayya's followers objected but he advised them to remain patient. He said,

Ayya was brought before the king and answered the king's questions put to him with wisdom. However, when the king asked Ayya to guess the item in his right hand, Ayya dismissed the king, saying everyone's soul was of the same value because the universe was created by one god. The king was angered and condemned Ayya to fifteen months imprisonment in Thiruvananthapuram and further incarceration from November 1838 in Singarathoppu. Despite all sorts of torture such as brutality or poisoning, being made to walk through fire or being burnt in a lime kiln, being fumigated with burning chillies or being publicly taunted with a hungry tiger, Ayya maintained his composure and appeared showered with flowers. When a guard poked the tiger with a spear, the animal grabbed the spear then suddenly let it go. In the incident, the spear hit a Brahmin chieftain who died of his injury.


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