AYYAPPAN know as AYYAN Hisyory
AYYAPPAN know as AYYAN Hisyory
Ayyappan know as Ayyan who had a place with the Vellalar Kulam, was the military head of the Pandalam regal family. He lived with his uncle Perisseri Pillai of Erumeli, Kottayam dist, Kerala. This was around ten ages back.
Ayyan was instrumental in the thrashing of Udayanan, who assaulted Sabarimala and attempted to wreck the old Sastha sanctuary in the thick backwoods of present Pathanamthitta area.
In the interim, the Royal group of King Pandya had moved from Tamilnadu around 800 years back. Sabarimala with the help of Ayyan, Vavar, a Muslim youth from Kanjirappally, Kadutha, a Nair youth from Muzhukeer, Chenganoor, Alapuzha dist.
During a conflict, Ayyappan got murdered. His uncle, Perissery Pillai, built the Kochampalam - an old little Sastha sanctuary - at Erumeli, inverse the Vavar Pally, developed by Muslims in memory of Vavar Swamy.
After the destruction of Ayyappan individuals felt that he was the avathar of Lord Sastha and started to revere him. Later Ayyappan and Sastha moved toward becoming synonymous. Ayyappan was the child of a Nalankal Krishna Pillai in his book Mahashekthrangalkkumunpil states that Brahmins never had the name Ayyappan or Ayyan.
Ayyan had an area with "Vellalar kulam, Near Erumeli, Kottayam, Kerala. . In a similar compound there is a multi-year old, covered, exhausted, mud house, the place of Perissery Pillai, Ayyappan's uncle and the Vellal Chieftain of Erumeli. There even today one can see the antiquated sword utilized by Ayyappan to kill the immense Eruma-mahisham. Where the eruma was executed turned out to be Erumakolly and later Erumeli.
Sabarimala pilgrims, Ayyappans, direct the Erumeli Pettaithullal This is to commemorate the killing of mahisham by Ayyan and is celebrated during the long stretch of December-January consistently. Pillai is basic name among vellalas of Kottayam, Alapuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Ernakulam areas of Kerala. Various Ayyappan kovils were built by Vellalas who moved from Tamilnadu to Kerala, for example, Erumeli, Kanam and so forth.
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ARTHUNKAL VELUTHACHAN AND LORD AYYAPPAN
ReplyDeleteIn the early 17th century under the leadership of Ayyappan the Pandyan prince of Pandalam people of diverse ethnicities and religions joined together and defeated the Naicker army. Thirumalai Naicker of Madurai had sent a plundering army led by Udayanan a Maravar chieftain and a robber in 1623 AD. Udayanan and his army were defeated and killed after 17 years of struggle.
ARTHUNKAL CHURCH
St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal is situated at Arthunkal at Cherthala in Kerala at a seashore, facing Arabian sea. Arthunkal Church was built in the Portuguese period in the early sixteenth century. It was rebuilt in 1584 by an Italian Jesuit priest called Vicar Jacomo Fenicio. Devotees called him "Arthunkal Veluthachan". Rev. Fr. Giacomo Fenicio (1558 AD - 1632 AD), was the first european missionary to study Hinduism to write articles and books about Hinduism in Latin. He was also interested in Hindu culture and Kalarippayattu which he learned from Cheerappanchira Panickers.
ARTHUNKAL VELUTHACHAN
When the Arthunkal Veluthachan was Vicar of the Arthunkal church the Latin Catholics of Cherthala had also joined the war against Udayanan. Arthunkal Vezhuthachan is also famed to have been trained in the famed Cheerappanchira Kalari in Muhamma. Arthunkal Veluthachan and his Latin Catholics were believed to be supporters of Lord Ayyappan. But when the events happened in the Thirumala Naicker's period ie between 1623 to 1659 AD, Arthunkal Veluthachan could have been quite elderly. Arthunkal Veluthachan expired in 1632 AD.
Lord Ayyappan was an youngman during the life time of Arthungal Veluthachan who died in 1632 AD. So the war with Udayanan fought by Lord Ayyappa, could have happened in the period between 1632 AD to 1640 period. Oral traditions say that Udayanan was killed seventeen years after the Naicker invasion.
St.SEBASTIANS STATUE
When St.Sebastian's statue was installed in 1747 AD many local devotees started calling the idol Veluthachan too.
ALANGAD YOGAM
But legends say that Ayyappa Swamy accompanied by Arthungal Velutha in the presence of the chieftain of Alangad , Njalur Kartha, Kampilly Panikkar and Mullappilly Nair, addressed the Alangad warriors at the banks of Periar in Aluva. Kampilly Panicker was the first person to chant 'Saranam Ayyappa" while ascending the hilly terrain at Erumely. He also was the first Velichappadu or Oracle. Kampilly is a place close to Alangadu left of Paroorkavala in Aluva.
AMBALAPUZHA YOGAM
Ambalapuzha is near the ancient Pandyan port city Purakkadu. In ancient times all the areas south of Vembanad backwaters were under the Pandyan dynasty. Pliny who visited Musiris in 77 AD had been persuaded by the locals to buy pepper at Barace-Purakkad a city ruled by King Pandion of Modura.
A an army Panickers started from here to join the Ayyappan army which was commanded by Vavar at Erumely. Each year to commemorate that event a Sacred ritualistic dance called Petta Thullal is performed by the devotees of Ambalapuzha Yogam at Erumely.
ARTHUNKAL VELUTHACHAN AND LORD AYYAPPAN
ReplyDeletePANDIAN EXILE
It is generally believed that during the rule of Thirumala Naicker (1723 to 1759 AD) came to power he exiled all the Pandyan families from Madurai. Some settled at Kallidaikurichi and Ambasamudram in the Venad. But the Pandyan families settled down at Poonjar and Pandalam might have migrated earlier around 1610 AD. It is because Ayyappan born to Pandyan princess Mayadevi, was an youngnan during the life time of Arthungal Veluthachan who died in 1632. That is why Pandyan migration to Pandalam might have occurred around 1610 AD.
PANICKARS
The Panickars were martial art trainers who trained soldiers for war. Each Panickar maintained a small army. With that army they had supported Chera dynasty and related Pandyan dynasty. Panickars were subgroups of Tamil Villavar people. But after the invasion of Malik Kafur in 1310 AD, and the defeat of Pandyan dynasty Tulu matriarchal kingdoms had been established in Kerala in 1335 AD. After that Kerala was ruled by Samantha Kshatriyas, Tulu Brahmin Nambudiris and Nairs. In this period many Panickers left Kerala. Some went to Srilanka. Some joined Ezhavas, others to Portuguese army and later to Syrian Christians.
CHEERAPPANCHIRA PANICKAR
In Muhamma in the Cherthala, the Cheerappanchira Kalari was situated. Cheerappanchira Panickars had joined Ezhavas. In this Cheerappanchira Kalari Jesuit priest Fr. Jacomo Fenicio, Arthunkal Veluthachan was trained in Kalaripayattu. Arthunkal Church was about ten kilometre away from Cherappanchira Kalari. Ayyappan was trained in martial arts in the Cheerappanchira Kalari. The next Cheerappanchira Panickar's daughter Lalitha was known as Malihappurathamma in the laterdays.
PANDYAN TERRITORIES
In the 17th century though central Kerala was ruled by Matriarchal Tulu rulers many Panickars from Alangad, Ambalapuzha and along the banks of Periar were still were loyal to Pandyans of Pandalam. Pandyans territories at the central Kerala were Pandalam, Mavelikkara and Kanjirappally area. And this Pandiyan territory was known as Keralasingha Valanadu in the Pandian records.
Pandian Principalities in Kerala
1. Maranadu Kollam
2. Pandalam
3. Ambalapuzha-Purakkad
4. Niranam-Kottayam
5. Alangadu
NAICKER ATTACK
Thirumala Naickar sent a Marava chieftain called Udayanan who was a robber with a Maravappada to Kerala sometime between 1623 to 1630 AD against Kerala Pandyans. Udayanan built a fort in Karimala near munnar. Udayanan started pillaging the nearby places. Udayanan kidnapped the Pandyan princess Mayadevi butShe was rescued. But only after many years Udayanan was defeated and killed. The fear of Naickar invasion resulted in the unification of people of diverse origins against Udayanan.
RESCUE OF PANDYAN PRINCESS
Pandyan king with the help of Cheerappanchira Panickar rescued his sister but sent her to stay at Cheerappanchira Tharavad house for safety. One view was that Pandyan princess had been married to Cheerappanchira Panickar's nephew. And the son born to them was lord Ayyappan.
The Alangad Yogam which was also a Panicker Kalary was also considered as Pithrustanam, Father's place of Lord Ayyappa. Cheerappanchira Panicker's sister's husband might belong to Alangad Panicker family. Normally Panicker were martial nobility who served Villavar dynasties and they were not allowed to marry princesses because of their relatively lower status. But in the seventeenth century Pandyan dynasty itself were fugitives in Kerala and they had relied on Panicker armies for defence.
ARTHUNKAL VELUTHACHAN AND LORD AYYAPPAN
ReplyDeleteVAVAR PALLI
Ayyappan's close friend Vavar was the son of Pathumma and Seythali. Erumeli Nainar Juma Masjid in Kerala’s Kottayam district is routinely visited by Lord Ayyappa pilgrims. This mosque is considered to be the mosque of Vavar. They dont enter the prayer hall of the Mosque but circumambulate the mosque and space provided for resting. The pilgrims are allowed to break coconut and pray here and put Kanika, offerings.
There is another place of worship in Sabarimala called Vavarnada where there is no statue of Vavar but a carved granite slab and an old sword are only there. A Muslim priest conducts daily prayers as Vavar was a Muslim. Here also Ayappa devotees pray. Every year Chandanakudam festival is conducted as a prelude to the ceremonial dance called Pettathullal. Erumeli Nainar Juma Masjid was rebuilt by a Hindu architect called Gopalakrishnan in the 1970s.
MANIKANDAN
Manikandan belonged to Mala Arayar clan. Mala Arayars claim that manikandan was the son of Karimala Arayan Kandan and and his wife Karuthamma. Manikandan had protected the Pandiyan king when he arrived around 1610s from robbers. Manikandan rescued Pandiyan princess Mayavathi from Udayanan. Mala Arayars built a shrine for Manikandan and worshipped him. In the laterdays Ayyappan was considered an incarnation of Manikandan, and was worshipped by Mala Arayar.
Manikandan defeated Udayanan with the help armies of diverse ethnicities around 1623 AD. The armies led by Manikandan Pandipada, Alangattupada, Ambalapuzhapada, Cheerappanchirapada, Mallan, Villan,Valyakadutha, Kochukaditha,Vavar, Nasranis including Arthungal Veluthachan (Jacomo Fenicio, an Italian Jesuit priest) etc
VALIYA KADUTHA SWAMY
A small shrine dedicated to Valiya Kadutha Swamy an attendant of Ayyappan is situated near the left side of the holy steps. Valiya Kadutha was a Mala Arayar tribal leader who led the Mala Arayar armies against the Naicker army.
MALA ARAYAR
Mala Araiyar might be related to Malaiyar clan one of the three major Villavar tribes which supported Chera Dynasty. The Mala Arayar who had been the main supporters of Lord Ayyappan continued to be the priests and owners of the Lord Ayyappan temple until 1904 AD. Presence of Mala Arayars was one of the reason for the survival of the syncretic faith and religeous tolerance to twentieth century.
Mala Arayars were evicted from their lands by the Pandalam Nambuthiri Pandyan kings in the 1800s. Mala Araiyars were evicted from Sabarimala and also seventeen hills around Sabarimala. Mala Arayars were forced to carry Cardamom from hills to plains without wages. In 1856 AD Mala Arayars revolted against and attacked the Nair government officials.
MALA ARAYAR'S CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY
The harassment of Mala Arayars led to their religeous conversion to Christianity, in the nineteenth century. About half of Mala Arayars converted to Christianity. CMS Missionary Father Henry Baker worked among them between 1840 to 1862 AD. Father. Henry Baker, wrote a book called Hill Arrians of Travancore. In 1879 there were about 2000 christian converts among Mala Arayar.
DRAVIDIAN STYLE WORSHIP
Mala Arayar priests had conducted Dravidiyan style worship at Sabarimala Ayyappan temple until 1904 AD. Their main form of worship was abulation with honey and abulation with ghee. Until recently the "Thenabhishekam" worship of Mala Araiyars was allowed. Before few decades, the Thantris stopped this form of worship.
ARTHUNKAL VELUTHACHAN AND LORD AYYAPPAN
ReplyDeleteTHAZHAMON THANTRI FAMILY
In 1904 Travancore king appointed a family of telugu brahmins who came from Andhrapradesh as priests, who were settled down at Chengannoor. This family called Thazhamon family of Thantris have been having hereditary rights to be priests at Sabarimala since 1904 AD.
Even after independence no other priestly families were allowed to work as Thantris in Sabarimala. After this period Mala Arayars were sidelined. Cheerappanchira Panickers were ignored.
BRAHMIN SUPREMACY
Sabarimala Temple came under the Nambuthiri Pandyans and Telugu Brahmin Thazhamon Thantri family completely. The Tantris of Thazha Mon Madom now claim that they got the title Tantri of the Sabarimala temple from Parasurama Maharshi in 100 BC. That means that 1700 years before Lord Ayyapan's birth Thazhamon Thantris became priests of Sabarimala temple.
DRAVIDIAN ROOTS OF PANDIYAN DYNASTY
Original Pandyans were Dravidian Tamil Villavar rulers. Villavar kings were supported by Villavar, Malayar, Vanavar and Meenavar clans. Panickars and Enathy commanders led the Pandyan armies.
Nambuthiri Pandyan dynasty belonging to Bhargavakulam which pretends to be Pandyans are neither Dravidian Villavar nor Tamils. Nambuthiri Pandyans are not ethnically related to Pandalam Pandyan dynasty.
TULU-NEPALESE INVADERS
Tamil Villavars founded Chera,Chola,Pandyan dynasties which ruled Kerala and Tamilnadu from prehistory. Tulu kings who were enemies of Tamil kingdoms allied with Arabs and Turks. Arabs who were a major sea power in the 12th century wanted to establish a major settlement in Malabar.
Tulu kings were defended by a Nepalese army of Nairs with roots from Ahichatram. Nambuthiris were also Tulu brahmins with Ahichatram roots who migrated to Karnataka in 345 AD during the reign of Kadamba king Mayura Varma.
In 1120 AD a Tulu invader called Banapperumal (Banuvikrama Kulasekharapperumal) attacked Kerala with Arab support. Banapperumal invaded Kerala with 350000 numbered Nair army and occupied Malabar(Kasaragod,Kannur,Kozhikode and Malappuram districts) where Arabs established a settlement.
After the Tulu invasion 1120 AD Tulu Samanthas, Nairs and Nambuthiris with Nepalese origins appeared in Northern Kerala. Many Nairs had white complexion but with an yellowish tinge and slightly Mongoloid facial features because of their Nepalese origins. Nairs and Nambuthiris called themselves Savarna.
Nairs and Nambuthiris were Tulu-Nepalese people who were the enemies of Chera and Pandyan kingdoms. After the defeat of Pandyan dynasty in 1310 AD in the war with Malik Kafur who was an invader from Delhi Sultanate all the Tamil Kingdoms came to an end. Villavar were en Masse massacred by Delhi's armies.
Tulu invaders of Malabar ie Samanthar, Nair and Nambuthiris were given overlordship of Kerala by Delhi Sultanate and Malik Kafur. Tulu-Nepalese matriarchal kingdoms were established by Tulu Samanthas and Nambuthiris throughout Kerala in 1335 AD. Tulu-Nepalese matriarchal Savarna dynasties was supported by Arabs and Turks.
Brahmins during Later Chera dynasty period (800 AD to 1120 AD) were known by the following names Pattar, Pattarar, Pattarakar, Pattariyar, Pazharar, Chathirar, Nambi, Uvachar etc. Nambuthiris were never mentioned in any of the Tamil records prior to 1335 AD.
All the earlier Tamil Brahmins disappeared mysteriously after the Malik Kafur's attack in 1310.
Namboothiris claim that Parashurama gave them authority over Kerala.In fact the overlordship of Kerala was given by Malik Kafur to Tuluva Brahmin Nambuthiris and Tulu Samanthas in 1310 AD.This led to the suppression of Dravidian Tamil Villavar dynasties such as Chera and Pandyan dynazties in Kerala. Most of the Dravidian Malayalis had been branded as Avarna by the Aryan-Naga invaders. Nambuthiris were Tulu-Nepalese Brahmins who had been arch enemies of Pandyan dynasty.
ARTHUNKAL VELUTHACHAN AND LORD AYYAPPAN
ReplyDeleteNAMBUTHIRI PANDYAN DYNASTY
Present Pandalam Nambuthiri Pandiyan dynasty belong to Aryan Brahmin Bhargava Kulam, who perform Upanayana ceremony, who are Vegetarians, who never spoke Tamil.
Sabarimala temple and Pandalam Pandiyan kingdom belonged Dravidian Villavar people but their heritage is ignored now.
FIRE ACCIDENT
In 1950 a large fire accident damaged the Sabarimala temple. Ayyappan Idol was damaged by fire.
NEW AYYAPAN IDOL
P. T. Rajan alias Sir Ponnambala Thiaga Rajan who was the Chief minister of Madras presidency in 1936 and also the last Prsident of Justice party gifted the present Panchaloha idol of Lord Ayyappa to the Sabarimala temple, that replaced the old damaged idol. But it is a best kept secret as nobody wants a Dravidian connection to the Sabarimala temple.
PERIOD OF AYYAPPAN LEGEND
The Period of Lord Ayyappan legend starts with Thirumalai Naicker's invasion in 1623 and ends at the installation of marble idol of St.Sebastian in 1647 AD.