Piety, abstinence, and community service have been part of the daily routine for millions of Lord Ayyappa followers since the ‘Mandala Kalam’ of pooja and festivals began on November 17, 2022. In conjunction with the Mandala Vrutham, OHM NZ is conducting Ayyappa Vilakku 2022 prayers which will be held on Saturday, 3rd December 2022 at Papakura Ganesh Temple (4 Dent Place, Papakura, Auckland 2110).
Mandala Vrutham
Mandala Puja is regarded as an essential ceremony at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala which entails observance of 41 days of austerity. It started on 17 November 2022 and will end on 27 December 2022. Simple and devout living without vices is essential during the ‘Vrutham’ period. Wearing the Mala (usually Rudraksha or Tulsi beads) represents the start of the ‘Vrutham. The ‘Vrutham’ is aimed to instil discipline and lifestyle adjustments in participants. It boils down to cultivating healthy habits via constant efforts achieved through a mix of self-control and prayer. Many devotees head to Sabarimala to fulfil their 41-day vrutham.
The Pilgrimage
Sabarimala may be reached through numerous ways, including the Erumeli, Vandiperiyar, and Chalakayam paths. The journey via Erumeli is considered the traditional way since Ayyappan is said to have taken it. It is also the most difficult, involving a 61-kilometrer hike over woodland and hill paths.
Birth of Lord Ayyappa
King Rajashekara, a kind and progressive ruler, was revered by his subjects. But the monarch had one regret: he had no children and so no heir to the throne. Both the heartbroken monarch and his lady beseeched Lord Shiva for a child incessantly.
At the same time, a demon named Mahishasura began massacring people. Recognizing that only a superhuman power could destroy Mahishasura, the devas enlisted the help of Goddess Durga, who destroyed him in a fierce battle. Determined to revenge her deceased brother, Mahishi, Mahishasura’s sister, obtained a boon from Lord Brahma that no being could harm her save the progeny of Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Haran). Mahishi began tormenting the Devas, who in turn begged Lord Vishnu to intervene. According to the boon, Lord Vishnu took the feminine avatar of Mohini; it was determined that the male child born of Mohini and Lord Shiva’s union would be entrusted to the care of Lord Shiva’s childless devotee, King Rajashekhara.
On one of his hunting trips, King Rajashekara chances upon an abandoned infant. Just then, a sadhu appears from nowhere and instructs him to take the infant to his palace. Because the kid was wearing a gold chain, the sadhu advises the King to call him ‘Manikandan,’ which means “one with a golden neck.” Manikandan was extremely bright and inquisitive. He excelled in martial arts and shastras, and his guru was astounded by his intellect. In the meantime, the queen had given birth to a baby boy. When Manikandan had completed his studies, Rajasekara made the decision to crown Manikandan as King. Except for the king’s minister, who secretly had kingly ambitions, everyone was happy. The minister plotted to kill Manikandan.
With his ambitions foiled, the minister informed the Queen that Manikandan should not succeed Rajashekhara because her own son was still alive. He pushed her to pretend to be unwell; he persuaded the Queen that he would have his doctors declare that she could only be treated by the application of tigress’ milk. Manikandan would be compelled to journey to the jungle, where he would become prey to wild creatures, or he would return home without completing the mission, and Rajashekhara’s affection for him would not be the same. Blinded by her attachment to her own son, the Queen pledged to assist the minister and feigned to be afflicted with a dreadful illness.
Rajashekhara promised half of his kingdom to anyone who could heal the Queen. Rajashekhara’s men, who were sent with the sole purpose of acquiring the milk, returned empty-handed. Manikandan vowed to assist. En route, Manikandan happened to observe the demon Mahishi’s actions in Devaloka. Manikandan hurled Mahishi to the ground, where she landed on the banks of the Azhutha River. A terrible struggle ensued soon after. After a brutal conflict, Manikandan climbed Mahishi’s chest and began a furious dance that resonated throughout the earth and the Devaloka. Even the Devas were terrified. Mahishi was chastened when she understood the holy being on her was the son of Hari and Haran; she prostrated before the young child and died.
Following his altercation with Mahishi, Manikandan went into the forest in search of tigress milk. He got a vision of Lord Shiva, who informed him that, despite having completed the divine plan, he still had one vital mission to complete. Manikandan was told that Lord Indran would aid him in collecting the coveted tigress’ milk. Manikandan rode Lord Devendran to the Royal palace disguised as a tiger, surrounded by female devas dressed as tigresses and male devas dressed as tigers.
Manikandan and the tigers neared the royal gates. The youngster descended from the tiger’s back and informed the solemn King that he could obtain milk from the tigresses and cure the Queen of the enigmatic disease.
Manikandan reminded his father that he had completed the mission and would now return to Devaloka. Before leaving, the youngster grants Rajashekhara a boon. Immediately, King Rajasekhara told him that they intended to build a temple in his honour and begged him to choose a suitable location. Manikandan shot an arrow at a location known as Sabari. Lord Manikandan advised the King to erect the temple there and then vanished.
Lord Manikandan had stated unequivocally that he will bless devotees who offer Darshan after forty-one days of penance or vrtha; devotees are expected to adhere to a way of life similar to that of a brahmachari, bath in River Pampa while chanting Saranam and climbing the eighteen stairs to his sanctum.
After climbing the eighteen sacred stairs to the famous Ayyappa shrine one may read “Thathvamasi”. This is a Mahavakyam (Great statement of knowledge) from the Sama Vedam’s Chandogya Upanishad, and it teaches that the Supreme Consciousness, which one seeks via our religious observances, studies, and spiritual practise, is not anything other than ourselves. This is also one of the reasons why, once a person begins undertaking austerities for his trip to Sabarimala, he is referred to as “Swami” (The Lord).
The Eighteen Steps:
The 18 stages have significant religious importance and are said to assist believers spiritually and physically disengage from worldly desires. The first five steps are known as panchedriyas, and they represent the five human senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. The ashtaragas’ eight steps are next. Krodh (anger), kama (love), lobh (greed), moh (desire), asooya (jealousy), dhoombh (boastfulness), madha (unhealthy competition), and maltsarya represent emotions (pride). The following three phases, the trigunas, represent three human qualities: satva (goodness or purity), rajas (passion), and tamas (inertia or dullness). The final two stages symbolise vidya (knowledge) and its inverse, avidya (ignorance).
Ayyappa was a master of 18 weapons, and each step is devoted to each of them. Ayyappa is said to have surrendered his weapons at the “pathinettam padi,” or the eighteenth step.
Some people believe that the stairs represent the 18 hills that surround Sabarimala, the highest of which is the one on which the temple stands.
OHM NZ Bhajans:
Organisation of Hindu Malayalees New Zealand (OHM NZ) has been at the forefront of celebrating indigenous Malayalee culture in Aotearoa since its inception as Auckland Malayalee Hindu Samajam. During the Mandala Kaalam last year, the Auckland Malayalee Hindu Samajam performed Ayyappa Bhajans for the first time in Aotearoa for 41 days during the Covid lockdown. Continuing the tradition that began last year, OHM NZ will be providing a hybrid format of Bhajans this year, allowing individuals to gather in groups at temples or homes to do pooja and Bhajans dedicated to Swami Ayyappan. Saturday is considered the most auspicious day for Swami’s worship; thus, OHM NZ will facilitate Bhajans on all Saturdays during the Mandala Kalam period.
Those who are keen to be a part of the weekly bhajans of the Ayyappa Vilakku 2022 event which will be held on Saturday 3rd December 2022 at Papakura Ganesh Temple may contact the team through https://www.ohmnz.org.nz/or email secretary@ohmnz.org.nz.
Malini Yugendran is an Indian Newslink correspondent based in Auckland.
