Lord Ayyappa is a Hindu deity who is popular in South India. He is considered to be the son of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu in the form of Mohini, a female avatar. He is also known as Dharmasastha, Manikandan, Hariharaputra, and Sabarinath. He is worshipped as the god of righteousness, truth, and celibacy. He is also believed to have defeated the demoness Mahishi, who was the sister of Mahishasura, the buffalo demon. ¹²³

He has a famous shrine at Sabarimala in Kerala, where millions of devotees visit every year, especially during the Makaravilakku festival in January. The pilgrims follow a strict code of conduct and observe a 41-day vow of austerity before visiting the shrine. They also wear black clothes and carry a bundle of offerings called irumudi on their heads. Women of menstruating age are not allowed to enter the shrine, as Lord Ayyappa is said to be a celibate deity. ¹²

Lord Ayyappa is revered by people of different faiths and backgrounds, as he represents the unity of all religions and the harmony of nature. He is also associated with music and arts, as his consort is Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts. He is often depicted as a handsome young man wearing a bell around his neck, holding a bow and arrow, and riding a tiger or an elephant. ¹²

Source: Conversation with Bing, 23/10/2023
(1) Ayyappan – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyappan.
(2) The Legend of the Hindu God Ayyappa or Manikandan – Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/lord-ayyappa-1770292.
(3) Birth History of Lord Ayyappa, Ayyappa Story – Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/religion/hindu-mythology/birth-and-history-of-lord-ayappan/articleshow/68205091.cms.