THE STORY OF LORD AYYAPPAN
In Pandalam
about 800 years ago, Rajasekhara was a
just and good King.
Being childless, he
kept praying to Lord Shiva for an offspring.
At the same
time, a demoness ,Mahishi was holding Heaven and Earth in her sway,
Having obtained
a boon that only a child born of Hari and Hara could her slay.
Then it
transpired that the Lord Vishnu assumed the form of the beautiful Mohini,
And lo! in
Divine Union with Lord Shiva, was born a
bonnie little male baby.
This wonder child,
created for destroying Mahishi and removing the world’s fear,
Was ordained by
the Gods in Heaven to grow in Rajasekhara’s tender care.
Thus the lovely
baby was discovered in a forest by Rajasekara as per Divine plan,
And since he was
found wearing a gold chain, he was named Manikantan .
He grew up with
such extraordinary talents that his Guru could soon tell,
That this crown
prince of Pandalam was certainly no ordinary mortal.
Meanwhile things
in the palace took a bizarre turn
When the queen
was suddenly blessed with a son.
The minister of
Rajasekhara who nurtured kingly dreams,
Now started
poisoning the queen’s mind with evil schemes.
He convinced the
weak queen that to crown as king her own,
Manikantan had
to be stopped from ascending the throne.
Thus the evil
minister persuaded the queen to feign to be ill,
And to announce that
saving her would require of tigress’s milk a swill.
As guessed
correctly by the devilish minister of Pandalam,
Manikantan came
forward boldly to save his ailing mom.
The brave lad
set forth alone, the worry-ridden King’s pleas ignoring,
For obtaining
tigress’s milk and thereby the queen’s health restoring.
During his
adventure, his life’s main purpose soon began to unfold,
When the
terrible atrocities of Mahishi he happened to behold.
Outraged he
challenged her and after a battle of great fury,
Manikantan slew
her as ordained and danced over her body.
Then the worlds
breathed in relief and the Gods blessed Manikantan,
But they also
gently reminded him of another task to be done.
Thus soon
enough, Pandalam folks were in for great fear and surprise
Seeing
Manikantan with tigers and tigresses who were Gods in disguise.
Meanwhile, the
King having learnt about the queen and the minister’s treachery
Fell at
Manikantan’s feet seeking forgiveness, knowing now his foster son’s Divinity.
Stating lovingly
that all happened as ordained, Manikantan offered the king a boon
As the Gods’s
progeny had to return to his Heavenly abode soon.
And as wished by
the King, the immortal and famous Sabarimala Temple was consecrated,
Where the
bravest warrior Manikantan - as Lord Ayyappa- is worshipped and venerated ;
Thus , every
year millions of devotees irrespective of caste or creed go to Sabarimala,
To seek
Manikantan’s Blessings, chanting in chorus, “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.
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