Pancha pathi
Encyclopedia
Pancha pathi are the five important pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi
. These are also considered as the primary Pathi
s and as worship centers of Ayyavazhi with primary status. The first pathi is Swamithope pathi
itself and is the headquarters of Ayyavazhi. The other Pathis are Muttappathi
, Thamaraikulam Pathi
, Ambalappathi
and Pooppathi
.
All the five of the Panchappathis are located within a Fifteen-kilometer circle of Kanyakumari, the land end of the Indian Sub-continent.
took place. The land's holiness is described in Akilattirattu Ammanai
that Parthiban, the legendary Arjuna
made penance to get Pasupathasthiram from Lord Siva
. This was also the birth place 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 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.
was the place where 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 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, 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 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 the Panividai and also the Annadharmam on that day at Muttappathi.
Tamaraikulampathi
is the birth place 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 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 is being conducted here. Now, there are Vahana
s made of wood for the festivals. The festivals and day-to-day affairs of the Pathi are conducted by the village people. This Pathi
is managed by the Trustees appointed by the Village Committee.
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
.
near Manakkudy and stayed there for two years. This place 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 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 Thangal
s 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 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 is the most important Pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi people, next to Swamithoppe. This Pathi is also called Pallathu pathi and Mulakunda pathi.
) as Poomadanthai was living at a place near Eathamozhi. Some devotees wanted to unite this divine couple. But there 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 in to Vaikundar and the only deity unified not at Ambalappathi
. Ayya Vaikundar took rest there in 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.
Ayyavazhi
Ayyavazhi is a dharmic belief system that originated in South India in the 19th century. It is cited as an independent monistic religion by several newspapers, government reports and academic researchers. In Indian censuses, however, the majority of its followers declare themselves as Hindus...
. These are also considered as the primary Pathi
Pathi
Pathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...
s and as worship centers of Ayyavazhi with primary status. The first pathi is Swamithope pathi
Swamithope Pathi
Swamithoppe Pathi , Swamithoppu-pathi, Manavai-pathi, Thamarai-pathi or Thalaimaippathi [Thalaimai + pathi] is the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, the head of all Worship centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar is said to have performed the Tavam...
itself and is the headquarters of Ayyavazhi. The other Pathis are Muttappathi
Muttappathi
Mutta Pathi , is one of the Pancha pathi, which are the primary centers for worship of the Ayyavazhi. This is the third important pilgrim center of Ayyavazhi...
, Thamaraikulam Pathi
Tamaraikulampathi
Thamaraikulam Pathi , is one among the Pancha pathi, the five holy places of Ayyavazhi. The Ari Gopalan Citar, who wrote the Akilam was born here....
, Ambalappathi
Ambalappathi
Ambala Pathi , also called as Pallathu pathi or Moolakunda pathi is one of the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, and the second important pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar is said to have unified all divine power into himself by symbolic marriages.According to Ayyavazhi...
and Pooppathi
Pooppathi
Winnie the Pooh Pathi is one among the Pancha pathi, which are the primary worship centers and holy places of Ayyavazhi. As the incarnational activity of Vaikundar, the marriage with Poomadanthai, the Goddess of Earth was the event took place here...
.
All the five of the Panchappathis are located within a Fifteen-kilometer circle of Kanyakumari, the land end of the Indian Sub-continent.
Swamithope pathi
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 AyyaTavam of Vaikundar
According to Akilattirattu Ammanai, For ten months, Ayya Vaikundar revealed to the people all about the past, present, and future in the form of songs. He sang definitively about the future. Some of those who heard him, took his words as meaningless mutterings...
took place. The land's holiness is described in Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
that Parthiban, the legendary Arjuna
Arjuna
Arjuna in Indian mythology is the greatest warrior on earth and is one of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Arjuna, whose name means 'bright', 'shining', 'white' or 'silver' Arjuna (Devanagari: अर्जुन, Thai: อรชุน, Orachun, Tamil: Arjunan, Indonesian and Javanese: Harjuna,...
made penance to get Pasupathasthiram from Lord Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. This was also the birth place of Veda Vyasa who wrote the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
. 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.
This is one of the most important religious centers in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
and attracts a huge crowd from across the country. The London Missionary Society
London Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
Reports of the 19th century speaks in abundance about this Pathi and the huge attraction of crowd even from those days.
Mutta Pathi
MuttappathiMuttappathi
Mutta Pathi , is one of the Pancha pathi, which are the primary centers for worship of the Ayyavazhi. This is the third important pilgrim center of Ayyavazhi...
was the place where the second phase Thuvayal Thavasu
Thuvayal Thavasu
Thuvayal Thavasu, literally washing penance, was a significant religious event that took place in the 19th century. It was also called as thuvayal panthi....
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 the life of devotees. The coconut grove where Thuvayal Thavasu was conducted belonged to a pious Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
. 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
Payyan dynasty
Payyan dynasty is a family which manage and administer Swamithope pathi, the head quarters of Ayyavazhi. The genesis of Payyan dynasty was a bit uncertain. It was believed to be the descendants of Pothukkutty who was called as Payyan by Ayya Vaikundar...
. Later, due to some litigations, 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
Pathi
Pathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...
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
Tavam of Vaikundar
According to Akilattirattu Ammanai, For ten months, Ayya Vaikundar revealed to the people all about the past, present, and future in the form of songs. He sang definitively about the future. Some of those who heard him, took his words as meaningless mutterings...
to meet his Father Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
for the First Muttappathi Vinchai
Vinchai to Vaikundar
In the literature of Hinduism, Vinchai are proclamations and instructions to the newly born child Vaikundar, by his father Narayana, also known as Vishnu, one of the three godheads in Akilattirattu Ammanai, the source of Ayyavazhi mythology...
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
Payyan dynasty
Payyan dynasty is a family which manage and administer Swamithope pathi, the head quarters of Ayyavazhi. The genesis of Payyan dynasty was a bit uncertain. It was believed to be the descendants of Pothukkutty who was called as Payyan by Ayya Vaikundar...
of Swamithoppe conduct the Panividai and also the Annadharmam on that day at Muttappathi.
Thamaraikulam Pathi
Tamaraikulampathi
Tamaraikulampathi
Thamaraikulam Pathi , is one among the Pancha pathi, the five holy places of Ayyavazhi. The Ari Gopalan Citar, who wrote the Akilam was born here....
is the birth place of Hari Gopalan Citar, one of the disciples of Ayya Vaikundar
Ayya Vaikundar
Ayya Vaikundar , according to Akilattirattu Ammanai , a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was a Manu Avatar of Narayana, incarnated as Muthukutty or Mudisoodum Perumal, a Nadar of Swamithoppe, Tamil Nadu Ayya Vaikundar , according to Akilattirattu Ammanai (or Akilam), a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was...
. He was also called the Sahadevan. Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilattirattu Ammanai
Akilathirattu Ammanai , also called Thiru Edu , is the main religious text of the Tamil belief system Ayyavazhi...
, 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 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
Tamil calendar
The Tamil calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Tamil Nadu. It is also used in Pondicherry , and by the Tamil population in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. It is also used by Telugu speaking people in Tamil Nadu...
. In those days, people celebrated this occasion as a festival. This practice has been discontinued for the past fifty years. Daily Panividai is being conducted here. Now, there are Vahana
Vahana
Vāhana denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical entity, a particular deva is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vāhana is often called the deity's mount. Upon the partnership between the deva and his vāhana is woven much iconography and mythology...
s made of wood for the festivals. The festivals and day-to-day affairs of the Pathi are conducted by the village people. This Pathi
Pathi
Pathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...
is managed by the Trustees appointed by the Village Committee.
Thamaraikulam Pathi is situated in the South Thamaraikulam, one kilometer south of Swamithoppe. One can reach this place from Nagercoil
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...
or Kanyakumari by Town bus. It is fourteen kilometers away from Nagercoil
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...
.
Ambala Pathi
Ayya Vaikundar after the Tavam, went to a place called PallamPallam
Pallam , is a small village in the Kottayam district of Kerala state, south India. It is near Kottayam town.-Religion:The village has a mix of predominantly Hindu and Christian residents....
near Manakkudy and stayed there for two years. This place is called as Ambalappathi
Ambalappathi
Ambala Pathi , also called as Pallathu pathi or Moolakunda pathi is one of the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, and the second important pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar is said to have unified all divine power into himself by symbolic marriages.According to Ayyavazhi...
. 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
Bhagavathi
Bhagavathi or Bhagavati is the general way people refer to the Hindu goddesses in Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra states of India. It can be used to refer any of the Hindu goddesses like Durga, Kannaki, Parvati, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali...
.
As Muruga, he assumed the powers of Valli
Valli
Valli is a Goddess and the divine consort of the prominent Hindu God Murugan, according to Hindu mythology. She represents the "Ichha Shakti" , and Goddess Deivayanai depicts "Kriya Shakthi" , and the Vel embodies "Gnana Shakthi" .Valli in Tamil language means a creeper and is also used as a title...
and Dheivanai. As Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
, he also assumed the powers of Madaikattal. It was from this place that the devotees took Ayya on horseback to such villages as Kadambankulam
Kadambankulam
Kadambankulam is a small village in the Radhapuram taluk of Tirunelveli District. It is 7 km from Vallioor. Kadambankulam, a hamlet in the extreme south of Vallioor, covers an area of 30 km2. As the major occupation of the villagers is agriculture, around 60% of the area is covered by...
and Pambankulam. Ayya established Nizhal Thangal
Nizhal Thangal
Nizhal Thangal are secondary worship places of the Ayyavazhi, often smaller in size compared to Pathis, built per the instructions of Akilattirattu Ammanai...
s 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
Pathi
Pathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...
and conducted daily Panividai. Now, this Pathi 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
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...
. 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 is the most important Pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi people, next to Swamithoppe. This Pathi is also called Pallathu pathi and Mulakunda pathi.
Poo 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 EarthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
) as Poomadanthai was living at a place near Eathamozhi. Some devotees wanted to unite this divine couple. But there was stiff opposition from the relatives of the girl. Poomadanthai was chanting the praise of Ayya Vaikundar
Ayya Vaikundar
Ayya Vaikundar , according to Akilattirattu Ammanai , a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was a Manu Avatar of Narayana, incarnated as Muthukutty or Mudisoodum Perumal, a Nadar of Swamithoppe, Tamil Nadu Ayya Vaikundar , according to Akilattirattu Ammanai (or Akilam), a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was...
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 in to Vaikundar and the only deity unified not at Ambalappathi
Ambalappathi
Ambala Pathi , also called as Pallathu pathi or Moolakunda pathi is one of the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, and the second important pilgrim centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar is said to have unified all divine power into himself by symbolic marriages.According to Ayyavazhi...
. Ayya Vaikundar took rest there in 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
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...
and Eathamozhi.
See also
- Worship centers of AyyavazhiWorship centers of AyyavazhiThe Pathis and Nizhal Thangals, are centers of worship and religious learning for the followers of Ayyavazhi which are established in different parts of India. They served as centres for propagation of the beliefs and practices of Ayyavazhi. There are more than 8000 worship centers throughout...
- PathiPathiPathi is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple...
- Ayya VaikundarAyya VaikundarAyya Vaikundar , according to Akilattirattu Ammanai , a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was a Manu Avatar of Narayana, incarnated as Muthukutty or Mudisoodum Perumal, a Nadar of Swamithoppe, Tamil Nadu Ayya Vaikundar , according to Akilattirattu Ammanai (or Akilam), a scripture of the Ayyavazhi, was...
- Panchalinga DarshanaPanchalinga DarshanaPanchalinga Darshana is a holy festival held once every twelve years in the ancient temple town of Talakad on the banks of the Kaveri river in Karnataka, India....