Anyone who goes to Sabarimala knows that. It has nothing to do with menstruation or being unclean. For hundreds of years, devotees had bought into this story. It is partly out of empathy for Malikapurathamma and her eternal wait and it’s also out of respect for Ayappa's commitment to answer the prayers of his devotees.Since he is celibate, he should not be distracted. With hundreds of thousands of new devotees pouring in every year, hers will be a long wait.Īnd that is why women do not go to Sabarimala. She now sits and waits for him at a neighbouring shrine near the main temple and is worshipped as Malikapurathamma. However, he assures her, he will marry her when kanni-swamis stop coming to Sabarimala. He refuses, explaining to her that his mission is to go to Sabarimala where he would answer the prayers of his devotees. She had been cursed to live as a demon, but her killing reversed the curse. When Ayappa fulfils his destiny by killing her, a beautiful woman emerges from the body. According to the puranas, Ayappa was born to destroy a female demon who, thanks to a boon, could only be vanquished by a child born of both Shiva and Vishnu. So, why restrict women?įor the answer, we need to go back to the legend. It’s one of the few, if not only temple, that openly welcomes people of all faiths and castes. It means he has traits of both gods and that’s what makes him a particularly potent deity in the eyes of his devotees.Any way you look at it, Sabarimala is the epitome of inclusiveness. This is believed to be a union of forces, not the result of an actual physical relationship. You won't see this anywhere else.Īpart from the historical Ayappa, there is a puranic legend associated with him, which says he is the son of Vishnu and Shiva.
A Dalit can lead the prayers and a Brahmin in the group must still touch his feet. Pilgrims live an ascetic life for 40 days before undertaking the journey to Sabarimala. In fact, the hierarchy among devotees is based on how many times they have made the pilgrimage and not on caste. The colour signifies a renunciation of all worldly pleasures, but it also means that everyone is equal before Ayappa, irrespective of caste. Sabarimala is one of the few temples in India that welcomes men and women of every caste. Muslims too make the journey to the mosque at Erumeli and the Vavar shrine, which faces the temple on the hill top. He protects pilgrims who make the difficult 40-km trek through the jungles to the main temple at the top of the hill. Vavar is today installed, not as an idol but in spirit, at a mosque in Erumeli. One of Ayappa’s most loyal subjects was Vavar (Malayalam for Babar), an Arab commander, whom he defeated in battle. The palace that he grew up in still exists and you can visit it. He was the prince of Panthalam, a small kingdom located in the Patthanamthitta district in Kerala.
0 kommentar(er)
