Maalikapurathamma

The Raja of Pandalam admitted Ayyappa to a famous Kalari (gymnasium where traditional martial arts of Kalaripayattu is taught) at Cheerappanchira, an ezhava family, in Cherthala in Alappuzha district. During this time he mastered all martial arts from various Kalaries. The young daughter, Leela, of Kalari Panicker fall in love with Ayyappa. She requested to accept her as wife. But Ayyappan turned down her request as being a Brahmachari. She was offered a seat at Sabarimala known as Maalikappurathamma. Ayyappan promised her if thereis no "Kanni" Ayyappans to come to Sabarimala then he would marry her. It is a custom that every Kanni Ayyappan should deposit "Saram" (arrow of soft wood) at Saramkuthy as a mark of their arrival. [ [http://www.pathanamthittapolice.com/sabarimala.htm Sabarimala - Pilgrim Centres - Pathanamthitta Police ] ]

abari Mala Prasadam

A strong liking for sweets is a common factor of all Hindu Gods and Ayyappa is no exception. "Appam" and "Aravana" (Payasam made of rice, ghee and jaggery) are the prasadams of the Lord. There is an interesting story behind these prasadams also. The young daughter, Leela, of Kalari Panicker fall in love with Ayyappa. She requested to accept her as wife. But Ayyappan turned down her request as being a Brahmachari. Soon the girl started bringing him food to capture his attention. Time passed by and the girl reached her puberty. And her family, following the Hindu tradition, prepared special cuisines to celebrate the occasion. One mandatory item on the menu is "Rthumathikanji" (porridge made using rice and five times the quantity of jaggery). On that day she took this porridge to Ayyappa, who was practising payattu in the Kalari. He liked it very much and requested the girl to bring only the porridge everyday. It is believed that the practice of offering Aravana as prasadam to the God was born from this incident.

ee also

* Ayyappan
* Makara Jyothi
* Sabarimala

References