Worship of Lord Ayyappa

Swamy Prabhakarananda Saraswathy

Sanatana Dharma widely known as Hinduism is based on 4 Vedas, 4 Sub Vedas, 6 Sastras, 3 Smrities, 2 Idihasa, 18 Puranas, 18 Sub puranas, 9 Dharmashanas, Agamas and Nigamas. Bhagwan Veda Vyas was accepted as our traditional Guru since He divided and edited the sacred Vedas. 'Guru Pournami' is celebrated as Vyasa's Jayanthi among Hindus.

Symbols in our spiritual civilisation have always been powerful representation of the Higher Reality. In our Upanishads we can find many many methods of meditation and other Upasanas which are prescribed to develop the human power of concentration and the line of contemplation by which we can realise the self and escape from Samsara. As the time passed on the human population increased and consequently, the competition for existence and survival became more severe. The methods to express the Infinite Truth without finite objects of the world, became difficult. Thus Idol Worship was adopted, just like the melody carved in stone becomes sculpture and sculpture in melody becomes music. The technical theme of our Upanishads and other Shastras were too subtle for the average man in the society to understand, or follow. Thus Idol Worship and temple culture were developed and for centuries these Temples and common worship of the deities held our Hindu society together, providing a common bond of love and devotion, creating among them a great sense of pride and brotherhood. Worship of Lord Ayyappa is considered as the best in this Kaliyuga of the 7th Manwanthara.

The consciousness as spark of existence in living beings, is the one Eternal Reality which is the sub stratum of the entire cosmos as well. This Supreme Reality, which pervades the microcosm and macrocosm in called Dharmasastha, the combination of Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu indicating static and dynamic. The incarnation of Dharamsastha as Lord Ayyappa (Brahmachari) is the theory behind the Holy Temple at Sabarimala. The Holy 18 Steps represent the truth value of our Sanathana Dharma. May Lord Ayyappa bless us all

Reproduced from `Sree Ayyappa' magazine, Makara Vilakku Special Year 2001.

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