Ayyappa Devotion

Namaste All,

I don't know how many Ayyappa Devotees we have on the forum, but I thought I'd post this question anyway.

Due to certain circumstances, I will be going to Temple tomorrow instead of Sunday. Tomorrow happens to be a special Ayyappa puja. I am familiar with the story of Ayyappa, but I wanted to know if there was any kind of offering that is preferred beyond fruit and flowers? I don't think I will participate in the puja, since I am going there for private devotion, but I wanted to show respect in a special way, if there was any particular way one shows devotion to Lord Ayyappa during a puja.

Thank you! :namaste:

:camp:

Vanakkam FS,

I haven't heard of special offerings, but I don't know specifically for special pûja to Ayyappa.

Ask your temple if you want to be sure, or just take a good traditional pûja offerings: coconut, flowers, fruits, jaggery, rice.

I haven't heard of sweets being offered to Ayyappa however. But I have only knowledge of basic rituals, not really special events puja.

Good luck and enjoy darshan !

Aum Namah Shivaya

Fireside_Hindu said:

I wanted to know if there was any kind of offering that is preferred beyond fruit and flowers?

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The most important ritual in Sabarimala Ayyappa temple is neyyabhishekam, the ayyappa idol will be bathed in ghee brought by the devotees, not sure if this ritual is performed in other ayyappa temples.

Swamiye Saranamayyapa!

namaste FH

I don't know if there is some particular offering for the occasion. May be, the best flower of your choice (not the priciest).

btw ritual art is related to Ayyappa worship in a big way, I think that could be of your interest. Though I haven't explored this sufficiently, here is a link.

Ghee is one of the main offerings made to Lord Ayyappa and I've also heard tabbaco as well

FSH, so, how did it go?

Aupmanyav said:

FSH, so, how did it go?

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This thread is almost 2 years old, haha =) I honestly don't remember. Judging from the timeline, it was at the other temple near me, since the one I go to regularly now has no Ayyappa. I know I did not end up bringing ghee because we regrettably have no Indian grocery here, but I must certainly have brought roses, as is my habit when I go to temple for special things. =)

I think Admin should mark threads older than say 2 months in a different color if that is possible. Sorry.

Aupmanyav said:

I think Admin should mark threads older than say 2 months in a different color if that is possible. Sorry.

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No worries! =) Nice picture too!

Sorry that's was my fault I did not see how old the thread was! I've not seen or heard of Lord Ayyappa until I went to the local Skanda temple in Lecister UK an hour or so near where I live. I asked the priest why there was tabbaco as well as ghee being offered but he could not answer.

Is Ayyappa venerate by vashnavas?

IMHO, depends on the Sampradaya. Vaishnavas will not generally let their concentration wander away from Lord Vishnu. But then, so also Shaivas and Shaktas. The majority will worship all deities.

Not to spark any debate but Vaishnavites don't worship mini gods like Rudra/Brahma let alone the recently created or made up gods like saibaba /ayyappa for that matter.

Sri Krushna in BG told he alone is the purushottama and all others are Jivas, he alone is the only Bhagawan.

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasa,

You have already started a debate with the first sentence in your post. Members here are supposed to refrain from such posts. What is mini for some may be maxi for others and vice-versa. Regards.

Hey guys.

I noticed a couple of posts that I would like to address.

Yogi1054 said:

Is Ayyappa venerate by vashnavas?

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It depends on the Vaishnava. I personally don't, but then again, I've never had a personal experience with Ayyappa.

kalyan said:

Not to spark any debate but Vaishnavites don't worship mini gods like Rudra/Brahma let alone the recently created or made up gods like saibaba /ayyappa for that matter.

Sri Krushna in BG told he alone is the purushottama and all others are Jivas, he alone is the only Bhagawan.

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasa,

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I'm not sure if you meant it as such, but the tone of the post could be taken as confrontational. DIRs are meant to be debate free.

Conversation? Sure. Debate? No.

Secondly, I'm a Sri Vaishnava too. Based on your profile pic and status, I'm assuming you're Thenkalai? I myself am Vadakalai, do this may be differences in samaparadaya perspective, but I was taught that Vishnu/Narayan is God. While others are gods. Vishnu may be at the top of the hierarchy, but the other devas have their roles to fulfill in this world and if a Vaishnava is called to any of their reverence, then it is fine; as long as they remember that Vishnu is the Ultimate. Think of it as like Saints in Catholicism. Of course, this also also applies to Shaivas, Shaktas, and Smarthas and their respective divinities.

To give an example, I actually know someone in ISKCON who considers Durga Maa to be their Ishta-Deva; and they still consider Krishna to be the Supreme.

Ayyappa worship is as old as any other.