Ayyappa mala-mudra-dharana-mantra-English Transliteration
Ayyappan (also called Sastavu, Manikandan or Sasta) is a Hindu deity who is the son of Harihara, fused with both Shiva and Vishnu. He is generally depicted in a yogic posture, wearing a jewel around his neck, hence named Manikandan, Literally meaning "With bell around the neck". By the 20th century, there has been an increase in the number of worshipers of Ayyappan from many different groups, spurred by vast improvements in transport and communication in southern India. When we wear the mudra mAlA, we are indeed making a physical, mental and spiritual commitment - with the Divine Self within, to prepare our body/mind/intellect complex for the arduous journey through the forests to reach His Divine abode, and to get His darshanam. We commit to observing the vratam for at least a manDalam (of six weeks), undertake the arduous journey and present our irumuDi at His Holy Feet - for the few precious moments of His divya darshanam. You can well appreciate how important this process is, in order to experience the bliss of His darshanam for the few precious moments.
