Sree Ayyappan

Ayyappan
Tamil transliteration	ஐயப்பன் Ayyanar
Malayalam	അയ്യപ്പൻ
Affiliation	Deva, son of Shiva and Vishnu's form as Mohini
Abode	Sabarimala
Mantra	Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa' Om Shaasthre namaha om hariharaputraya namaha Swami Saranam
Weapon	Bow and Arrow, Lotus and Dandha
Symbols	Bell, Yoga mudra
Mount	Tiger, Horse, Elephant
Region	India

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa' Om Shaasthre namaha om hariharaputraya namaha

Ayyappan, also known as Dharmashastha, Shastha, Manikandan and Ayyanar is a Hindu deity who is the son of Mohini, an incarnation of Vishnu, and Shiva. He is generally depicted in a yogic posture wearing a bell around his neck, and hence the name Manikantan which literally means 'person with a bell around the neck'.

The most prominent Ayyappan shrine is the one at Sabarimala - the abode of Lord Ayyappa - in the hills of Pathanamthitta in Kerala. The shrine receives over ten million pilgrims every year making it one of the largest pilgrimage sites in the world. The pilgrims visiting Sabarimala fast and engage in austerities under the leadership of a Guru Swami (one who has undertaken the pilgrimage to Sabarimala for 18 years). The austerity period starts on the first of the fourth month of Malayalam calender and lasts for 41 days. During this period men are clad in distinctive ritual dhotis of black, saffron and dark blue colors and lead the life of a brahmachaari abstaining from family desires and tastes. The devotees address Lord Ayyappa as Sri Ayyappan respectfully. The mantra of Lord Ayyappa is Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa which translates to Lord Ayyappa, I seek refuge in you.

In ancient, the term Ayyan or Aiyan is a title of respect and the term Appan - which also means father - refers to senior members of the community as a mark of respect. Thus Ayyan and Appan put together - Ayyappan - refers to a senior respectable guardian deity of the community. There are varied arguments that the cult is so ancient that the deity represents Nature itself, which was the only matter of worship then, and that they personified Nature as Ayyappan and named him so with terms denoting respect. There is also a belief that the deities of Ayyappan and Aiyanar are one and the same as the divine consorts of Ayyappan are called Poorna and Pushkala whereas those of Aiyanar are called Poorani and Porkamalam (Golden Lotus). Further evidences in favour of this belief include the similarities in the unique seating style, with one/two legs folded and raised from the seat and the birth from the union of Vishnu and Shiva.

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