Ayyappan
Sign in to saveAyyappan, also known as Dharmasastha and Manikandan, is the Hindu deity of truth and righteousness. According to Hindu theology, he is described as the son of Shiva and Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu), thus representing a bridge between Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
Key facts
- Deity.type
- Hindu
- Deity.name
- Ayyappan
- Deity.birthname
- Manikandan
- Deity.image
- Ayyappa Swamy bazaar art, c.1950's.jpg
- Deity.caption
- Ayyappa(n) seated on a tiger
- Deity.affiliation
- Hinduism
- Deity.god_of
- God of truth, righteousness, self-discipline and celibacy
- Deity.abode
- Sabarimala
- Deity.mantra
- Swāmiye Śaraṇam Ayyappa
- Deity.weapon
- Bow and arrow, sword
- Deity.mount
- Tiger, stallion
- Deity.symbols
- Bell, bow and arrow
- Deity.day
- Saturday
- Deity.gender
- Male
- Deity.father
- Shiva
- Deity.mother
- Mohini
- Deity.texts
- Brahmanda Purana
- Deity.festivals
- Makaravilakku
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
9 sectionsContents
- Names and etymology
- Iconography and depictions
- Theology and historical development
- Worship
- Popular culture
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Ayyappan, also known as Dharmasastha and Manikandan, is the Hindu deity of truth and righteousness. According to Hindu theology, he is described as the son of Shiva and Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu), thus representing a bridge between Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
Ayyappan is a warrior deity and is revered for his ascetic devotion to Dharma, the ethical and right way of living. He is usually depicted as a youthful man riding or near a Bengal tiger and holding a bow and arrow. In some representations, he is seen holding a sword and riding an Indian elephant or a horse. Other iconography generally shows him in a yogic posture wearing a bell around his neck.