The most famous Ayyappa shrine in India is the one at Sabarimala with over 50 million devotees visiting it every year, making it the second largest pilgrimage in the world.
About ten generations ago there lived a Vellala youth by name AYYAPPAN know as AYYAN. We do not know anything about his parents except that his uncle was one Perisseri Pillai of Erumeli, Kottayam dist, Kerala. Ayyan became the army chief of the Pandalam royal family.
Ayyan, who belonged to the Vellalar Kulam, was instrumental in the defeat of Udayanan, who attacked the Sabarimala and tried to demolish the ancient Sastha temple in the thick forest of present Pathnamthitta dist.
The Royal family of King Pandian had migrated from Tamilnadu about 800 years back. Pandian King reconstructed the destroyed Sastha temple at Sabarimala with the help of Ayyan, Vavar, a Muslim youth from Kanjirappally, Kadutha, a Nair youth from Muzhukeer, Chenganoor, Alapuzha dist.
During a clash Ayyappan was killed. Perissery Pillai, uncle of Ayyan constructed the KOCHAMPALAM - old small Sastha temple - at Erumeli, opposite the VAVAR PALLY (MOSQUE), constructed by Muslims in memory of Vavar swamy.
After the demise of Ayyappan people thought that he was the avathar of Lord Sastha and began to worship him. Later Ayyappan and Sastha became synonymous. Some say that Ayyappan was the son of a Brahmin but Nalankal Krishna Pillai in his book "Mahashekthrangalkkumunpil" states that Brahmins never had the name AYYAPPAN or AYYAN.
In the age old "Elavarsevampattu" it was clearly mentioned that Ayyan belonged to "Vellalar kulam". Near Sree Ayyappa talkies of Erumeli, Kottayam, Kerala there is a vellala house called Puthenveedu. In the same compound there still is one 300 year old, thatched, depleted, mud house, the house of Perissery Pillai, Ayyappan's uncle and the Vellal Chieftain of Erumeli. There even today one can see the ancient sword used by Ayyappan to kill the monstrous ERUMA- mahisham. The place where the "eruma" was killed became Erumakolly and later Erumeli.
Sabarimala pilgrims - "Ayyappans"- conduct the Erumeli PETTAITHULLAL during December-January months every year , here at Erumeli in memory of the killing of mahisham by Ayyan. "Ayyan / Ayyappan" Pillai is very common name among vellalas of Kottayam, Alapuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Ernakulam districts of Kerala. A number of Ayyappan koils are constructed by Vellalas migrated from Tamilnadu to Kerala e.g. Erumeli, Kanam etc. Lakhs and lakhs of Tamilian Ayyappan devotees called the "Ayyappans" - come to Sabarimala every year to worship Tamil origin "VELLALAR KULA JHATHAN AYYAN AYYAPPAN".
ARTHUNKAL VELUTHACHAN AND LORD AYYAPPAN
ReplyDeleteIn the early 17th century under the leadership of Ayyappan the Pandyan prince of Pandalam people of diverse ethnicities and religions joined together and defeated the Naicker army. Thirumalai Naicker of Madurai had sent a plundering army led by Udayanan a Maravar chieftain and a robber in 1623 AD. Udayanan and his army were defeated and killed after 17 years of struggle.
ARTHUNKAL CHURCH
St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal is situated at Arthunkal at Cherthala in Kerala at a seashore, facing Arabian sea. Arthunkal Church was built in the Portuguese period in the early sixteenth century. It was rebuilt in 1584 by an Italian Jesuit priest called Vicar Jacomo Fenicio. Devotees called him "Arthunkal Veluthachan". Rev. Fr. Giacomo Fenicio (1558 AD - 1632 AD), was the first european missionary to study Hinduism to write articles and books about Hinduism in Latin. He was also interested in Hindu culture and Kalarippayattu which he learned from Cheerappanchira Panickers.
ARTHUNKAL VELUTHACHAN
When the Arthunkal Veluthachan was Vicar of the Arthunkal church the Latin Catholics of Cherthala had also joined the war against Udayanan. Arthunkal Vezhuthachan is also famed to have been trained in the famed Cheerappanchira Kalari in Muhamma. Arthunkal Veluthachan and his Latin Catholics were believed to be supporters of Lord Ayyappan. But when the events happened in the Thirumala Naicker's period ie between 1623 to 1659 AD, Arthunkal Veluthachan could have been quite elderly. Arthunkal Veluthachan expired in 1632 AD.
Lord Ayyappan was an youngman during the life time of Arthungal Veluthachan who died in 1632 AD. So the war with Udayanan fought by Lord Ayyappa, could have happened in the period between 1632 AD to 1640 period. Oral traditions say that Udayanan was killed seventeen years after the Naicker invasion.
St.SEBASTIANS STATUE
When St.Sebastian's statue was installed in 1747 AD many local devotees started calling the idol Veluthachan too.
ALANGAD YOGAM
But legends say that Ayyappa Swamy accompanied by Arthungal Velutha in the presence of the chieftain of Alangad , Njalur Kartha, Kampilly Panikkar and Mullappilly Nair, addressed the Alangad warriors at the banks of Periar in Aluva. Kampilly Panicker was the first person to chant 'Saranam Ayyappa" while ascending the hilly terrain at Erumely. He also was the first Velichappadu or Oracle. Kampilly is a place close to Alangadu left of Paroorkavala in Aluva.
AMBALAPUZHA YOGAM
Ambalapuzha is near the ancient Pandyan port city Purakkadu. In ancient times all the areas south of Vembanad backwaters were under the Pandyan dynasty. Pliny who visited Musiris in 77 AD had been persuaded by the locals to buy pepper at Barace-Purakkad a city ruled by King Pandion of Modura.
A an army Panickers started from here to join the Ayyappan army which was commanded by Vavar at Erumely. Each year to commemorate that event a Sacred ritualistic dance called Petta Thullal is performed by the devotees of Ambalapuzha Yogam at Erumely.
ARTHUNKAL VELUTHACHAN AND LORD AYYAPPAN
ReplyDeleteSYNCRETIC FAITH
But in that era when Ayyappan was quite young people started to believe that Ayyappan and St.Sebastian were brothers.
Sebastian was a Roman officer, who embraced Christianity was a captain of the Praetorian Guards who insulted Roman Emperor Diocletian (284 to 305 AD) by ridiculing him. This led to execution of St.Sebastian execution by shooting arrows on him. St.Sebastian became a popular saint to all Catholics. In Arthunkal Church a statue of St.Sebastian sculptured in Milan, was installed in 1647 AD.
In the Portuguese era Jesuit priests did not reject the local Hindu and Dravidian customs. Christian Churches also had Bronze flag poles on which flags were hoisted. In the St.Sebastian churches many wait for the appearance of two white hawks flying over the church during the annual festival even today. This is a Hindu custom adopted by Christians.
AYYAPAN DEVOTEES
Many Ayyappan devotees visit Arthunkal Basilica as part of the pilgrimage each year. The reason said to be that Lord Ayyappan used to be very friendly with St.Sebastian. Since they were so close they were considered to be brothers. In 1647 the marble St.Sebastian idol was installed at the Arthunkal Church. So the friendship of Lord Ayyappan with St.Sebastian might have started in that era. Lord Ayyappan might have visited St.Sebastians statue at Arthunkal Church in 1647 AD. This event might have created the legend that Swami Ayyappan and St.Sebastian were brothers. The Latin Catholics of Arthunkal were the strong supporters of Lord Ayyapan.
The Sabarimala pilgrims offer prayers at the Arthungal church. They remove the sacred chain Mala called Mudra worn around the neck of pilgrims. The pilgrims also take a ritual bath in one of the two ponds near the church.
RELIGEOUS HARMONY
The religeous and ethnic harmony established by Ayyappan enabled worship of devotees at Arthunkal Church as well as Vavar palli. Mala Arayar, Panickkars, Latin Catholics and Muslims all supported Ayyappan and were treated with respect. The Pandalam Tamil Villavar Pandyan dynasty probably ended by late 1700 s . After that Pandalam Pandian territory was taken over by a family of Nambuthiris belonging to Bharghava kulam who pretended to be Pandyars, with a title Raja.
POONJAR PANDIYAN DYNASTY
Tamil Poonjar Pandiyan dynasty was also replaced by a Tulu Brahmin Potti family called Sarkara Kovilakom from Venkitangu near Guruvayoor in the 1700s. Tulu Brahmin dynasty ruled Poonjar with the title Pandymandalam Udaiya Kulasekhara Perumal. Both Brahmin Pandalam and Poonjar dynasties practiced Matriarchal descendency.
Original Pandyas belonged to Dravidian Tamil Villavar dynasty who were supported by Villavar, Vanavar, Malayar and Meenavar clans.
Aryan Nambuthiri Pandyas who succeeded Pandyan dynasty were Tulu Brahmins with Nepalese roots who migrated from Ahichatram.
From the nineteenth century during Nambuthiri Pandiyans period, Cheerappanchira Panickers and Mala Arayars lost their preeminent position in the Sabarimalai temple. Devotees were discriminated on the basis of ethnicity, Religion, Gender and age.
ARTHUNKAL VELUTHACHAN AND LORD AYYAPPAN
ReplyDeleteVAVAR PALLI
Ayyappan's close friend Vavar was the son of Pathumma and Seythali. Erumeli Nainar Juma Masjid in Kerala’s Kottayam district is routinely visited by Lord Ayyappa pilgrims. This mosque is considered to be the mosque of Vavar. They dont enter the prayer hall of the Mosque but circumambulate the mosque and space provided for resting. The pilgrims are allowed to break coconut and pray here and put Kanika, offerings.
There is another place of worship in Sabarimala called Vavarnada where there is no statue of Vavar but a carved granite slab and an old sword are only there. A Muslim priest conducts daily prayers as Vavar was a Muslim. Here also Ayappa devotees pray. Every year Chandanakudam festival is conducted as a prelude to the ceremonial dance called Pettathullal. Erumeli Nainar Juma Masjid was rebuilt by a Hindu architect called Gopalakrishnan in the 1970s.
MANIKANDAN
Manikandan belonged to Mala Arayar clan. Mala Arayars claim that manikandan was the son of Karimala Arayan Kandan and and his wife Karuthamma. Manikandan had protected the Pandiyan king when he arrived around 1610s from robbers. Manikandan rescued Pandiyan princess Mayavathi from Udayanan. Mala Arayars built a shrine for Manikandan and worshipped him. In the laterdays Ayyappan was considered an incarnation of Manikandan, and was worshipped by Mala Arayar.
Manikandan defeated Udayanan with the help armies of diverse ethnicities around 1623 AD. The armies led by Manikandan Pandipada, Alangattupada, Ambalapuzhapada, Cheerappanchirapada, Mallan, Villan,Valyakadutha, Kochukaditha,Vavar, Nasranis including Arthungal Veluthachan (Jacomo Fenicio, an Italian Jesuit priest) etc
VALIYA KADUTHA SWAMY
A small shrine dedicated to Valiya Kadutha Swamy an attendant of Ayyappan is situated near the left side of the holy steps. Valiya Kadutha was a Mala Arayar tribal leader who led the Mala Arayar armies against the Naicker army.
MALA ARAYAR
Mala Araiyar might be related to Malaiyar clan one of the three major Villavar tribes which supported Chera Dynasty. The Mala Arayar who had been the main supporters of Lord Ayyappan continued to be the priests and owners of the Lord Ayyappan temple until 1904 AD. Presence of Mala Arayars was one of the reason for the survival of the syncretic faith and religeous tolerance to twentieth century.
Mala Arayars were evicted from their lands by the Pandalam Nambuthiri Pandyan kings in the 1800s. Mala Araiyars were evicted from Sabarimala and also seventeen hills around Sabarimala. Mala Arayars were forced to carry Cardamom from hills to plains without wages. In 1856 AD Mala Arayars revolted against and attacked the Nair government officials.
MALA ARAYAR'S CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY
The harassment of Mala Arayars led to their religeous conversion to Christianity, in the nineteenth century. About half of Mala Arayars converted to Christianity. CMS Missionary Father Henry Baker worked among them between 1840 to 1862 AD. Father. Henry Baker, wrote a book called Hill Arrians of Travancore. In 1879 there were about 2000 christian converts among Mala Arayar.
DRAVIDIAN STYLE WORSHIP
Mala Arayar priests had conducted Dravidiyan style worship at Sabarimala Ayyappan temple until 1904 AD. Their main form of worship was abulation with honey and abulation with ghee. Until recently the "Thenabhishekam" worship of Mala Araiyars was allowed. Before few decades, the Thantris stopped this form of worship.