Swamyae ! Saranam !! Ayyappa !!!

Swamiyae Saranam Ayyappa...!

Achan Kovil Arasae Saranam Ayyappa...!

This is called as the Sarana Kosam of God Sri Ayyappan. This has been reflected all over the cliffs of the western Ghats of Kerala region at the time of November - December.

Location

Here we are going to see the lord at Achan Kovil not at Sabarimala, which has been 30 k.m from Senkottai which is in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India. Another one called Ariyankavu has been also at 25 k.m from Senkottai.

Routes

1. Punalur - Kumaramkudy - Mullamala route ~ This road has been in bad condition.
2. Punalur - Ariyankavu - Senkottai - Mekkara route ~ This has been the journey through thick forest, as well has to undergo 23 hairpin bends.

Achankovil has been at the height of 950 meters from the sea level.

As these two isthalas have been located at very near to the border of Tamil Nadu, a lot of Ayyappa's devotees from Tamil Nadu, are going to these two places as very large in number. there they worship Him in two different 'Roopams' (appearence).

The devotees who have been to Sabarimala with the 'Irumudi' (the essentials for the dharshan of lord Ayyappan at Sabarimalai) might have visited these two places of 'Achankovil' and 'Ariyankavu', and then only, they would continue their spiritual journey.

Here lord Ayyappan is in the form of Grihasthasrami, having His consorts Poorna and Pushkala on both sides of Him. One of His hand is always holding the Sandal paste and the theertham, which have it's own miraculous healing power and it's been available for all the 24 hours. It's been considered as a best medicine for snake venom (bites).

Near this isthala Achankovil, a lovely 'Achankovil river' flows and the pure lush green on it's both banks adds serene beauty to that place, in addition with the grace of lord Ayyappan. This river has been formed due to the stream of the small rivers called Rishimala river, Pasukidamettu river and the Ramakkalteri river which all have met together at the point in eastern Kerala and ultimately it has joined the river Pampa at the place called Veeyapuram.

On the banks of the Achankovil river, there lies the holy place called Panthalam, which had been closely related with the life of lord Ayyappan. Achankovil dam has been built across the river Achankovil.

The legend on the birth of lord Ayyappan *

The childhood of lord Ayyappan had been passed here (Panthala) only. He was adopted as a child when the king of Panthala went for a hunt, as he had no child at that time. Lord Ayyappan was taken birth for the demise of the demoness 'Mahishi', who had ruined the maharishies and the munis from being attended the penance and meditation. She had also done a lot of destruction to the celestial world.

She had attained the boon invulnerability to all (devas,asuras and human) except to the son of lord Shiva and lord Vishnu. She, having planned deeply, that how could it be possible for it that one child as being the son of both lord Shiva and lord Vishnu. So, having held this at her mind, she thought that she never would have been met with death, until the son of lord Shiva and lord Vishnu would have taken birth.

Having accepted the request by the celestial being and the sages, lord Ayappan had taken birth by the union of lord Shiva (as Male) with the Mohini incarnation (as Female) of lord Vishnu. As when Ayyappan had taken birth, he had been tied a bead of bell like ornament around His neck, which had been gifted by His Mother (Mohini incarnation) lord Vishnu, Hence He has been called as 'Manikanthan' or 'Manikandan'.

The purpose of His 'Avatar' had been fulfilled, that the demoness mahishi had been stabbed to death at last by the lord Ayyappa and she also had been gifted with the divine status that His devotees, in future, would first worship her and then only should worship him. Now she has been called as 'Manjal Matha' at Sabarimala shrine.

The devotees of lord Ayyappa in Tamil Nadu, would begin their 'Viratham' (followings of some spiritual rules) at the Tamil month of 'Karthigai' 1^st onwards, by having worn the 'Thulasi mala' (Beads of a plant called 'Thulasi') around their neck.

The devotees from Tamil Ndu, would go for 'Mandala pooja' and the 'Maghara Jothi' to Sabarimala and when they have been in their 'Viratham', here in Achankovil, the grand festival of 'Mandala Mahothsavam' which have been enduring for 10 days.

The 1^st day of the Tamil month of 'Marghazhi', the festival (Mahothsavam) has begun with flag hoisting. The 10^th day , the festival could end up with 'Aaratu Vaibhavam'. The 9^th day, the 'theorotum' (temple-car circumambulation) has been taken place.

The jewel box, which has been protected at the treasury of 'Punalur', has been taken as a procession by having started from the Punalur-Krishnan temple. This procession would pass through Thenmalai, Ariyankavu (in Kerala) and would enter into Tamil Nadu, where it comes to Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu district via Senkottai.

A special pooja has been taken place to the jewel-box at the temple of 'Tenkasi Vishwanathar' and from there, again the procession would lead to Achankovil, via Panmozhi and Makkara and at last by the evening it would reach Achankovil.

There the golden ornaments have been worn to lord Ayyappan and His consorts. After having done this ritual (wearing jewels) only, the grand festival 'Mahothsavam' would begin.

From the 3^rd day to the 9^th day, at 12 A.M, one festival program called 'Karupanthullal' has been taken place daily. On the 7^th day, the 'Annakodi' (Annam flag) procession from the temple of 'Puthiyakavu Baghavathi Amman' at Konni in Patthinamthitta district, has arrived here in the Achankovil temple. In order to witness this grand festival, a lot of devotees from Kerala and Tamil Nadu would have come here.

There has been a legend about the sword which has been kept in the jewel box of the lord Ayyappan.

Once there in the deep forest, one devotee who had been to Achankovil, didn't know the correct way to reach it. The time had also passed and night came. That devotee, without having known the other source, had worshiped lord Ayyappan to make him lead the way to the temple at Achankovil.

Then that devotee had been met by a newcomer there and he had given the devotee a fine sword and told the devotee that the sword would lead him the way to Achankovil temple. Again he added that the devotee, on having arrived the temple, should hand over the sword to the temple premises and he never should speak to anybody while on the way to the Achankovil temple. After this, that man had disappeared from the scene.

That devotee, having sticked with that miracle, had followed the way that the sword had been showing to him to the temple of Achankovil. There at the temple premises, the devotee had handed over the sword and said to the people that what had happened to him and how he had been saved from that danger situation. All the people, on having heard that incident, became spiritually emotional and raised the 'sarana kosam' as

Swamiyae saranam Ayyappa...! Achankovil Arasae saranam Ayyappa...!

That sword has been then kept at the Sanctum of Achankovil and afterwards that sword has been kept protected in the treasury of the Punalur.

Bus Facility *

1. From Senkottai of Tirunelveli district - 8 a.m, 3.30 p.m and 5 p.m.
2. From Punalur of Kerala state - 6 a.m,11.30 a.m, 4.30 p.m and 8 p.m

There have been special buses during the festival season.

Shall we get ready for 'Mandala Mahothsavam' ? !!!