Narayan Ravi - Mumbai

Ayyappa

Return to Panthalam & the great revelation.

After killing Mahishi, Manikantha had to return to Panthalam with the milk of a tigress. All the Gods & Goddesses assembled in the forest took the forms of fierce tigers, tigresses & cubs, with Lord Ayyappa Himself seated on Indra as a tiger. The Lord thus made His way to Panthalam. Seeing Manikantha riding a tiger with a horde of fierce tigers & tigresses behind Him, the people of the kingdom began running for dear life. All the people, including the king, queen & the wicked Diwan were dumbstruck. As Manikantha neared the palace, the Sanyasi who had appeared when the king found baby Manikantha on the banks of the Pampa, once again appeared. He revealed the true identity of Manikantha - that He was none other than Sri Dharma Sastha, the son of Hari & Hara, who had incarnated on earth to destroy Mahishi. Manikantha said that now that He had fulfilled the purpose of His earthly incarnation, it was time for Him to return to His heavenly abode.

Rajasekhara was blinded by tears & begged the Lord for forgiveness for not having recognized His divinity & for having treated Him as a mere mortal. He said that He had seen through the queen's false pretense & that her so-called 'headache' had disappeared the moment Manikantha had departed for the forest. He vowed to punish the Diwan for his misdeeds. Manikantha restrained him, saying that everything had happened according to divine will. He blessed the king with liberation & told him to ask for any boon he wanted. The king immediately asked that he be allowed to construct a temple for the Lord & that the Lord should bless the entire region with His divine presence. The Lord granted his wish & that is how the divine abode of Sabarimala came into being.

May Vanpulivahana - the one who rides a wild tiger, bless one and all.

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa