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80-669: All the five of the Panchappathis are located within a Fifteen-kilometer circle of Kanyakumari , the land end of the Indian Sub-continent . Swamithoppe is the religious headquarters of Ayyavazhi. This was considered also as primary among the Panchappathi. This was the place where The Great Tavam of Ayya took place. The land's holiness is described in Akilattirattu Ammanai that Parthiban ,

160-418: A Hindu of Vaishnavism tradition who wore it on the forehead in the shape of a 'U', or of Saivism tradition where it is worn horizontally in three parallel lines. The white powder used for this mark was made from coarse white soil. Ayya Vaikundar seems to have personally touched the forehead of followers and worn it for them. On account of this action, it came to be called thottunamam – meaning 'a mark with

240-530: A curul. It is said in Akilattirattu that towards the end of his mission, Ayya Vaikundar was invited to the houses of his followers and was treated with this Churul. At present this act of giving Churul has been ritualised and it is also known as nemital. People bring bananas, coconuts and flowers, in a box made of palm leaves, and hand it over to the one performing Panivitai. The panivitaiyalar receives it and offers it to Ayya and then, after retaining

320-465: A different point of view the supporters of shamanism give different synonymous outputs for the quotes and strengthen their stands. There is also a belief that Mudisoodum Perumal is a shaman, within whom Vaikundar was a divine power. Though this was commonly not accepted, some theologians refer to some quotes in Akilam and Arul Nool to support their claim. Discover ayya vaikundar temples across

400-432: A few, though not associated with the holy books, are practiced for over a century right from the beginning of Ayyavazhi. Some practices are unique for Pathis and some others are common for all worship centres . Forms of worship and the features attendant on them can be said to be manifestations and indicators of the type of religiosity present in a religious universe. Apart from Basement of Philosophy and Theology ,

480-786: A grove full of beautiful laurel trees. Akilam says that, the buds of this trees were like pearls and the place was very cool. Later, the devotees established a Pathi at this place as per the instructions of Vaikundar found in Akilam and it is called as Poopathi . Festivals are conducted every year and this Pathi is owned by the village and maintained by the village committee. Poopathi is located about ten kilometers south of Nagercoil and Eathamozhi . Kanyakumari (town) Kanyakumari ( UK : / k ə n ˈ j ʌ k ʊ m æ r iː / ; lit.   ' The Virgin (or Kanya) Princess ' referring to Devi Kanya Kumari , officially known as Kanniyakumari , formerly known as Cape Comorin )

560-464: A height of 29 metres (95 feet) and stands upon an 11.5-metre (38 ft) rock that represents the 38 chapters of virtue in the Thirukkural . The statue standing on the rock represents wealth and pleasures, signifying that wealth and love be earned and enjoyed on the foundation of solid virtue. The combined height of the statue and pedestal is 133 ft (40.5 m), denoting the 133 chapters in

640-481: A holy object, and some of them even swallow a little of it believing it to be medicinal. One of the significant ritual actions that distinguished the Ayyavazhi male worshipper from others was 'wearing a headgear' during worship. Ayya Vaikundar seems to have enjoined upon his male followers to tie a headgear when they came to worship God. Accordingly, the male followers seem to have tied a headgear during worship. This

720-432: A major portion of it for sharing with others, returns the box with a small portion as Inimam – a gift from Ayya to his children. This is yet another unique practice that distinguishes Ayyavazhi from other Hindu religious traditions. The Nizhal Thangals and Pathis have, in their sanctuary, a mirror to reflect the images of those who come to worship. People pay obeisance to their God standing in front of this mirror, facing

800-417: A necessary ritual before one worships at the pathis. Devotees throng the well to get a few buckets of water onto them and drink a few drops ceremoniously a total of five times before proceeding to the pathi. This practice of bathing at the well is being addressed as patamitutal or muttiripatam. Thiru (word representing sacredness) + Namam (name) represents (The Sacred name) . The people of Ayyavazhi wear

880-460: A personal touch'. A verse in Ukappatippu of Arulnool says: "Our Ayya is coming to us by wearing a thottunamam". This dimension of personal touch stood out to the public eye and was much appreciated by the people of Ayyavazhi. At present, those who 'serve' in every Pathi or Nizhal Thangals , wear this white mark for the people and offer a portion of it in their hands. People carry it home as

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960-735: A point where three oceans meet: the Bay of Bengal , the Laccadive Sea , which is connected to the Indian Ocean , and the Arabian Sea . Kamarajar Mani Mantapa Monument was raised and dedicated to K. Kamarajar , a freedom fighter, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and President of Indian National Congress. He is also popularly known as "Black Gandhi" among the masses. Like the Gandhi Memorial Mandapam, this monument

1040-456: A practice of treating the diseases with water and earth. His devotees realised that Ayya was doing these things as a realisation of the dharma that he came to proclaim. Even today there are a few faithful devotees in Ayyavazhi in their absolute faith in Vaikundar, who do not take any medicine and instead take soil ( Thirunamam ) and water ( Patham ) from Pathis and Nizhal Thangals, wearing

1120-401: A ritual significance, food was distributed to the needy and to all those gathered around Ayya Vaikundar. Today, the food being served as Anna Dharmam is known as Unpan Annam , literally meaning 'the food to be eaten', and, it has its own specific method of preparation. Rice, vegetables, and spices are cooked and mixed together for the purpose. Then it is served ceremoniously. When it is served,

1200-403: A total of 119 marginal workers: 4 marginal cultivators, 3 marginal agricultural labourers, 11 marginal workers in household industries, and 101 other marginal workers. Kanyakumari is located at 8°05′N 77°34′E  /  8.08°N 77.57°E  / 8.08; 77.57 and has an average elevation of 30 metres. The peninsular tip of Kanyakumari is bordered on three sides by

1280-406: A vertical white mark on the forehead in the shape of a flame, starting from the central point between the eyebrows, going straight up near the top edge of the forehead. The flame shape represents Aanma Jyothi or Atman meaning Atman is considered sacred and is the name of God. Zealous devotees smear it on the exterior of the upper arms and over the chest. This white mark was unlike the one worn by

1360-521: Is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport , 90 km (56 mi) from Kanyakumari town and 70 km (43 mi) from Nagercoil. Kanyakumari is 744 km (462 mi) from Chennai. Kanyakumari has heliports for VVIP visitors at the Tri Sea Hotel on Beach Road. Panividai Ayyavazhi rituals are the religious practices prevalent among the followers of Ayyavazhi . Most of them are connected with Akilam and Arul Nool and

1440-550: Is a 3,000-year-old temple dedicated to Goddess Kumari Amman located at Kanyakumari on the shore of the Laccadive Sea. Kumari Amman is one of the forms of Devi, popularly known as "Kumari Bhagavathy Amman". The temple is the first Durga temple created by Lord Parasurama and one of the 108 Shakthi Peethas. It is mentioned in the Ramayana , Mahabharata , and Purananuru . The Gandhi Memorial Mandapam has been built on

1520-529: Is a city in Kanyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu , India . It is the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent and the southernmost city in mainland India , and thus referred to as "The Land's End". The city is situated 90 kilometres (56 mi) south of Thiruvananthapuram city, and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Nagercoil , the headquarters of Kanyakumari district. Kanyakumari

1600-494: Is a popular tourist destination and pilgrimage centre in India. Notable tourist spots include its unique sunrise and sunset points, the 41-metre (133 ft) Thiruvalluvar Statue , and Vivekananda Rock Memorial off the coast. Lying at the tip of peninsular India, the town is bordered on the west, south, and east by the Laccadive Sea . It has a coastline of 71.5 kilometres (44.4 mi) stretched along these three sides. On

1680-453: Is a prayer form written in spoken-Tamil and is a good example of the usage of common language understood by ordinary people. Shamanism is still in practice in some worship centres. Some believe that through the words of these possessed persons one could be able to know what God tells about him or herself or their activities. As part of shamanic practice, they exhorted the people on various matters, practiced divination ( Kanakku ) to discern

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1760-452: Is also activated and highly motivated by the narration of myth in Akilam . Five of the most serious non-vegetarian devils are converted into pure and vegetarian god-heads as Sivayis or Garuda for serving Vaikundar throughout the incarnation. Arul Nool too teaches one should be vegetarian to a high degree, or otherwise at least partially, especially during the reading of scriptures and during festivals and when practising rituals. Also

1840-553: Is being conducted here. Now, there are Vahanas made of wood for the festivals. Thamaraikulam Pathi is situated in the South Thamaraikulam , one kilometer south of Swamithoppe . One can reach this place from Nagercoil or Kanyakumari by Town bus. It is fourteen kilometers away from Nagercoil . Ayya Vaikundar after the Tavam, went to a place called Pallam near Manakkudy and stayed there for two years. This place

1920-614: Is believed to remove the rigidity from the mind, and women pray for marriage at her temple. In 1656, the Dutch East India Company conquered Portuguese Ceylon from the Portuguese East Indies , and the name eventually corrupted to "Comorin" and was called "Cape Comorin" during British rule in India . In 2016, the town and its district were renamed to "Kanniyakumari" by the Government of India and

2000-423: Is called as Ambalappathi . Ayya Vaikundar was a Shiva-sorub (taking the form of Siva) at this place. Here, an ambalam was constructed with Ninety-six beams meeting at a wooden pot mounted at center and Ayya Vaikundar preached from that Ambalam. Here, as a Shiva-sorubi, Ayya assumed the powers of Parvathi and Bhagavathi . As Muruga , he assumed the powers of Valli and Dheivanai . As Brahma , he also assumed

2080-459: Is considered more sacred than all other pathi and also seen with high religious importance. This is one of the most important religious centers in Tamil Nadu and attracts a huge crowd from across the country. The London Missionary Society Reports of the 19th century speaks in abundance about this Pathi and the huge attraction of crowd even from those days. Muttappathi was the place where

2160-551: Is criticised seriously almost universally by Ayyavazhi followers. Also, Akilam tells of a false deity which was sent to the world by Narayana after Vaikundar attained Vaikundam . It also states that this false deity used to say, "I am Vaikundar, I was the one who married the deities and unified into myself." Also this false deity shows many magic practices and also many miracles. Some people used to compare shamanic actions to that of false deity. They cite several quotes from Ayyavazhi scriptures for their criticism. But with

2240-474: Is managed by the descendants of the people who constructed the Pathi. Every year Car festivals are conducted in this Pathi. There are many Vahanas to carry Ayya Vaikundar around the Pathi. This Pathi is located ten Kilometers south of Nagercoil . There is a direct bus service from Nagercoil to this Pathi. Since Ayya Vaikundar all the different divine powers into himself and revealed his supremacy at this spot, this

2320-456: Is nothing but which varies according to the visible object. On the other hand, this mirror installation symbolises the advaidic term that 'God is you' , (i.e.) The mirror is kept facing the worshipper in Palliyarai, and one who sees the sanctum sanctorum only sees himself there. Congregational worship was a distinctive feature of Ayyavazhi worship. Praying together or 'mass prayer'

2400-547: Is one of the important facts among the followers of Ayyavazhi, seeming to have originated along with Thuvayal Thavasu . Some followers adopted partial vegetarianism. Today, vegetarianism is being strictly practised in one form or another by a section of the followers of Ayyavazhi as one of their religious observances. In particular, most of the Panividaiyalars (one who performs Panividai ) of Pathis and Nizhal Thangals strictly follow Vegetarianism. The vegetarianism

2480-421: Is part of the common Hindustani phrase used to describe the length of India: "Kashmir se Kanyakumari"; before the partition, the phrase in undivided India was "Khyber se Kanyakumari". However, the southernmost point of Republic of India is at Indira Point on Great Nicobar Island , at 6°45’10″N and 93°49’36″E. The Thiruvalluvar Statue is a 7,000-ton stone statue of poet and philosopher Valluvar . It has

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2560-400: Is recited every morning and evening at the worship centres of Ayyavazhi or at homes, and the full version of it during special occasions Other prayer formulas of Uccippatippu – a form of incantationary prayer that speaks about the special attributes of God, recited currently during the noon-worship, Vazhappatippu – are a form of adulatory repetitive prayer that has statements of wishes for

2640-469: Is restricted for tourists. The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a popular tourist monument in Vavathurai, Kanyakumari, India. The memorial stands on one of two rocks in the Laccadive Sea, located about 500 metres (1,600 ft) east of the mainland of Vavathurai. It was built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda who is said to have attained enlightenment on the rock. According to local legends, it

2720-484: Is the most important Pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi people, next to Swamithoppe. This Pathi is also called Pallathu pathi and Mulakunda pathi . Ayya Vaikundar spend his last six years of the incarnational period at Swamithoppe. He lived as a normal human person. He maintained fields and groves. He also maintained cattle. Bhoomadevi (the goddess of Earth ) as Poomadanthai was living at a place near Eathamozhi . Some devotees wanted to unite this divine couple. But there

2800-510: Is to reveal that every person is a king and every one in to rule the Earth. This philosophy is told symbolically by the practice of wearing the headgear since the wearing of headgear is considered as a matter of pride. It was said that this is one of the practices which ties Ayyavazhi close to the Advaita tradition. In addition to the uniqueness of this practice, writings of the historians point to

2880-475: Is where Kamarajar's ashes were kept for the public to pay homage before immersion into the sea. Near Kanyakumari's southern shore stands a monument to the memory of those who died in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami , an underwater megathrust earthquake that claimed around 230,000 lives in many countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Thailand, Maldives, and Indonesia. The state-owned Poompuhar Shipping Corporation runs ferry services between

2960-505: The Elunetru amidst two oil lamps. Even in the houses of the people of Ayyavazhi , the place earmarked for their daily worship has at least a mirror and a lamp. This is to show the worshippers who go in front of the mirror that, 'God is inside him or herself'. Regarding the time of origin of this practice, as soon as Ayya attained Vaikundam – a religious euphemism to indicate pass over – people, as per his earlier instruction, installed

3040-626: The First Muttappathi Vinchai from near this spot. So this centre is directly associated by the incarnational activities of Vaikundar . Ayyavazhi people have a believe that, it is sanctifying to take a holy dip in the sea at Muttappathi. Every year, on the last Friday of the Tamil Month Panguni, people march from Swamithoppe in large numbers to Muttappathi. This festival is called Panguni Theertham. The elder most or others from Payyan dynasty of Swamithoppe conduct

3120-403: The Government of Madras . According to a Hindu legend, Kanya Devi , an avatar of Parvati , was to marry Shiva , who failed to show up on his wedding day. Rice and other grains meant for the wedding feast remained uncooked and unused. The uncooked grains turned into stones as time went by. Some believe that the small stones on the shore today, which look like rice, are indeed grains from

3200-487: The Laccadive Sea . It is located at the confluence of the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats . The nearest city is Thiruvananthapuram , Kerala (85 km (53 mi) away), and the nearest town is Nagercoil , the administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari district (22 km (14 mi) away). Kanyakumari is at the southern tip and is the southernmost point of the contiguous Indian Subcontinent . As such, it

3280-485: The Sattu Nittu Olai of Arul Nool reads: "everyone is drinking the milk of the well around which miracles are growing". People considered it a religious obligation to bathe and drink at least a few drops of water from this well. Currently, one of the important ritual actions performed by the devotees of Ayyavazhi is to take this ritual bath, drawing water from a well dug near every pathi . This has become

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3360-625: The Thirukkural . The statue is reminiscent of a dancing pose of Nataraja . It was sculpted by the Indian sculptor V. Ganapati Sthapati , who also created the Iraivan Temple , and its opening ceremony was on 1 January 2000. The monument was hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004, but stood unaffected. The statue is designed to survive earthquakes of high magnitude. During maintenance work, as well as during rough sea, entry

3440-567: The Thuvayal Thavasu teaches one not only to be vegetarian, but also how to diet or control food-intake. Akilattirattu mentions a well, situated near the place where Ayya Vaikundar undertook the tavam , and the prevalence of certain ritual practices around it. The well, situated at present at a distance of a furlong to the west of the main pathi (temple) at Swamithoppe , is the historical well. Akilattirattu speaks of "the eighteen castes assembling in one place, and bathing from

3520-476: The Thuvayal Thavasu , seems to have occupied a prominent place during the worship. It was recited by a leader and was repeated after him by the people in unison. This prayer formula, for its main part, dwells on the themes of Ayya Vaikundar's divine attributes, his mission to destroy the kali , to establish the Dharma Yukam , and to rule the earth as the undisputed king. Currently, a short form of this prayer

3600-561: The Ucchippatippu and Ukappatippu , the central prayers. Apart from these, the devotees that come to worship in the Pathi perform certain other rituals also. Inter-dining was an important activity that originated in the gatherings of AV. It has been already noted that people of different castes, coming from far and wide, brought with them food materials for cooking their meals when they came to meet Ayya Vaikundar. They cooked and ate in

3680-587: The Himalayas to Lanka ( Sri Lanka ) during the Ramayana War . The fallen earth formed an area called Marunthuvazh Malai , literally "hills where medicine lives". This legend explains the abundance of unique native medicinal plants in the area. Marunthuvazh Malai is located near Kottaram, about 7 km (4 mi) from Kanyakumari town on the Kanyakumari–Nagercoil highway. The sage Agasthya , who

3760-654: The Panividai and also the Annadharmam on that day at Muttappathi. Tamaraikulampathi is the birthplace of Hari Gopalan Citar , one of the disciples of Ayya Vaikundar . He was also called the Sahadevan . Akilattirattu Ammanai , the holy book of Ayyavazhi is told as a prophecy to Hari Gopalan Citar by God. So, he became well known of all the disciples of Ayya Vaikundar. People of this village once invited Ayya Vaikundar to their village. Ayya Vaikundar went there and he

3840-603: The Sanskritic tradition. While the words used in the Sanskritic form of worship (in Hinduism ) seem to maintain a distance between God and the human being , the Tamil words used in Ayyavazhi forecast a close relation or tie with God and worshippers. This set of words seems to give a distinct identity to Ayyavazhi . The Pothippu , in which the worshippers apologise to God for their sin and beg for pardon and redemption

3920-521: The Thirunamam on their forehead and drinking the Patham ceremoniously. Panividai means service. It originally seems to have denoted the service rendered by the disciples to Ayya Vaikundar while he performed the tavam and other activities. It included the activities of serving him with a meal, instructing the people on his behalf, and carrying him to different places wherever he wished to go. After

4000-473: The break of each day. Ayyavazhi does not have the idea of 'giving offerings' but only 'giving Churul’ This is also one of the significant practices of Ayyavazhi. The gift offered to Ayya Vaikundar was called ‘Churul’, a word that denoted the gift exchanged between consanguineous relatives during marriage functions by way of introducing the kith and kin to the affines. Whoever brought a gift to Ayya Vaikundar gave it to him as if giving to his / her Ayya (father),

4080-493: The causes of sickness and misfortunes, and 'foretold future happenings'. The Akilattirattu Ammanai seems to have recognized shamanic acts of worship. A quote in Arul Nool reads, "For imparting knowledge and making things clear, I kept those who practice divination in the temples." Though shamanism was practised in Ayyavazhi, it was accepted by the scriptures only as an ignorant way of worship (beginning stage in worship ) or

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4160-557: The devotees. Those who do this service are called panividaiyalar (one who performs panividai). This service may be considered as the counterpart of the puja offered in the temples of Hinduism . In the religious gatherings of Ayyavazhi, even as certain forms of worship were in their rudimentary form, one could find the practice of singing songs together which, later on, seems to have been recognised as 'prayer formulas', and recited ritually. Among these prayer formulas, Ukappattu , known also as Ukappatippu, which have been formulated during

4240-462: The earthly life of Ayya Vaikundar, panividai had come to mean the service rendered at the sanctuary of Pathis and Nizhal Tangals where Ayya Vaikundar is believed to reside. This service includes cleaning the floor of the sanctuary with water, cleansing and lighting the lamp, offering Churul ( betel leaf, arecanut , and bananas ), conducting or leading the prayers of incantation like Ucchippatippu or Ukappatippu , wearing Thirunamam and serving food to

4320-432: The emergence of this practice as unique to Ayyavazhi. It became a ritual action to be performed before the people entered the Pathi to worship. The male devotees usually removed their upper garment and tied the headgear and entered the Pathi for worship. To this day this practice is followed. Akilam says that Ayya Vaikundar also cured illness in some people with the power he had as the avatar of Narayana. The LMS Report for

4400-436: The food in a community feast. In the course of events, the well and its water seem to have acquired religious significance to the people of Ayyavazhi . The acts of bathing, drinking a few drops of it, and cooking the food with this water came to be repeated with a ritual fervour. People consider the well a sacred one, and the water as having miraculous powers to heal sicknesses, thousands of people having benefited. A couplet from

4480-583: The glorious features of Dharma Yukam , projects Tamil to be its reigning language. Use of Tamil for worship was striking against the background of the prevalence of the use of Sanskrit in Hindu worship commonly in not only Travancore but in the whole of the Hindu universe during the advent of Ayyavazhi. It is noteworthy that some words being used in the Ayyavazhi tradition are strikingly different from those in

4560-460: The initial way to teach a beginner the metaphysics . But on the other hand, shamanic actions in the worship centers of Ayyavazhi are quite often criticised. Commonly it was believed that in 'Ayyavazhi possessions', the possessed person being in the Padmasana posture simply utters or speaks to the audience instead of standing and dancing, as now is the practice. This act of 'standing and dancing'

4640-401: The land was auctioned by the government. Those who got the land in the auction conducted the daily Panividai . Now, their descendants conduct the panividai and administer the Pathi which is managed by a Trust. Also this centre earns another religious importance. Ayya Vaikundar went into the sea just before his arrest and also after the completion of his Tavam to meet his Father Vishnu for

4720-611: The legendary Arjuna made penance to get Pasupathasthiram from Lord Siva . This was also the birthplace of Veda Vyasa who wrote the Mahabharata . This was the place where the demons were burned up by Vaikundar as per Akilam. Moreover, the act of seizing the powers of witchcraft, magic etc. were conducted here. Ayya also unified into him the Seven virgins at this place. Vaikundar is also said to have performed several miracles at Swamithoppe. Because of all these reasons this center

4800-487: The life of devotees. The coconut grove where Thuvayal Thavasu was conducted belonged to a pious Brahmin . Hearing about Thuvayal Thavasu, he came to that place and witnessed it. He became so attached to these principles of Ayya Vaikundar that he gave away that land to the people Ayya Vaikundar. The present Muttappathi was established there and was under the direct control of the Payyan dynasty . Later, due to some litigations,

4880-460: The mirror over his tomb and began worshipping. The Ayyavazhi worship focuses on and revolves around the constant, formless, supreme self which exists inside and as all elements. But this formless self is visible or accessible in one or more different forms or ways with respect to the subjects (viewers); this was symbolised by using the mirror in the Palliyarai , that the image seen in a mirror

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4960-411: The partakers wait till everyone is served. Then a question is posed customarily by the partakers: "Ayya annam kutikkalama ?" (Ayya, may we eat the meal?) and when it is answered by those who serve as "Ayya annam kutiyunkal" (You may kindly eat the meal), the partakers eat the meal. This was to ensure that everyone got the meal. The poor and the rich – all partake of this meal without discrimination. It

5040-402: The powers of Madaikattal . It was from this place that the devotees took Ayya on horseback to such villages as Kadambankulam and Pambankulam . Ayya established Nizhal Thangals in these villages. Later, at the end of the second year, Ayya Vaikundar returned to Swamithoppe . Later, on this very spot the owners of the land constructed a Pathi and conducted daily Panividai . Now, this Pathi

5120-470: The presence of Ayya Vaikundar. This commonplace action evolved into a significant practice of inter-dining between persons of different groups, cutting across the boundaries of caste restrictions. This practice, being performed in a religious setting with a certain measure of earnestness and respect, seems to have acquired the character of a ritual too. The practice of Anna Dharmam (charity on food) too seems to have emerged in association with inter-dining. With

5200-509: The prosperity of the people of Santror Makkal and seem to have developed during the course of the early development of Ayyavazhi. Pothippu , another short formulaic prayer, the content of which invokes God for forgiveness, protection, means of livelihood, attitudes of tolerance and amiability towards one another, and, intelligence, seems to have evolved over the years. It is now recited at the start of every collective worship session. The followers of Ayyavazhi are enjoined to recite this prayer at

5280-470: The same well". This refers to the prevalence of a seemingly innocuous practice of the people, gathered around Ayya Vaikundar , bathing together from the water of this well. People of different castes bathe together at this well, mindless of their social differences. Physical closeness was necessitated mainly because of the smallness of the well. Besides bathing, they drank this water as a cure for their illnesses. They cooked their food with this water, and ate

5360-573: The second phase Thuvayal Thavasu was conducted by the followers of Ayya Vaikundar after completing the Thuvayal Thavasu for six-months in Vahaippathi as per his instructions. The seven hundred families lived as a group, constructing huts at the sea-shore; so, there prevailed group economy. The neighbours heard about this pure Vegetarian life, which is unusual particularly among the so-called lower castes. A lot of people came to witness

5440-532: The sex ratio (number of females per thousand males) of the town 997. A total of 2,403 people were under six years of age and the child sex ratio (number of females per thousand males under six years of age) stood at 1,024. The town had an average literacy of 88.62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. There were a total of 4,236 households in the town. As of 2001, Kanyakumari had a total of 5,929 main workers: 11 cultivators, 78 agricultural labourers , 66 in household industries, and 5,774 other workers. There were

5520-458: The shores of the city is a temple dedicated to the goddess Kanya Kumari (the virgin goddess), after which the town is named. Kanyakumari has been a town since the Sangam period and was referred to in old Malayalam literature and in the accounts of Ptolemy and Marco Polo . The place derives its name from the goddess Kanya Kumari , considered to be the sister of Krishna . The goddess

5600-527: The spot where the urn containing the Mahatma 's ashes was kept for public viewing before immersion. Resembling central Indian Hindu temples in form,the memorial was designed such that on Gandhi's birthday, 2 October, the first rays of the sun fall on the exact place where his ashes were kept. Kanyakumari Pier or Sunset View Point is considered one of the iconic locations in Kanyakumari. It is situated at

5680-576: The town and the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue , both situated on rocky islets off the coast. The operation of the ferry service began in 1984. Two ferries were used until June 2013, after which a third ferry was added to the service on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Swamy Vivekananda . The Kanyakumari railway station and nearby Nagercoil railway station offer direct connection by rail to almost all metropolitan cities in India. The nearest airport

5760-499: The various religious practices of Ayyavazhi are also the pillars on which it stands to prove its uniqueness. From the sociological point of view, it also strengthens both physically and mentally the socially downtrodden in a religious way. Several practices evolved in the Ayyavazhi tradition. Religious experience that was existent in Ayyavazhi seems to have expressed itself through certain forms with specific features as said in Akilattirattu Ammanai . The practice of vegetarianism

5840-470: The wedding that was never solemnised. Kanya Devi is now considered a virgin goddess who blesses pilgrims and tourists who flock to the town. Her temple in Kanyakumari is a Shakta pitha : a holy shrine in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism. According to another Hindu legend, Hanuman dropped a piece of earth near Kanyakumari as he was carrying a mountain with his life-saving herb, Mrita Sanjivani, from

5920-433: The year 1843 mentions that Vaikuntacami, "asserts that one of the principle Hindoo deities has taken up his abode within him," and that because of this, "he is enabled to perform the cure of all diseases, and to confer innumerable blessings on his followers." People believing him to be an avatar who could perform cures, seem to have flocked to him and to have been cured by him. In reality, Ayya Vaikundar seems to have initiated

6000-422: Was a form of worship Ayya Vaikundar formulated, in distinction to the practice of priests performing Poojas for individual or collective audiences. Currently, congregational worship takes place at appointed hours in the worship centres of Ayyavazhi . The devotees worship God, standing close to each other, hands folded over their chests, and a turban (Thalai pahai) on the heads of the males. They recite together

6080-451: Was an expert in medicinal herbs, is believed to have lived around this site in ancient days. There is an ashram on the middle of the hillside; tourists trek up to visit the ashram and to glimpse the sea near Kanyakumari town, a few kilometres away. As per the 2011 Census , Kanyakumari town consisted of 61.16% Christians , 32.97% Hindus , and 5.47% Muslims . It had a population of 19,739, comprising 9,884 males and 9,855 females, making

6160-475: Was considered as a religious virtue to partake of this meal. There is another variant of Anna Dharmam known as Palvaippu , serving of gruel-like food boiled in milk. Currently, every centre of worship of Ayyavazhi has this practice once a month. Anna Dharmam in one form or the other is a daily feature in most of the worship centres of Ayyavazhi. The language used in prayers, incantations, and rituals has been Tamil in its simple form. Akilam , while expounding on

6240-417: Was given warm welcome and a treat. Ayya Vaikundar stayed there for a day and returned to Swamithoppe. During the early years, Ayya Vaikundar was taken to this village in a vahana by people once in a year. The auspicious day was the last Sunday of the Tamil month Panguni . In those days, people celebrated this occasion as a festival. This practice has been discontinued for the past fifty years. Daily Panividai

6320-553: Was on this rock that Goddess Kumari performed austerity. A meditation hall (Dhyana Mandapam) is also attached to the memorial for visitors to meditate. The design of the mandapa incorporates different styles of temple architecture from all over India. It houses a statue of Vivekananda. The memorial consists of two main structures: the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam. Bhagavathy Amman Temple

6400-475: Was stiff opposition from the relatives of the girl. Poomadanthai was chanting the praise of Ayya Vaikundar and proved that she was extraordinary. Later, the relatives called Ayya Vaikundar to their village and give the girl's hand in a marriage to Vaikundar. Poomadanthai was happily united with Ayya Vaikundar. This Poomadanthai was one among the Seven deities unified into Vaikundar and the only deity unified not at Ambalappathi . Ayya Vaikundar took rest there in

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