Vavar
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Vavar (), known reverently as Vavarswami, is a legendary figure from
Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
. He is traditionally believed to be a Muslim companion of the Hindu deity
Ayyappan Ayyappan, also known as Dharmasastha and Manikandan, is the Hindu deity of truth and righteousness. According to Hindu theology, he is described as the son of Shiva and Mohini (the female avatar of Vishnu), thus representing a bridge between S ...
. The story of Vavar's association with Ayyappan is a significant aspect of the region's spiritual history. A shrine dedicated to Vavar is located at
Sabarimala The Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple () is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Ayyappan, who is also known as Dharma Shasta and is the son of the deities Shiva and Mohini (female avatar of the god Vishnu). The temple is situated atop th ...
, one of the most prominent pilgrimage sites in Kerala. Additionally, a mosque dedicated to Vavar is situated in
Erumely Erumely, also spelled Erumeli, is a town and panchayat located in the south-eastern part of Kottayam district in Kerala, India. Erumely is situated east of Kottayam town and north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The village is on the b ...
, opposite an Ayyappan temple.


Legend

There are many legends about Vavar and his association with Ayyappan. Vavar was a Hanafi Rowther. Vavar and his family migrated to the
Pathanamthitta district Pathanamthitta District (), is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municipalitie ...
area. The family later resorted to pirate activities to make a living. When Ayyappan defeated Vavar and his pirates, Vavar was impressed by the youth's valour and became the messenger of Lord Ayyappa and helped him in the wars in the mountainous region. As time passed, Vavar too became an ardent devotee of Ayyappa just like Kaduthaswami, and came to be known as Vavarswami. The old sword on the wall of the Vavar mosque symbolises the eminence of Vavar as a great warrior. It is believed that Lord Ayyappa himself instructed the King of the Pandya dynasty to build a mosque for Vavar at Erumely in Kottayam District. The Sabarimala shrine is about 50 km away, deep in the forest in
Pathanamthitta district Pathanamthitta District (), is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municipalitie ...
. Erumely is the gateway to Sabarimala, the hillock shrine of Lord Ayyappa. This place is very famous for 'Pettathullal', a kind of mass spiritual dance performed by Ayyappa devotees. Pettathullal is performed in the Makaravilaku season, i.e., from mid-December to mid-January every year to commemorate the annihilation of the demoness Mahishi by Lord Ayyappa. It is believed that the aim of the incarnation of Lord Dharmasasta as the son of
Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ÉɦaËd̪eËÊ‹Éh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
and
Mohini Mohini (Sanskrit: मोहिनी, ') is the Hindu goddess of enchantment. She is the only female avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. She is portrayed as a ''femme fatale'', an enchantress, who maddens lovers and demons, sometimes leading them ...
was the annihilation of Mahishi. To commemorate this event the devotees perform the ritual called pettathullal in Erumely.https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/erumely-petta-thullal-held-with-ritualistic-fervour/article38236740.ece The barefooted devotees perform this dance by wearing black dhotis, garnishing their bodies with different colour powders and flowers and carrying toy bows and arrows and shrub branches and chanting the slogan "Ayyappa-thin-thakathom, Swami-thin-thakathom". The place name Erumely is believed to have been derived from the word 'Eruma kolli' fence, formed with the help of buffaloes, which later was transformed to Erumely. En route the pilgrimage to Sabarimala during the makaravilakku season, almost all of the Ayyappa devotees will come to Erumely and perform the ritual. Pettathullal starts from the small temple situated at the heart of Erumely town known as 'Kochambalam'. From there the dance procession advanced to the Muslim mosque called 'Vavar Palli' opposite to Kochambalam and the devotees worship 'Vavarswamy'. Finally, the procession ends up at Sabarimala.


Shrine

There is a shrine dedicated to Vavar in
Sabarimala The Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple () is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Ayyappan, who is also known as Dharma Shasta and is the son of the deities Shiva and Mohini (female avatar of the god Vishnu). The temple is situated atop th ...
next to the main temple. As per Islamic teachings there is no idol, but just a carved stone slab symbolises the deity of Vavar. A green coloured silk cloth is hung across one of the three walls. The fourth side is open. An old sword is also kept near the wall. The main offering to Vavar is black pepper. A Muslim priest still performs the rituals today as he was a Muslim.


See also

*
Ayyanar Aiyanar (, ) is a Village deities of South India, Tamil folk deity venerated in South India and Sri Lanka. His worship is prevalent amongst rural Tamils, Tamil people. Some studies suggest that Ayyanar may have also been worshipped in Southeast ...
*
Sabarimala The Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple () is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Ayyappan, who is also known as Dharma Shasta and is the son of the deities Shiva and Mohini (female avatar of the god Vishnu). The temple is situated atop th ...
* Maalikapurathamma


References

{{reflist Indian Muslims Tamil Muslims