Ambalappathi
Encyclopedia
Ambala Pathi also called as Pallathu pathi or Moolakunda pathi is one of the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi
, and the second important pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar
is said to have unified all divine power into himself by symbolic marriages.
According to Ayyavazhi legends, Ayya Vaikundar an incarnation of god, as per the instruction in Vinchai by Narayana
unified six female deities into himself in various forms such as Siva
, Brahma
etc. Because of this events this Pathi
obtain religious importance next to Swamithope pathi
. Before this Pathi there existed a Kali
temple at the very spot. It was changed by Ayya into a Pathi.
Akilam gives, though not more than but almost an equal status and importance for Ambalappathi with Swamithope pathi
.
and carried the Great Tavam
and other incarnational activities. Before, during the Vinchai
Vaikundar promised to Narayana
that he will go to Ambalappathi after completing the incarnational activities in Swamithope
. Narayana sensed that it's time for that. But he also felt that he had no right to order Vaikundar directly. So Narayan decided to remain this indirectly to Vaikundar. For that, he ordered Samala devi to take away two of the Seven Virgins. When two of them died, the whole mass of people shocked and assembled before Vaikundar.
A man in the midst of the crowd stood up and told about the dream he felt a few days before. As per the dream, Narayana told , "Vaikundar had forgotten the work which was given by me; His duty of destroying the Kali has been forgotten by him because of his joyful climate with the virgins". Hearing this Vaikundar proceeded towards Ambalappathi.
He stayed at Pallam
near Manakkudy for two years for completing the incarnational activities. This place is called as Ambalappathi. Ayya Vaikundar was a Shiva-sorub (taking the form of Siva
) at this place. As a Shiva-sorubi, Ayya assumed the powers of Parvathi and Bhagavathi. As Muruga, he assumed the powers of Valli
and Dheivanai. As Brahma
, he also assumed the powers of Madaikattal. It was from this place that the devotees took Ayya on horseback to such villages as Kadambankulam
and Pambankulam. Ayya established Nizhal Thangal
s in these villages. Later, at the end of the second year, Ayya Vaikundar returned to Swamithoppe.
and Kali
temple where the Ambalappathi is located now. To conduct pooja in ths temple this, Letchumanan Potthi use to come daily to this temple. At that time Ayya in the form of a mendicant, sit beneath a Pipal
tree, pretend to be a newcomer and use to collect information about this temple with Latchumanan Potthi. Then he asked Latchumanan Potthi to open the temple. Hearing this Latchumanan Potthi asked five panam (a then currency) to open, and five Panam to close; so totally ten panam to show the deity. Ayya replied, "If the one who present inside is my sister, then the door will open itself." The door opened immediately, and Ayya
went inside.
Then after when Ayya asked some water to Latchumanan potthi to drink. Potthi answered that it was hard to fetch water in that jungle. Hearing this Ayya pointed the Perambu (cane) to a spot there and asked Potthi to dig. When he do so water squeezed from the earth. It was this the present Muthirikkinaru of Ambalappathi.
Then for some days Ayya stayed there and performed several miracles beneath a Pipal tree there. After, Latchumanan Potthi donated that land to Ayya.
and conducted daily Panividai. Now, this Pathi is managed by the descendants of the people who constructed the Pathi. Every year Kodiyettru Thirunal
including Car festivals are conducted in this Pathi. There are many Vahanas to carry Ayya Vaikundar around the Pathi. It lies 8 kilometers south-east to Nagercoil
, the capital of Kanyakumari district
and 11 kilometers west to Kanyakumari, the southern tip of the Indian sub-continent. It also lies half a way between the towns of Rajakkamangalam
and Kanyakumari on the Western Costal Road. There is a direct bus service from Nagercoil to this Pathi. Ambala Pathi is located at 8.05°N 77.27°E
Since Ayya Vaikundar unified all the different divine powers into himself and revealed his supremacy here in Ambala Pathi, this is one of the most important Pilgrim centers for Ayyavazhi people, next to Swamithoppe. Akilam the primary scripture of Ayyavazhi
, gives though not a greater, but an equal status for Ambalappathi with Swamithope pathi
. This Pathi is also called Pallathu pathi and Mulakunda pathi.
of Ambalappathi is said to be constructed during the period of Ayya. It was surrounded by the inner corridor. This inner corridor is called Tatuva Kottagai and it earn its name from its unique architecture planning. It was a tiled roof structure and is designed that 96 wooden beams starting from the end of the corridor and confluences into a single wooden pot mounted at the center of the roof, which symbolises the 96 Tatvas
of the human body. There is no other external support for this roof other that the four walls of the corridor.
In front of this inner corridor, there is a hall in which the prayers are conducted. The Vahana purai is in the left and the Unpan purai is located right to the central hall. Vadakku vaasal, the northern entrance is located on the right of the Palliyarai. And the Sivaye medai is located left to the central prayer hall. The Flag mast is placed in front of the prayer hall. The outer corridor is constructed enclosing all these. The Thear mandapam, which houses the temple car
is located 100 feet east to the prayer hall.
The Muthirikkinaru is located 50 meters north-eastern corrnor of the Pathi
. Near this well there is a separate monument constructed similar to Hindu architecture near the pipal tree, which is believed to be the place where Ayya use to rest as per a legendary. But this structure doesn't include any images or idols of god-heads of Hinduism
. But constitutes only the images of Ayyavazhi symbols. The Four-car street surrounds the whole of the Pathi, excluding Muthirikkinaru.
s.
The Kodiyettru Thirunal
in Ambalappathi is conducted during the Tamil
month of Aippsi (October/November). Ayya Vaikunda Avataram
is also celebrated in a grand scale in Ambalappathi. The Thiru Edu Vasippu, the festival during which Akilam is read melodiously, is also Conducted.
Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi is a dharmic belief system that originated in South India in the 19th century. It is cited as an independent monistic religion by several newspapers, government reports and academic researchers. In Indian censuses, however, the majority of its followers declare themselves as Hindus...
, and the second important pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar
Ayya Vaikundar
Ayya Vaikundar , according to Akilattirattu Ammanai , a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was a Manu Avatar of Narayana, incarnated as Muthukutty or Mudisoodum Perumal, a Nadar of Swamithoppe, Tamil Nadu Ayya Vaikundar , according to Akilattirattu Ammanai (or Akilam), a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was...
is said to have unified all divine power into himself by symbolic marriages.
According to Ayyavazhi legends, Ayya Vaikundar an incarnation of god, as per the instruction in Vinchai by Narayana
Vinchai to Vaikundar
In the literature of Hinduism, Vinchai are proclamations and instructions to the newly born child Vaikundar, by his father Narayana, also known as Vishnu, one of the three godheads in Akilattirattu Ammanai, the source of Ayyavazhi mythology...
unified six female deities into himself in various forms such as Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
etc. Because of this events this Pathi
Pathi
Pathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...
obtain religious importance next to Swamithope pathi
Swamithope Pathi
Swamithoppe Pathi , Swamithoppu-pathi, Manavai-pathi, Thamarai-pathi or Thalaimaippathi [Thalaimai + pathi] is the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, the head of all Worship centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar is said to have performed the Tavam...
. Before this Pathi there existed a Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
temple at the very spot. It was changed by Ayya into a Pathi.
Akilam gives, though not more than but almost an equal status and importance for Ambalappathi with Swamithope pathi
Swamithope Pathi
Swamithoppe Pathi , Swamithoppu-pathi, Manavai-pathi, Thamarai-pathi or Thalaimaippathi [Thalaimai + pathi] is the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, the head of all Worship centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar is said to have performed the Tavam...
.
History
Vaikundar after incarnating from the sea came to DetchanamDetchanam
Detchanam literally means south or the land of south. It is also used to represent the Deccan Plateau and south India. In Akilattirattu Ammanai the word Detchanam represents the land of South India with Swamithoppe as its centre, and including a vast area of land, south-east to Kanyakumari....
and carried the Great Tavam
Tavam of Vaikundar
According to Akilattirattu Ammanai, For ten months, Ayya Vaikundar revealed to the people all about the past, present, and future in the form of songs. He sang definitively about the future. Some of those who heard him, took his words as meaningless mutterings...
and other incarnational activities. Before, during the Vinchai
Vinchai to Vaikundar
In the literature of Hinduism, Vinchai are proclamations and instructions to the newly born child Vaikundar, by his father Narayana, also known as Vishnu, one of the three godheads in Akilattirattu Ammanai, the source of Ayyavazhi mythology...
Vaikundar promised to Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
that he will go to Ambalappathi after completing the incarnational activities in Swamithope
Swamithope
Swamithope is the name of a town that lies southeast of the City of Nagercoil, the capital of the District of Kanyakumari in the State of Tamil Nadu, at the extreme southern tip of India...
. Narayana sensed that it's time for that. But he also felt that he had no right to order Vaikundar directly. So Narayan decided to remain this indirectly to Vaikundar. For that, he ordered Samala devi to take away two of the Seven Virgins. When two of them died, the whole mass of people shocked and assembled before Vaikundar.
A man in the midst of the crowd stood up and told about the dream he felt a few days before. As per the dream, Narayana told , "Vaikundar had forgotten the work which was given by me; His duty of destroying the Kali has been forgotten by him because of his joyful climate with the virgins". Hearing this Vaikundar proceeded towards Ambalappathi.
He stayed at Pallam
Pallam
Pallam , is a small village in the Kottayam district of Kerala state, south India. It is near Kottayam town.-Religion:The village has a mix of predominantly Hindu and Christian residents....
near Manakkudy for two years for completing the incarnational activities. This place is called as Ambalappathi. Ayya Vaikundar was a Shiva-sorub (taking the form of Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
) at this place. As a Shiva-sorubi, Ayya assumed the powers of Parvathi and Bhagavathi. As Muruga, he assumed the powers of Valli
Valli
Valli is a Goddess and the divine consort of the prominent Hindu God Murugan, according to Hindu mythology. She represents the "Ichha Shakti" , and Goddess Deivayanai depicts "Kriya Shakthi" , and the Vel embodies "Gnana Shakthi" .Valli in Tamil language means a creeper and is also used as a title...
and Dheivanai. As Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
, he also assumed the powers of Madaikattal. It was from this place that the devotees took Ayya on horseback to such villages as Kadambankulam
Kadambankulam
Kadambankulam is a small village in the Radhapuram taluk of Tirunelveli District. It is 7 km from Vallioor. Kadambankulam, a hamlet in the extreme south of Vallioor, covers an area of 30 km2. As the major occupation of the villagers is agriculture, around 60% of the area is covered by...
and Pambankulam. Ayya established Nizhal Thangal
Nizhal Thangal
Nizhal Thangal are secondary worship places of the Ayyavazhi, often smaller in size compared to Pathis, built per the instructions of Akilattirattu Ammanai...
s in these villages. Later, at the end of the second year, Ayya Vaikundar returned to Swamithoppe.
Legendary
The former name of Ambalappathi was Kurali Vadalivilai, and the land is owned by Latchumanan Potthi. Once there was SivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
temple where the Ambalappathi is located now. To conduct pooja in ths temple this, Letchumanan Potthi use to come daily to this temple. At that time Ayya in the form of a mendicant, sit beneath a Pipal
Sacred Fig
The Sacred Fig, Ficus religiosa, or Bo-Tree , Peepal is a species of banyan fig native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, southwest China and Indochina...
tree, pretend to be a newcomer and use to collect information about this temple with Latchumanan Potthi. Then he asked Latchumanan Potthi to open the temple. Hearing this Latchumanan Potthi asked five panam (a then currency) to open, and five Panam to close; so totally ten panam to show the deity. Ayya replied, "If the one who present inside is my sister, then the door will open itself." The door opened immediately, and Ayya
Ayya
Ayya is a Pali word, translated as "honourable" or "worthy."It is most commonly used as a veneration in addressing or referring to an ordained female Buddhist monk, most often of the Theravadan tradition in southeast Asia...
went inside.
Then after when Ayya asked some water to Latchumanan potthi to drink. Potthi answered that it was hard to fetch water in that jungle. Hearing this Ayya pointed the Perambu (cane) to a spot there and asked Potthi to dig. When he do so water squeezed from the earth. It was this the present Muthirikkinaru of Ambalappathi.
Then for some days Ayya stayed there and performed several miracles beneath a Pipal tree there. After, Latchumanan Potthi donated that land to Ayya.
Location and Religious status
Later, on this very spot the followers of Ayya constructed a PathiPathi
Pathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...
and conducted daily Panividai. Now, this Pathi is managed by the descendants of the people who constructed the Pathi. Every year Kodiyettru Thirunal
Kodiyettru Thirunal
Kodiyettru Thirunal is the festival celebrated in Swamithoppepathi for eleven days by the followers of the Ayyavazhi. This is celebrated three times annually during the Tamil months of Aavani, Thai and Vaikaasi. The festival for the month of Vaikasi is considered the most sacred and is celebrated...
including Car festivals are conducted in this Pathi. There are many Vahanas to carry Ayya Vaikundar around the Pathi. It lies 8 kilometers south-east to Nagercoil
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...
, the capital of Kanyakumari district
Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
and 11 kilometers west to Kanyakumari, the southern tip of the Indian sub-continent. It also lies half a way between the towns of Rajakkamangalam
Rajakkamangalam
Rajakkamangalam is a block or Panchayat Union of Kanyakumari district, India. It is one among the nine administrative divisions of the district of Kanyakumari. The present President of the Rajakkamangalam Panchayat is T. Vajila...
and Kanyakumari on the Western Costal Road. There is a direct bus service from Nagercoil to this Pathi. Ambala Pathi is located at 8.05°N 77.27°E
Since Ayya Vaikundar unified all the different divine powers into himself and revealed his supremacy here in Ambala Pathi, this is one of the most important Pilgrim centers for Ayyavazhi people, next to Swamithoppe. Akilam the primary scripture of Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi is a dharmic belief system that originated in South India in the 19th century. It is cited as an independent monistic religion by several newspapers, government reports and academic researchers. In Indian censuses, however, the majority of its followers declare themselves as Hindus...
, gives though not a greater, but an equal status for Ambalappathi with Swamithope pathi
Swamithope Pathi
Swamithoppe Pathi , Swamithoppu-pathi, Manavai-pathi, Thamarai-pathi or Thalaimaippathi [Thalaimai + pathi] is the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, the head of all Worship centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar is said to have performed the Tavam...
. This Pathi is also called Pallathu pathi and Mulakunda pathi.
Architecture and Structure
The PalliyaraiPalliyarai
Palliyarai+is a Tamil word used for the Sanctum Sanctoram in Hindu temples. It generally means the place for divine resting and is considered very holy by the Hindus...
of Ambalappathi is said to be constructed during the period of Ayya. It was surrounded by the inner corridor. This inner corridor is called Tatuva Kottagai and it earn its name from its unique architecture planning. It was a tiled roof structure and is designed that 96 wooden beams starting from the end of the corridor and confluences into a single wooden pot mounted at the center of the roof, which symbolises the 96 Tatvas
Tatvas
Tatvas are the 96 qualities or properties of human body according to Akilattirattu Ammanai, the religious book of Ayyavazhi. They are as follows:-Gnanendriya - 5:The organs of sense#The eye - the organ of sight having visible formes as its object....
of the human body. There is no other external support for this roof other that the four walls of the corridor.
In front of this inner corridor, there is a hall in which the prayers are conducted. The Vahana purai is in the left and the Unpan purai is located right to the central hall. Vadakku vaasal, the northern entrance is located on the right of the Palliyarai. And the Sivaye medai is located left to the central prayer hall. The Flag mast is placed in front of the prayer hall. The outer corridor is constructed enclosing all these. The Thear mandapam, which houses the temple car
Temple car
Temple cars are chariots used to carry representations of Hindu gods. The car is usually used on festival days, when many people pull the cart....
is located 100 feet east to the prayer hall.
The Muthirikkinaru is located 50 meters north-eastern corrnor of the Pathi
Pathi
Pathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...
. Near this well there is a separate monument constructed similar to Hindu architecture near the pipal tree, which is believed to be the place where Ayya use to rest as per a legendary. But this structure doesn't include any images or idols of god-heads of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
. But constitutes only the images of Ayyavazhi symbols. The Four-car street surrounds the whole of the Pathi, excluding Muthirikkinaru.
Prayers and Festivals
Though the Panivdais are conducted thrice a day the special panividais are on every tues days. Every Tuesdays are considered as a festival day here in Ambalappathi. The Akilam is read during these festival days. At the end the Vahanam eduppu is conducted. And the festival closes with Anna DharmamAnna Dharmam
Anna Dharmam is a term used for an Ayyavazhi ritual that involves sharing food without inter-dining. Inter-dining refers to the act of dining within ones own caste, and excluding others. The practice of Anna Dharmam may have emerged in association with inter-dining.-Origin:Inter-dining was an...
s.
The Kodiyettru Thirunal
Kodiyettru Thirunal
Kodiyettru Thirunal is the festival celebrated in Swamithoppepathi for eleven days by the followers of the Ayyavazhi. This is celebrated three times annually during the Tamil months of Aavani, Thai and Vaikaasi. The festival for the month of Vaikasi is considered the most sacred and is celebrated...
in Ambalappathi is conducted during the Tamil
Tamil calendar
The Tamil calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Tamil Nadu. It is also used in Pondicherry , and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. It is also used by Telugu speaking people in Tamil Nadu...
month of Aippsi (October/November). Ayya Vaikunda Avataram
Ayya Vaikunda Avataram
The Ayya Vaikunda Avataram is a festival celebrated by the followers of Ayyavazhi on the 20th day of the Tamil Month of Masi, the date on which the Ayyavazhi followers believe that Lord Vaikundar arose from the sea at Thiruchendur as the son of Mummorthies to destroy the evil spirit of Kali and...
is also celebrated in a grand scale in Ambalappathi. The Thiru Edu Vasippu, the festival during which Akilam is read melodiously, is also Conducted.