Lord Ayyappa is considered as one of the famous deity worshipped in Kerala. In recent times, not only in Kerala, devotees from all around the world started building temples and worshipping Ayyappa. The fact is that Ayyappa is believed to be the one god who protects his devotees from miseries and suffering in “Kali Yuga”. Ayyappa is also known as Dharmasasta, Manikandan, Bhutanathan, Pandala Raja, and Pamba Vaasan. Ayyappa is worshipped in many forms in different temples, worshipped as a child at Kulathupuzha, worshipped with his consorts Pushpaka and Poorna in Achankovil and meditating form in Sabarimala. Ayyappa was born with the composite energy of Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu when Lord Vishnu was taken over Mohini form. Lord Vishnu gifted a bejeweled bell necklace to the newborn Ayyappa and thus, known as “Manikandan”.
The main intention behind Ayyappa’s birth was to demolish Mahishi, one of the asura demon princesses who was threatening and plundering the world at that time. Pandalam King had found this boy in the forest and taken to his palace. Ayyappa was lived in Pandalam Palace as the son of the Pandalam King. It is found that he had super-human or divine knowledge, wisdom, and courage. He learned Veda, Kalari (martial art) and other war tactics quickly. He had helped Pandalam king for protecting the king and kingdom of Pandalam from enemy attacks. Ayyappa was forced to go to the forest for seeking “Puli Paal” (tigress-milk) as his mother was suffering ill. Ayyappa went to the forest and met Mahishi, fought with her and killed. He had released a beautiful woman who had been cursed to become Mahishi. The young woman proposed Ayyappa for marriage, but he declined, being a celibate (brahmachari). However he consoled her and promised that she would be housed next to him in his temple and would be visited by devotees, and if the number of new pilgrims (Kanni swami) visiting him stopped, then he would marry her. Hence she is now worshiped as Maalikapurathamma.
After killing Mahishi, Ayyappa left Pandalam and went to Sabarimala, where he is worshipping in celibate meditation form. He promised his devotees that whoever comes to visit me with “Mudi kettu”, I will protect them from sufferings, miseries, illness. The very famous and important temple for Lord Ayyappa is Sabarimala itself. It is believed that over 50 million devotees are visiting this temple every year, which is of course making this temple the second-largest pilgrim center in this world. “Appam” and “Aravana” are the famous and special offering to Lord Ayyappa
Swamiyee Saranam Ayyappa !!!
Ayyappa Swamy Temples in Kerala:
- Aanaparambu Daramasasthavu, Alappuzha
- Aarattupuzha Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Achan Kovil Darmasasthavu, Kollam
- Akamala Sreedharma Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Arakkulam Dharmasasthavu, Iddukki
- Arangavu Sasthavu
- Areswaram Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Aryankavu Dharmasasthavu, Kollam
- Ayyankovu Temple
- Ayyankuzhikkavu Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Ayyappankunnu, Thrissur
- Ayyappanpara Sasthavu, Pathanamthitta
- Chakkamkulangara Dharmasasthavu, Thrissur
- Chambrakulangara Ayyappan, Palakkad
- Chamravattam Sasthavu, Malappuram
- Changamkari Dharmasasthavu
- Chathankottakavu
- Cheemeni Dharmasasthavu, Kasaragod
- Cheerappanchira Mukkalvattam Ayyappa, Alappuzha
- Cherpulasery Ayyappan Kavu, Palakkad
- Cheruthazhathukavu Sasthavu
- Chethamangalam Ayyappan, Calicut
- Chitti Chathakudam Sasthavu
- Choottayan Ayyappan
- Chovvara Sasthavu, Trivandrum
- Devikulam Dharmasasthavu
- Edathra Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Edathuruthi Ayyappan Kavu, Thrissur
- Elampalli Madathil Dharmasasthavu, Kottayam
- Eramam Muthukkattukavu Ayyappan, Kannur
- Erumeli Dharmasasthavu, Kottayam
- Ezhinjillam Sasthavu, Pathanamthitta
- Inari Ayyappan
- Kaarakkattu Sreedharma Sasthavu
- Kaattuvalli Dharmasastha, Alappuzha
- Kakkatt Koyikkal Sasthav
- Kalleli Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Kanathur Sreedharmasastha, Kasaragod
- Kanimangalam Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Kannadichal Sreedharmasasthavu, Kannur
- Kannadiparambu Dharmasasthavu, Kannur
- Kannanallur Sasthavu, Kollam
- Kanyakulangara Dharmasasthavu, Trivandrum
- Karoru Ayyappan
- Karthyakulangara Sreedharmasastha, Kottayam
- Karukuttikkavu, Trivandrum
- Kezhoor Dharmasasthavu, Kasaragod
- Kizhakedesam Sasthavu, Ernakulam
- Kochambalam, Kollam
- Kodannoor Sasthavu
- Kodumbu Ayyappa, Thrissur
- Kolakkottiri Ayyappankavu, Thrissur
- Kolasserykavu Sastha, Thrissur
- Kollankodu Pulikkodu Ayyappan, Palakkad
- Koodapuzha Marathopalli Sasthav, Thrissur
- Koovapalli Narkkalakavu, Kottayam
- Kothakulangara Sasthavu, Ernakulam
- Kozhikkal Kandan Sasthavu
- Kozhimada Sasthavu
- Kudamalloor Ayyappan Kavu
- Kulathupuzha Sasthav, Kollam
- Kumarakam Sasthav
- Kunnathrikovu Sasthavu
- Kuruvakkavu Ayyappan
- Kutiyothu Temple
- Kuttoor Sasthav, Trivandrum
- Majapra Ayyappan
- Malamakkavu Ayyappan, Thrissur
- Malamakkavu Ayyappan, Palakkad
- Malamel Temple, Kollam
- Manakkadu Dharmasasthavu, Trivandrum
- Manakodi Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Manalithara Mullapallikavu, Thrissur
- Manaloor Ayyappan Kavu, Thrissur
- Mangalam Ayyappan Kavu, Thrissur
- Mangattukavu Ayyappan, Thrissur
- Markkadakkavu Sastha
- Mattil Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Meenachil Sasthavu, Kottayam
- Mulankunnathu Kavu Darmasasthavu, Thrissur
- Mulayam Koottal Darama Sasthavu
- Mundamuka Ayyappan, Palakkad
- Mundarakodu Ayyappa, Thrissur
- Mupuramkavu Sreekandansasthavu, Trivandrum
- Muramel Sree Darama Sasthavu, Palakkad
- Muttichur Ayyappan
- Nagalassery Ayyappankavu, Palakkad
- Nandikeswarankavu Sastha
- Nangulam Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Narayanamangalam Ayyappankavu, Thrissur
- Neervilagam Dharmasastha, Pathanamthitta
- Nenminipurathu Ayyappan Kavu
- Neriyamangalam Sasthavu, Ernakulam
- Nettissery Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Niram Kaithakkotta Sasthavu, Malappuram
- Paandangari Dharmasastha
- Paduvilakkavu Sastha, Kannur
- Pakkil Darmasasthavu, Kottayam
- Panayamcherry Ayyappa, Kollam
- Pandavam Darmasasthavu
- Panoli Sree Ayyappa, Kannur
- Parakulangara Ayyappan
- Pathanamthitta Sasthavu
- Pattikkadu Dharmasastha, Thrissur
- Perumbavoor Darma Sasthavu
- Perungottukavu Sasthavu
- Ponnabalamedu, Pathanamthitta
- Poonjal Darmasasthavu, Kottayam
- Poothakulam Darmasasthavu
- Pottankkavu, Trivandrum
- Pullukulangara Darmasasthavu
- Punchapadam Pulinkkavu Ayyappa, Palakkad
- Punna Sree Ayyappa, Thrissur
- Ramangari Darma Sasthavu
- Rampuram Sasthavu>
- Rarothu Ayyappa, Kollam
- Sabarimala Sreedharma Sasthavu, Pathanamthitta
- Sakthikulankara Sasthavu, Kollam
- Sasthamkotta Sreedharma Sasthavu, Kollam
- Sree Darma Sastha Temple Chennancode, Trivandrum
- Thakazhi Dhramasasthavu, Alappuzha
- Thayankavu Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Thechikkottukavu Sastha, Thrissur
- Theeyadikkavu
- Thenapallikkavu Sasthavu
- Thichur Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Thiruvarchanamkunnu, Malappuram
- Thiruvullakkavu Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Thottakkare Molukurussy Ayyappankavu, Palakkad
- Thrikkadambu Temple, Kannur
- Thrikkunnapuzha Dharmasasthavu, Alappuzha
- Thrivuvaniyoor Temple, Ernakulam
- Thykkadu Sasthavu, Trivandrum
- Udalakkavu Sasthavu, Thrissur
- Valiyakoyikkal Sasthavu
- Varamsasthamkotta Temple, Kannur
- Vayaskkara Dharmasasthavu, Kottayam
- Velupilli Dharmasastha, Thrissur
- Venganelloore Ayyappan, Thrissur
- Vettakkorumakan (Vettakkaran) Kavu, Thrissur
- Vyasachalam Sasthavu, Kottayam