Ayyappan- The Legend of Shabri Malai

Book Specification

Book Description

A strange and fascinating series of divine events led to the birth of Manikanthan. Manikanthan had a glorious destiny. At the end of a life full of dramatic events, Lord Parashurama himself sculpted and installed an idol of him in the hill temple of Shabari. There, as Lord Ayyappan, he is worshipped as the presiding deity of the whole range.

This lone temple on the top of the Shabari hills, deep in the forests of Kerala, attracts millions of devotees from all over the country every year. They travel through dense forests full of wild animals, over steep hills and in inclement weather to have his Darshan (a glimpse) on Makara Sankranti day (a festival which falls on the fourteenth of January). It is said that the Lord comes down to the Shabari Hills on Makara Sankranti in the form of light to give Darshan to his innumerable devotees and himself lights the temple lamp. Then in a moving and beautiful ritual the pilgrims partake of the prasad and walk backwards down the eighteen steps, their faces turned towards the Lord shining with devotion; and ecstasy.