SYMBOLISIM OF AYYAPPAN

Symbolism of Ayyappan

Ayyappa represents the state of Yogi in Sath-chith-Ananda.  Why Ayyappa is called the son of Vishnu and Shiva.  Vishnu is the witnessing Consciousness (sath) and shiva is the auctioning awareness (chith).  Witnessing is static witnessing, while awareness is in dynamic action – Dharma Saastha and Pararasiraman.

Ayyappa is in the sitting posture to denote the two aspects of life, action (dynamic)and inaction (silent static witnessing), as told in Bhagavad Githa. Sitting posture neither in action awareness) nor in-action (consciousness).  Our true nature is witnessing consciousness, but for consciousness to witness to happen, awareness (action) takes a form of body (matter).  But in the body form we are always think that we are justthe body and mind.  We never realize that Awareness is behind all the action of life and our true nature (Athma) is that witnessing Consciousness.  We have taken a human form to experience our true nature, which is Consciousness.  Unfortunately we always identify with the body form and forget that our true nature is Consciousness.  Thisignorance of our own real self causes us to discard the old body (death) and take new body form (birth) again and again.  This endless birth & death is called samsara.  An exit out of this roller coast ride happens, when we realize our true Self, which is Brahman or Consciousness.  This exis is called Moksha or liberation, salvation, etc.

In a self realized person all the thoughts are under His control. He recongizes his divinity as inscriped in the Sabarimala temple "That-Tvam-Asi", which means "You are that supreme Consciousness".

This is the meaning of chin-mudra that Ayyappa shows. Little finger represents body, ring finger represents mind (that is why in wedding ring is worn in ring finger or mind finger because the event is the joining of two individuals are mind level). The middle finger is the senses and the fore finger is the “I” or ego thought. The thumb is the consciousness finger or intellect finger without which the other fingers are useless. The forefinger is always found associated with the other three fingers and when it transcends them it merges with the thumb to form a circle which indicates that this consciousness has no beginning and end. This is the thatva of chin mudra that Ayyappa shows and tells his devotees to achieve in life.  

Knowing the Symbolism of Sabarimala Ayyappa, let us now take the Journey to The Source. We will understand how each ritual in the journey represents the symbolism of Ayyappa story actually represents our inward spiritual journey to our own source, the Consciousness.