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The Sabarimalai Pilgrimage and Ayyappan Cultus
Every year a million pilgrims travel to the shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Sabarimalai in what has become the second largest pilgrimage phenomenon in the world. The origins of the deity Ayyappa can be traced to antiquity; however it is only in the last four decades that the movement has gained momentum and popularity, spreading beyond the parochial limits of Kerala. This books gives a detailed study of the act associated with the temple and deity.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1992
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April 22, 2022
Shabarimala pilgrimage and the ayyappa cultus - a book by Radhika Sekar
Rating 4
(1=Bad, 2=Ok won’t recommend, 3=OK time pass, 4=Good, 5=Very good don’t miss)
Where to buy: Amazon
This is a book written by woman who entered the Shabarimala shrine in 1986 despite the prohibition of women from entering the temple. The book is an anthropological research thesis so is slightly difficult to read but is worth the effort. It goes through the various origin stories of Ayyappa ranging from a tribal yaksha god, to Buddhist figure, to village deity Ayyanar to the more recently ascribed son of shiva and vishnu. The book summarises works if various scholars on why Ayyappa does not figure in the Hindu puranas and despite the large following in south India has hardly any followers in the north. Some of the socio-political reasons for the rise in popularity of the temple and its rituals is interesting. It also makes a comparison of the rituals for the Ayyappa with those of Buddhist.
This small book (114 pages) is not a page turner and is rather dry, but I give it 4 stars just because it covers a rarely covered topic.
Rating 4
(1=Bad, 2=Ok won’t recommend, 3=OK time pass, 4=Good, 5=Very good don’t miss)
Where to buy: Amazon
This is a book written by woman who entered the Shabarimala shrine in 1986 despite the prohibition of women from entering the temple. The book is an anthropological research thesis so is slightly difficult to read but is worth the effort. It goes through the various origin stories of Ayyappa ranging from a tribal yaksha god, to Buddhist figure, to village deity Ayyanar to the more recently ascribed son of shiva and vishnu. The book summarises works if various scholars on why Ayyappa does not figure in the Hindu puranas and despite the large following in south India has hardly any followers in the north. Some of the socio-political reasons for the rise in popularity of the temple and its rituals is interesting. It also makes a comparison of the rituals for the Ayyappa with those of Buddhist.
This small book (114 pages) is not a page turner and is rather dry, but I give it 4 stars just because it covers a rarely covered topic.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review