History

Erumely is the gateway to Sabarimala, a holy place of Hindus all over the world for the worship of Lord Sree Ayyappa Swami.

Erumely is a small village in Kerala, India. To be precise it is in Kanjirappally Taluk in Kottayam District and is situated very near to the high-ranges of Kerala .

Place History

The etymology of the place name 

Erumely is related with the myth of killing a demon, disguised as a buffalo, by Lord Sree Ayyappa Swami. In Malayalam, the language of Kerala, 'eruma' means buffalo and "kolluka" means to kill. Thus the place where the "eruma" was killed came to be known as "Erumakolli " and later it became "Erumely".

Legends surrounding Ayyappan

There are many popular stories associated with Him among the devotees. The stories differ, but there are certain common elements:

• Ayyappa lived in the Pandalam Palace as the son / savior of the King.
• He had super-human or divine knowledge, wisdom, and courage and loved the King and his people.
• He protected the King and the kingdom from the attacks of enemies.
• At the end of His life in Pandalam, He vanished into the forests and is ever since worshiped at the Sabarimala temple.

The most popular and widely accepted story tells that Lord Ayyappa had His human sojourn as the son of the Raja of Pandalam.

The Raja (King) Rajasekhara of Panthalam had no children and both he and his wife prayed to Gods. During one of his hunting expeditions, the Raja was puzzled to hear the wails of a child on the banks of the river Pampa, and was surprised to find a resplendent infant there. The beautiful baby with radiant face wore a bead ('mani') around his neck. The King, though pious, charitable, just, and God-fearing, had no children. He accepted the child as God's gracious response to his fervent prayer for an heir to his throne. The Raja named him 'Ayyappan'. Ayyappan is believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Shasta, who is the offspring of Shiva and Vishnu (as Mohini, in his female form). Ayyappa is also known as "Hariharasuta" because he is the son of Hari (Vishnu), the saviour and Haran (Shiva), the destroyer. His most common name is "Manikandan" because of the "mani" (gem) tied around his "kandam" (neck).

The boy grew up in the palace as the prince till he reached his late teens and became famous as a warrior. He had super-human or divine knowledge, wisdom, and courage and loved the King and his people. He protected the King and the kingdom from the attacks of enemies. Meanwhile the Rani (Queen) became pregnant from her husband, the king, and she started fearing that her own child will be discarded if Ayyappa continues in the palace. The King regarded Manikandan as his elder son. He decided to crown him as the Yuvaraja. The King's corrupt Minister had a deep dislike for Manikandan, and made the innocent Queen believe that ill would befall her if Manikandan was crowned Yuvaraja and that the kingdom actually belonged to her son. They conspired to get rid of Manikandan. They bribed the royal physician into becoming an accomplice of theirs. The Rani pretended to be afflicted with severe pain in the stomach, and the physician prescribed the milk of a tigress as the only cure. The Raja announced great reward for those who fetch it for the Rani but no body was willing to go to the dense forest risking their life and that too for the milk of tiger. The King knew that none could be deputed for a mission that was so patently suicidal. However, the youthful and valiant Manikantan stepped forth and volunteered to fetch the milk. Despite the worried protestations of his foster-father, he set out for the fearful forests.

The myth related to Lord Ayyappan and Erumely

On his way in search of the milk of a tigress Ayyappan found a hut near a small stream owned by an old woman ( The hut known now as "Puthenveedu" got burned in 2011 and was renovated). He decided to spend the night on the 'thinna' ( veranda, sit-out, porch) but the old lady hesitated as the small village was under the threat of a demon disguised as an 'eruma' (word for buffalo in Malayalam). The name of the demon was Mahishi (which again means buffalo and she was the sister of Mahishasur a famous Asur or Rakshas (a kind of evil demon). Despite the words of the old woman he decided to stay there and had a furious fight with the Eruma at night and at last killed her. The myth says that her rudhiram (standard Malayalam word for blood) made a pool there. (The pond near Devaswam Board High School now is believed to be that pool of blood famous as "Rudhirakkulam" or mispronounced by natives as uthirakkulam).

The next morning the villagers became happy with the news of the death of Mahishi. They hanged her dead body on a pole, held "panal" leaves, sprinkled Mahishi's blood on themselves and started rejoicing as a procession. The famous "Pettathullal" now done by coloring self, holding wooden bows, arrows, swords, ghadhas, leaves etc. is a commemoration of that procession. Pettathulal represents the joy amongst the people for "Mahisheevadham".

People might have built a temple with Lord Ayyappa as the main deity. Now there are two temples in the heart of the town, the distance between the two being less than 1 kilometer. One is 'Cheriya Ampalam" meaning small temple and the other "Valiya Ampalam" meaning big temple.

Lord Ayyappa had an enemy named Vavar (may be a mispronunciation of Babar) who later became his companion. Ayyappa bhakthas (devotees) believe that Vavar's spirit is still at the Muslim Mosque just opposite to the Cheriya Ampalam. So after the worship at Cheriya Ampalam they move as a procession coloring themselves, holding wooden bows, arrows and leaves and cross the road to visit the Muslim Mosque to pay their offerings.  Then they go to the Valiya Ampalam. The visit to Vavar Swamy and Valiyampalam is done in the form a dance known as Pettathullal. The procession is accompanied by Chendamelam (drums and bands) and they dance all the way to Valiya Ampalam. Once they reach Valiya Ampalam they worship Lord Ayyappa's deity there, wash themselves, and then proceed to Sabarimala.

The Legend Continues

After the killing of the Mahishi, Lord Ayyappa continued his journey through mountainous forest path in search of the milk of a tigress and reached Sabarimala, a dense forest clad mountain range now located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala.

Days later, Manikandan entered the palace precincts riding a fierce tigress and followed by a pack of its cubs. The schemers were frightened into confessing their nefarious plot. They and others now knew that Manikandan was no ordinary being. They were convinced of His divine origins, and prayed to Him to be with them for their own salvation and for the safety of the kingdom. However, Manikandan was now determined to leave the place.

Filled with happiness, grief, fear, wonder and 'bhakthi' (devotion to God) and self-surrender, the king prayed for the mercy and blessings of Manikandan. He repented he could not fully visualize the truth of the divine powers of the Lord and repeatedly requested Him to forgive him for behaving as if He were only his son. The Lord lovingly embraced the King who continued to pray: " Lord, kindly bless me by freeing me from my egos and the worldly life of birth and rebirth and grant me 'moksha’ (salvation). Kindly continue to be the saviour of my family and stay eternally in my kingdom.” Manikantan then enlightened the King on the path of attainment of 'moksha'. These words of the Lord are contained in ‘Bhuthanathageetha'. To the King who is by now mentally cleansed and completely immersed in 'bhakthi', Lord Ayyappa said: "I am to free you from all worldly sorrows & worries and to grant you 'moksha'. All those who are and would be born in your family shall have my blessings unfailingly. I am always accessible to 'bhakthi' and only 'bhakthi." The Lord told the King that he could construct a temple at Sabarimala, north of the holy river Pampa and install His deity there. Ayyappa also explained how the Sabarimala pilgrimage shall be undertaken, emphasizing the importance of 'vrutham' and what the devotees can attain by His 'darshan'.

The Lord further consoled the King saying that the devotees who held him and his descendants in 'bhakthi' shall happen to be devoted to Him as well. Manikantan then blessed the King and all others assembled there, and vanished. The King duly constructed the temple at Sabarimala, dedicated to Him.

Festival

The myth related to Lord Ayyappan and Erumely

On his way in search of the milk of a tigress Ayyappan found a hut near a small stream owned by an old woman. He decided to spend the night on the 'thinna' ( veranda, sit-out, porch) but the old lady hesitated as the small village was under the threat of a demon disguised as an 'eruma' (word for buffalo in Malayalam). The name of the demon was Mahishi (which again means buffalo and she was the sister of Mahishasur a famous Asur or Rakshas (a kind of evil demon). Despite her words he decided to stay there and had a furious fight with the Eruma at night and at last killed her. The myth says that her rudhiram (standard Malayalam word for blood) made a pool there. (The pond near Devaswam Board High School now is believed to be that pool of blood famous as "Rudhirakkulam" or mispronounced by natives as uthirakkulam).

The next morning the villagers became happy with the news of the death of Mahishi. They hanged her dead body on a pole, held "panal" leaves, sprinkled Mahishi's blood on themselves and started rejoicing as a procession. The famous "Pettathullal" now done by coloring self, holding wooden bows, arrows, swords, ghadhas, leaves etc. is a commemoration of that procession. Pettathulal represents the joy amongst the people for "Mahisheevadham".

The Festival Season ('Ayyappankol' as said by natives)

People might have built a temple with Lord Ayyappa as the main deity. Now there are two temples in the heart of the town, the distance between the two being less than 1 kilometer. One is 'Cheriya Ampalam" meaning small temple and the other "Valiya Ampalam" meaning big temple.

Lord Ayyappa had an enemy named Vavar (may be a mispronunciation of Babar) who later became his companion. Ayyappa bhakthas (devotees) believe that Vavar's spirit is still at the Muslim Mosque just opposite to the Cheriya Ampalam. So after the worship at Cheriya Ampalam they move as a procession coloring themselves, holding wooden bows, arrows and leaves and cross the road to visit the Muslim Mosque to pay their offerings.  Then they go to the Valiya Ampalam. The visit to Vavar Swamy and Valiyampalam is done in the form a dance known as Pettathullal. The procession is accompanied by Chendamelam (drums and bands) and they dance all the way to Valiya Ampalam. Once they reach Valiya Ampalam they worship Lord Ayyappa's deity there, wash themselves, and then proceed to Sabarimala.

The festival season is between November and January every year.