Who was killed by Lord Ayyappa?

The water buffalo demon Mahishasura was killed by goddess Durga, while the water demoness Mahishasuri was killed by Ayyapan, ending the terror of evil and liberating divine Lila who was previously cursed.

What is the secret of Makara Jyothi?

Makara Jyothi is a star which is worshiped by pilgrims in huge numbers at Sabarimala Temple in Kerala on Makara Sankranti on 14 January every year. It is believed that the deity Ayyappan asserts himself as Makara Jyothi to bless his devotees.

Who killed mahishi?

Mahishi was a she-buffalo demoness and she is the sister of her deceased brother the Mahishasura. She was killed by the celibate god Ayyappa in Hindu mythology. After her brother was killed by Parvati’s aspect as Durga, shape shifting Mahishi sought revenge against her and the gods.

Who is the husband of Mohini?

Krishna
Another South Indian legend about the demon Araka associates Mohini with Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) rather than the god himself. The demon Araka had become virtually invincible because he had never laid eyes on a woman (extreme chastity). Krishna takes the form of the beautiful Mohini and marries him.

Why is Ayyappan legs tied?

He was seen sitting in the yogic pose mentioned above, which is a long-standing contact posture. Pandala’s king brought a golden belt and tied it around the Lord’s legs so that the Lord felt comfortable to sit in the position and remained in the temple to bless the devotees forever.

Is Makara real?

Traditionally, a makara is considered to be an aquatic mythical creature. Makara has been depicted typically as half mammal and half fish. Some traditional accounts identify it with a crocodile, specifically the Mugger because of its etymological roots.

What is the light in Sabarimala?

Sabarimala’s Makara Vilakku Each year, the Makara Jyoti sees the lighting of a divine lamp called the Makara Vilakku at Sabarimala. As devotees gather at the temple in the thousands, a faraway speck of light appears in the mountains.

Why is ayyappa celibate?

Hinduism believes that Lord Ayyappa chose to be a Naistika Brahmacharya, which implies that he wishes to be celibate and withdrawn from civilisation. While that may stand true, people are quick to place the responsibility of the maintenance of this celibacy on women.

Which temple is known as women’s Sabarimala?

Attukal Temple
Attukal Temple is called the “Women’s Sabarimala” as only women perform rituals, just as predominantly men undertake the pilgrimage to the shrine of Lord Ayyappa.

Who is Swami Ayyappan?

Lord Ayyappa was the son of Vishnu & ShivaLord Ayyappa is a very popular Hindu deity, which is mainly worshipped in South India. He is also spelt as Ayyappa. It is believed that he was born out of the union between Lord Shiva and the mythical Mohini, who is also regarded as an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Who is the son of Vishnu and Shiva?

Lord Ayyappa
Lord Ayyappa was the son of Vishnu & ShivaLord Ayyappa is a very popular Hindu deity, which is mainly worshipped in South India. He is also spelt as Ayyappa. It is believed that he was born out of the union between Lord Shiva and the mythical Mohini, who is also regarded as an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Why was the Ayyappa Jyothi held in Kerala?

The Ayyappa Jyothi was organised as a low key affair to convince the Marxist government in Kerala the need to preserve the sanctity of the famous shrine of Sabarimala. For centuries, women in the childbearing age were not allowed at Sabarimala.

Where did the legend of Ayyappan come from?

According to Eliza Kent, the legends in the Ayyappa tradition seem to be “artificially mixed and assembled into a kind of collage”. Ruth Vanita suggests that Ayyappan probably emerged from the fusion of a Dravidian god of tribal provenance and the Puranic story of Shiva and Mohini’s sexual interaction.

Which is the presiding deity of Lord Ayyappa?

Lord Ayyappa is known for his avatar as a Brahmachari in the form of the presiding deity at Sabarimala. Even 200 years ago, women were not allowed inside the shrine situated in deep forests of the Western Ghats.

Where is the place where arrow landed in Ayyappan?

The place where arrow landed is now an Ayyappa shrine, a site of a major pilgrimage that is particularly popular for visits on Makara Sankranti (about January 14). The above core story is shared wherever Ayyappan is revered in India.