Muttappathi
Encyclopedia
Mutta Pathi is one of the Pancha pathi
Pancha pathi
Pancha pathi are the five important pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi. These are also considered as the primary Pathis and as worship centers of Ayyavazhi with primary status. The first pathi is Swamithope pathi itself and is the headquarters of Ayyavazhi...

, which are the primary centers for worship of the Ayyavazhi
Worship centers of Ayyavazhi
The Pathis and Nizhal Thangals, are centers of worship and religious learning for the followers of Ayyavazhi which are established in different parts of India. They served as centres for propagation of the beliefs and practices of Ayyavazhi. There are more than 8000 worship centers throughout...

. This is the third important pilgrim center 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...

. This place earn the religious importance in Akilam from the event that, 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 given two Vinchais here by 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...

 under the Sea; One just before the arrest of Vaikundar by Swathi Thirunal
Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma was the Maharaja of the state of Travancore , in India. He reigned under the regency of his mother Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi from 1813 till 1815 and henceforth under the regency of his aunt Maharani Gowri Parvati Bayi from 1815 till 1829...

 and the second after the completion of Thuvayal Thavasu
Thuvayal Thavasu
Thuvayal Thavasu, literally washing penance, was a significant religious event that took place in the 19th century. It was also called as thuvayal panthi....

.

Also, the is the place where the second phase of Thuvayal Thavasu is carried out by Thuvayal Pandarams after completing it in Vakaippathi
Vakaippathi
Vakaippathi, one among the Panchappathis is a holy site for the People of Ayyavazhi.Vakaippathi is the place situated 4 km northeast to Kanyakumari in the seashore near vattakkotai. This is the place where 700 families from Swamithoppe were sent to Thuvayal Thavasu by Ayya Vaikundar; they were...

 for about six-months. Alongside of Swamithoppe, it attracts a huge amount of devotees annually across southern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

.

Legendary and History

After the Trail with the King of Travancore, Vaikundar reached Swamithoppe and instructed his followers to go for the Thuvayal Thavasu
Thuvayal Thavasu
Thuvayal Thavasu, literally washing penance, was a significant religious event that took place in the 19th century. It was also called as thuvayal panthi....

 at Vakaippathi
Vakaippathi
Vakaippathi, one among the Panchappathis is a holy site for the People of Ayyavazhi.Vakaippathi is the place situated 4 km northeast to Kanyakumari in the seashore near vattakkotai. This is the place where 700 families from Swamithoppe were sent to Thuvayal Thavasu by Ayya Vaikundar; they were...

. As per, 700 families participated in the mass-austrity. They completed a Tavam of six-months. Then as per the instruction of 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...

 in the dream of one of the participants, they all moved to Mutta pathi.

That place was then owned by Siva Loganatha Iyer who worked in the palace of the King of Travancore. God appeared to him in his dream and order him to grant that land to the Thuvayal pandarams. So he went to the spot where he wondered to witness the whole mass of 700 families. He by doubting the geniunity of their Tavam, he asked them that, "If your austrity is true make all the coconuts from these trees to fall off. If so I will give away this land for you people to construct a temple." Hearing this they all pray sincerely towards God facing the Sea. Wonderfully, all the Coconuts fall of before the closure of the prayer. Iyer was moved by witnessing this scene and grant that 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) of land for them.

This Mutta Pathi was the place where Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...

 during the Dwapara Yuga, constructed a fort in order for protecting the Pandavas from the Kauravas and ruled over it. Akilam calls it as 'Muttappathi Nadu' and also treats this place with high Sacrement and importance.

Location and religious status

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...

 is located 14 km 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...

 3 km North to Cape Comorin in the Sea-shore. It was also located 7 km east to 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...

. It also lies half-a-way between the historical Circular fort and the Kanyakumari the Southern tip of the Sub-continent. There is a direct bus service from 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...

 to here. Mutta Pathi is located at 8.05°N 77.33°E

The present construction was established there and was under the direct control of the Payyan dynasty
Payyan dynasty
Payyan dynasty is a family which manage and administer Swamithope pathi, the head quarters of Ayyavazhi. The genesis of Payyan dynasty was a bit uncertain. It was believed to be the descendants of Pothukkutty who was called as Payyan by Ayya Vaikundar...

 and later, due to some litigations, the land was auctioned by the government. Those who got the land in the auction conducted the daily Panividai. Now, their descendants conduct the panividai and administer 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...

 and is managed by a Trust. The sea near this place is called the 'milk-ocean' . Ayyavazhi's
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...

  have a belief that, it is sanctifying to take a holy dip in the sea at Muttapathi.

Regarding religious importance, this Pathi is important next to Ambala Pathi and 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...

, since the second and third Vinchais, which are the important instructions for the incarnational activities of Vaikundar was given by 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...

 from here. Also this center gains additionally the importance that, the Thuvayal thavasu
Thuvayal Thavasu
Thuvayal Thavasu, literally washing penance, was a significant religious event that took place in the 19th century. It was also called as thuvayal panthi....

 was also held here, though the first phase of it was conducted in Vakaippathi
Vakaippathi
Vakaippathi, one among the Panchappathis is a holy site for the People of Ayyavazhi.Vakaippathi is the place situated 4 km northeast to Kanyakumari in the seashore near vattakkotai. This is the place where 700 families from Swamithoppe were sent to Thuvayal Thavasu by Ayya Vaikundar; they were...

. Then it was also important and sacred even before the incarnation of Vaikundar right from the Dwapara Yuga, Since 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...

 as Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...

 ruled this place.

Architecture and Structure

As all other 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...

s, also here in Mutta Pathi, the Palliyarai
Palliyarai
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...

 forms the inner and the central spot of the whole architecture. An inner corridor, which allows the worshippers to circum-ambulate, surrounds the Palliyarai. In front of this inner corridor, there is a hall in which the prayers are conducted. Sivayu Medai is located in the south of Palliyarai and the Vahana Purai (which house Vahanas) in the Far South. The Flag pole is placed some 50 feet (15.2 m) apart from Palliyarai
Palliyarai
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...

. Then the Outer-corridor surrounds all these which allows the worshippers to circum-ambulate the whole 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...

.

Prayers and Festivals

Though the Panividais are conducted thrice a day the special panividais are on every Sundays. The Kodiyetru thirunal is celebrated here 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 Panguni starting from the second Friday of Panguni and last for eleven days. The Thiru-eadu Vasippu here is celebrated here for seventeen days starting from the second Friday of the Tamil month of Karthigai.

Another important festival celebrated by 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...

 followers centering Muttappathi is the Panguni Theertham
Panguni Theertham
Panguni Theertham, is a festival which is celebrated in honour of the Tavam of Vaikundar. This festival is also called as ' Tava Dinam '. On this day a procession starts from Swamithoppe Pathi to Muttappathi. This festival is celebrated on the Tamil month of Panguni....

. It is a One-day-festival celebrated on the Second Friday of Tamil month Panguni. On that day people from Swamithoppe march in great numbers to Muttapathi under the leadership of Payyan
Payyan dynasty
Payyan dynasty is a family which manage and administer Swamithope pathi, the head quarters of Ayyavazhi. The genesis of Payyan dynasty was a bit uncertain. It was believed to be the descendants of Pothukkutty who was called as Payyan by Ayya Vaikundar...

.

See also

  • Pancha pathi
    Pancha pathi
    Pancha pathi are the five important pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi. These are also considered as the primary Pathis and as worship centers of Ayyavazhi with primary status. The first pathi is Swamithope pathi itself and is the headquarters of Ayyavazhi...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • Ayyavazhi mythology
    Ayyavazhi mythology
    Ayyavazhi mythology is the mythology of the growing South Indian religious faith and a sect of Hinduism known as Ayyavazhi. The main source of Ayyavazhi mythology is the Ayyavazhi scripture, Akilattirattu Ammanai, and its supplement, Arul Nool. The Akilattirattu Ammanai is a recitation by Mayon to...

  • List of Ayyavazhi-related articles
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