| About
SWAMI AYYAPPAN |
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Ayyappan also
known as Sastavu, Manikandan or Sasta, is a Hindu deity who
is the son of Harihara, fused with both Shiva and Vishnu.
He is generally depicted in a yogic posture, wearing a jewel
around his neck, hence named Manikandan, Literally meaning
"With Gem around the neck". By the 20th century,
there has been an increase in the number of worshipers of
Ayyappan from many different groups, spurred by vast improvements
in transport and communication in southern India. |
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Ayyappan's annual
festival is a time of pilgrimage for ever-growing numbers
of men from throughout South India. The most prominent and
famous Ayyappan shrine is the one at Sabarimala, in the hills
of Pathanamthitta in Kerala, with over One million devotees
visiting it every year, making it one of the largest pilgrimage
sites in the world. These devotees fast and engage in austerities
under the leadership of a Periya Swami (one who has undertaken
the pilgrimage to Sabarimala for 18 years) for weeks barefoot
and then travel in groups to the shrine for a glimpse of Ayyappan.
Bus tickets are hard to obtain for several weeks as masses
of elated men, clad in distinctive ritual dhotis of saffron,
black and light blue colors, throng public transportation
during their trip to the shrine.
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The name "Sri
Ayyappan" is used as a respectful form of address in
Malayalam and Sanskrit. The equivalent of Sri is "Thiru"
in Tamil. The mantra Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa is translated
in English as, "Lord Ayyappa, I seek refuge in you".
Read more….
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OBSERVING
MANDALA VRATHAM |
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One mandalm
is equal to 41 days and the devotees initiates the vratham
by wearing a Thulasi or a Rudraksha mala. The ceremony can
be initiated in a temple or at home in presence of guru samy.
The male pilgrim and the female pilgrim (aged 1-12 and after
55) are addressed as Ayyapan/Swamy and Maalikapuram respectively,
until their completion of the pilgrimage. The devotees will
wear only BLACK colored clothing. |
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1. Devotees
are expected to undergo practices of simple living, and absolute
cleanliness. |
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| 2. Total abstinence from all vices
like alcohol, tobacco, chewing betel leaves and strict vegetarianism
is to be observed during the 41 days period. |
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| 3. Devotees shall not trim or cut
their hair on any parts of their body and shall not cut their
fingernail or toenail |
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4. The devotee
shall bathe twice daily and perform pooja by at least chanting
108 Ayyappan Saranam. Consuming breakfast and dinner should
be done only after bath /wash followed by prayer. A continuous
chanting of ‘Saranam Ayyappa’ in mind is the bakthi
towards the Lord while both at work and at home. |
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| 5. The devotee shall not hurt anybody
verbally or physically. |
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6. The devotee
shall treat all co-devotees as Lord Ayyappan himself and serve
them in all the ways. The phrase ‘Tat Tvam Asi’
applies here meaning "That Thou Art". Due to this
devotee call and address each other ‘Swami’. |
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| 7. The devotee shall not feel proud
of the respect and privileges he gets when he is wearing the
holy mala. When others prostrate themselves on his feet he shall
not feel proud but dedicate the same to Lord Ayyappan and say
aloud 'Lord Save everybody for their faith in you'. |
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| 8. The devotee shall not cause inconvenience
to his family members on account on observing the vritham. |
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9. As the devotee
starts his vritham every year, he shall think that he is doing
the same for first time and follow all the rules of the vritham
strictly. |
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| 10. The devotee shall strictly follow
brahmacharya (continence), refrain from sex, thinking of sex,
develop passion against all women including his wife, and treat
all women with motherly feeling. |
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11. The devotee
shall not concentrate much on self-beautification like apply
oil to his hair, body and using cosmetics over his body. |
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| 12. The devotee shall avoid taking
part in social function shall not feast in anyone's home who
have not undertaken the vritham. |
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| 13. The devotee shall not take part
in bereavement and avoid being in the proximity of dead body. |
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14. The devotee
shall avoid public recreation like going for movies, parties
and common socializing gatherings. |
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| 15. He shall not sleep on bed but
on floor using a bed sheet or new mat, he shall not use footwear
but walk with bare feet. |
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| 16. He shall totally surrender himself
to Lord Ayyappa. |
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| 108 SLOGAMS TO BE CHANTED BY DEVOTEES
WHILST DOING POOJA - |
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Starting with
"OM" ending with "SARANAM AYYAPPA" |
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108 Sharana Ghosham |
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| Say 'Saranam Ayyappa' after saying
each line. |
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1. Swamiyae
2. Harihara sutane
3. Kannimoola ganapati bhagavaanae
4. Shakti vadivelan sodaranae
5. Maalikappurattu manjammadevi lokamathavae
6. Vaavar Swamiyae
7. Karuppanna Swamiyae
8. Periya kadutta Swamiyae
9. Siriya kadutta Swamiyae
10. Vanadevata maarae
11. Durga bhagavati maarae
12. Achchan kovil arasae
13. Anaatha rakshakanae
14. Anna dhana prabhuvae
15. Achcham tavirpavanae
16. Ambalathu arasanae
17. Abhaya daayakanae
18. Ahandai azhippavanae
19. Ashtasiddhi daayakanae
20. Andinorai aadarikkum deivamae
21. Azhutayil vaasanae
22. Aaryangaavu Ayyaavae
23. Aapad baandhavanae
24. Ananda jyotiyae
25. Aatma swaroopiyae
26. Aanaimukhan thambiyae
27. lrumudi priyanae
28. lnnalai teerppavanae
29. ega para suka daayakanae
30. idaya kamala vaasanae
31. Eedillaa inbam alippavanae
32. Umaiyaval baalakanae
33. Oomaikku arul purindavanae
34. Oozhvinai akatruvonae
35. Ookkam alippavanae
36. Engum niraindoenae
37. Enillaa roopanae
38. En kula deivamae
39. En guru naathanae
40. Erumeli vaazhum kraada -shaastaavae
41. Engum nirainda naada brahmamae
42. Ellorkkum arul puribavanae
43. Aetrumaanoorappan maganae
44. Aekaantha vaasiyae
45. Aezhaikkarul puriyum eesanae
46. Aindumalai vaasanae
47. Aiyyangal teerppavanae
48. Opillaa maanikkamae
49. Omkaara parabramamae
50. Kaliyuga varadanae
51. Kan.kanda deivamae
52. Kambankudiku udaiya naathanae
53. Karunaa samudramae
54. Karpoora jyotiyae
55. Sabari giri vaasanae
56. Shatru samhaara moortiyae
57. Sharanaagata rakshakanae
58. Sharana ghosha priyanae
59. Shabarikku arul purindavanae
60. Shambhukumaaranae
61. Satya swaroopanae
62. Sankatam teerppavanae
63. Sanchalam azhippavanae
64. Shanmukha sodaranae
65. Dhanvantari moortiyae
66. Nambinorai kaakkum deivamae
67. Narttana priyanae
68. Pantala raajakumaaranae
69. Pambai baalakanae
70. Parasuraama poojithanae
71. Bhakta jana rakshakanae
72. Bhakta vatsalanae
73. Paramashivan puthiranae
74. Pambaa vaasanae
75. Parama dayaalanae
76. Manikanda porulae
77. Makara jyotiyae
78. Vaikkathu appan makanae
79. Kaanaka vaasanae
80. Kulattu puzhai baalakanae
81. Guruvaayoorappan makanae
82. Kaivalya pada daayakanae
83. Jaati mata bhedam illathavanae
84. Shivashakti Aikya svaroopanae
85. Sevippavarku aananda moorthiyae
86. Dushtar bhayam neekkubavanae
87. Devaadi devanae
88. Devargal tuyaram teerppavanae
89. Devendra poojitanae
90. Naaraayananmynthanae
91. Neiabhisheka priyanae
92. Pranava svaroopanae
93. Paapa samhaara moortiyae
94. Paayaasanna priyanae
95. Vanpuli vaagananae
96. Varapradaayaganae
97. Bhaagavatottamanae
98. Ponambala vaasanae
99. Mohini sutane
100. Mohana roopanae
101. Villan villaali veeranae
102. Veeramani kantanae
103. Sadguru nathanae
104. Sarva rokanivaarakanae
105. Sachithananda sorupiyae
106. Sarvaabheestha thayakanae
107. Saasvatapadam alippavanae
108. Patinettaam padikkutaiyanaadhane
Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa
Om Adiyen terindum teriyaamalum seida
sakala Kutrangalaiyum poruttu kaattu rakshittu
arula vendum, Shree satyamaana ponnu
patinettaam padimel vaazhum om Shree
Harihara sutan kaliyugavaradan aananda
chittan ayyan Ayyappa Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa |
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