AYYAPPAN SWORD

AYYAPPAN VALL/KHADARI/KNIFE/SWORDKNIFE

Manikandan had made Vaavar as his friend.  Thus, Manikandan saved Pandalam from the big thief Vaavar. He had advised him to go to Erumeli and spend his balance days without stealing and killing others but to rectify him and run a good life.  As a reward to this His father presented something to Him. Just like that His mother also gave Him a Vall as gift.  Later, while going to sabarimala on His way for mahishi mardhanam Manikandan was feeling very hungry and he was in Erumeli. Hence he went to a nearby unknown house in that night.  An old lady (moothatti just like his grand mother) only was there in that house.  She was not aware of Manikandan.  Manikandan asked her to give something to eat.  On seeing Manikandan, the old lady came to know that the boy Manikandan was not an ordinary one and that He has godly power.  Since He was very hungry she searched for food.  She found at that time only little Pori (malar in Malayalam) and Aval with some kanchi (rice with green dhall with water in it) and very tasty puzhukku (made of maracheeni - tapioca). These are the items usyslly kept in any house there.  Hence she started to cook something for Him.  Manikandan asked her not to cook since she was too much aged.  She told that only those items are there to eat.  Manikandan gladly accepted that.  She, with much pain, served those items to Manikandan.  Manikandan happily ate that.  After Manikandan's dinner she asked Him to leave something there as a memory if his coming there.  Hence left that Vall there (which His mother gave) and disappeared.  Devotees going to Erumeli usually takes kanji there and not only that they are taking pori and aval. The importance of Pori & Aval has come in Irumudi is only because of this. (I have already explained importance of Appam & Aravana as  prasadam for Ayyappan in my earlier article Cheerappanchira which was sent already). These are taken as a mark of Manikandan's liking.  This house is even now in Erumeli and the said vall is kept there.  This house is in the opposite side of Kiratha sastha temple near one car park.  It is very near the temple only.  The house is very small and in a dilspidated condition when I had the luck of going to that house and had the dharsan of the sacred Vall along with my wife.  A lamp is also kept in front of the wall.

In day time it is very easy to find out that house.  Even the TDB has asked the house but it was not given so by the present owner of the house.  That owner is getting some little funds from the devotees who are going there.