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| .SABARIMALA
FEST |
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Lord
Ayyappan's Sannithanam
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View
of Sannithanam
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Sannithanam
- back side
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| History |
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The
descedants of Pandya dynasty discarded by Thirumala Naicker
Diwan of Raja Vijayanagar, who was then ruling the Pandya
Kingdom, comprising of Madurai, Tirunelveli, Ramananthapuram,
were living scattered in places like Valliyur, Tenkasi, Shengottah
Achankovil and Sivagiri. At that time, Pandiyas were ruling
in many parts of Travancore and the descendants of Pandiya
dynasty belonging to Chempazhanattu Kovil, living in Sivagiri
were given the right to rule the country of Pandalam,the King
of Travancore eight hundred years ago. King Rajasekara was
the direct descendant of this dynasty.
King Rajasekara was very talented, courageous and just in
his deed, People were living happily and prosperously in his
regime. However, the king was very unhappy that he had no
children and his subjects were also worried that he had no
heir to inherit his kingdom. At the request of the queen,
both of them used to pray to Lord Shiva for blessing them
with a child.
Mahishasuran, Son of Ramban, undertook a severe penance towards
God. Lord Brahma tried every tactics to stop his penance,
but having failed in his attempts, appeared before the Asura
and asked what boon he wanted, from him. Mahishasuran asked
Lord to give him a boon by which nobody in the earth would
be able to kill him, and Lord conferred the Boon on him. Mahishasuran,
armed with his boon, began to commit atrocities and murders
on the earth and terrorised people. Fearing his wrath, people
ran away to far away places.
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SWAMY
SARANAM !!
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The
Devas seeing the atrocities committed by Mahishasuran came to the
conclusion that only a divine power could kill him and approached
Chandikadevi pleading to put an end to Mahishasura who was misusing
the boon given by Lord Chandikadevi set out on her mission and killed
Mahishasura in a duel, on earth.
Mahishi daughter of Karamba, brother of Ramban undertook a severe
penance towards god in order to take revenge on the Devas, who were
responsible for the death of her brother. Lord Brahma appeared and
offered to confer on Mahishi any boon expect that of immortality.
Mahishi asked Lord to bless her with a boon by which nobody, except
the son created out of the union of Shiv (Hari) and Vishnu (Haran),
would be able to kill her. Lord Brahma gave the boon and Mahishi
went to Devaloka and started harassing the Devas.
The Devas incurred the wrath of Durvasa Muni who cursed them to
go grey. On the advice of Lord Mahavishnu that this curse could
be removed only by administering Amrutham taken from Palazhi,the
devas took it from the Palazhi,but the Asuras snatched it from them.
Lord Mahavishnu in the disguise of Mohini went to the Asuras and
got back the Amrutham and restored it to the Devas. Lord Shiva,
when went to see Lord Mahavishnu who was in the disguise of a Mohini
succumbed to her beauty and out of their union, was born a child.
Lord Shiva adorned the Child's neck with a golden chain and ordered
that the child be entrusted to the care of his childless disciple,
king Rajasekara of Pandalam.
One day King Rajasekara went for hunting in the forest adjoining
the banks of River Pampa, along with his men. He started hunting
courageously in the dense forest which was a sanctuary for many
wild animals. After that hunting was over, King Rajasekara advised
his men to take rest and sat there entertaining himself with the
sight of the natural greenish beauty and the water-falls, of the
forest.
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At
that time, he heard a child crying from somewhere in the forest.
Surprised, he went round and reached the banks of River Pampa.
There he saw a beautiful and bright-lit child kicking its
legs and cryingout, and was in a dilemma whether to take the
child to the Palace or leave it there itself. While the King
was engrossed in his thoughts, a Sanyasi appeared before him
and told the King that he need not be afraid of the child
and take him to the Palace and that the child belonged to
Kshatriya dynasty capable of mitigating all sufferings.
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Agni
Kundam
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Appachi
Medu
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The Sanyasi further stated that since the Child had a gold
chain around his neck, his name be called "MANIKANDAN" and
when the child completed twelve years, the King would know
his divine history. After uttering these words, the Sanyasi
disappeared.
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Baspakulam
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Karimalai
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Karimalai
Well
(Pond created by Manikanda)
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The
King of Pandalam was very joyous; he took the child to his Palace
and briefed the Queen about the incident. The King and the Queen,
having prayed to Lord Shiva,for a child, were very happy that they
had been blessed with a child. The people also felt happy that a
heir to inherit the Kingdom after the King, has been found. However,
the Diwan of the Kingdom who was thinking that he would be the next
crown after Rajasekara was worried.
When the child, named Manikandan began to grow in the Palace, everything
began to prosper in kingdom. He was taught all martial arts and
sastras and the Guru was surprised at his brilliance and agility
and the extraordinary talents. The Guru came to the conclusion that
he was not an ordinary child, but a divine power. After completing
his education under the Guru, Manikandan approached the Guru to
offer his Guru Dakshina.
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