Manikanda was assigned to the task of milking the tigress and was sent out to the forest. She feigned sickness and prevailed upon the palace physician to prescribe a medicine which included the milk of a tigress. The both hatched a plan to get rid of Manikanda. bUt due to the conspiracy of the Chief Minister, the Queen favored her own son. When the time came to decide on the heirapparent, the King nominated Manikanda as the Crown Prince (Yuvaraja). Both sons grew up in the palace as brothers. (Mani means bell and Kanda means neck).Īfter this, the Queen also conceived and gave birth to a son. He was named Manikanda because of the gold bell found around his neck. The King, who had no child of his own, took him to the palace and brought him up as his own son. King Rajasekhara of Panthalam (in Kerala), who belonged to the Pandya dynasty of South India, while hunting heard the crying of the child found lying on the banks of the river, with a radiant face and a olden bell tied around his neck. The divine child was left on the banks of the Pampa River. If he became Mohini again, then the female Mohini and the male Shiva could have the divine child who would combine their powers and beat Mahishi. When Vishnu had taken the Kurma Avatar, he also had to manifest himself as Mohini, the enchantress, to save the nectar of immortality from the demons who were not willing to share it with the gods. The two great gods really do not know what to do until from the ever-active mind of the great Vishnu comes a possible solution.
The gods ask Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu to save them from this catastrophe. Since such a person did not exist, she thought she was safe and as other asuras started the conquest and plunder. The boon she sought was to be invulnerable except to a being that had the combined strength of both Shiva and Vishnu. Mahishi, sister of Mahishasura therefore began performing a fearsome set of austerities, and so surpassed all records in that grim tapasya or askesis, that Brahma The Creator had really no option but to give her the boon she wanted. The gods succeed in this mission and Mahishasura was destroyed. Blessed with invulnerability to all men, the gods then sent a woman, the goddess Durga, to fight and kill him. Asura king Mahishasura had a boon that no men can destroy him and he was creating havoc in the world. Lord Ayyappan was born out of a crisis that overtook the gods. After the 'Mandala Kaal', devotees undertake pilgrimage to the Sabarimala temple. The period of Vrath is called the 'Mandala Kaal'. It is believed that the 41 days Vrath purifies one's soul and brings him closer to God, as epitomized by the concept of 'Thatvamasi'- that is, oneness of God and self. Unlike other temples where you can walk in any day during the puja or offering timings, Sabarimala pilgrimage is undertaken after a strict ritual 'Vrath' (austerities) for 41 days. The pilgrimage to Sabarimala is a singular example of a pilgrimage where pilgrims, without consideration of caste, creed, position or social status, go with one mind and one `mantra' dreaming constantly of the darshan (sighting) of the Lord Ayyappa and to seek his blessings.
This temple situated in the Sahyadri Hills in the Western Ghats is known as Sabarimala and the presiding deity is Lord Ayyappan or Lord Aiyappa. In the months from November to January (15 Nov - 15 Jan), a small hill shrine in the southern tip of India, Kerala attracts millions of devotees from all over the world. Monthly Poojas are held at Sri Venkateswara Temple, Bridgewater with Abhishegam and Archana, followed by Bhajans, Aarthi and Prasadams. We whole heartedly welcome you to join us and participate in all these events and get Sri Swami Ayyappa’s blessings.Lord Ayyappan or Lord Aiyappa or Swamy Ayyappan Every 3rd saturday of the month throughout the year.Swami’s who are observing Vratham and need dhothi’s and Vratham related items or have questions regarding Maala Dharanam and Ayyappa Vratham observation, you can email us at 73 73 *** Due to COVID-19 pandemic and for everyone’s safety and health, 2021 NJABM Yaatra – Irumudi Kattu will be through Virtual/Remote Assistance.
Stay tuned or subscribe to our emails from for more information during the Mandala season and we will update it on a periodic basis. This year Swami Sri Ayyappan Makara Mandala season starts from Nov 16th 2021, Tuesday and goes on until Jan 14th 2022, Friday.