The Ayya Vaikunda Avataram or Vaikunda Jayanthi (

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...

: அய்யா வைகுண்ட அவதாரம் or வைகுண்ட ஜெயந்தி - ''Incarnation of Lord Vaikundar'') is a festival celebrated by the followers of

Ayyavazhi Ayyavazhi ( ta, அய்யாவழி, ml, അയ്യാവഴി ''Ayyāvaḻi'' , ) is a henotheistic belief that originated in South India.Tha. Krishna Nathan, ''Ayyaa vaikuNdarin vaazvum sinthanaiyum'', p. 62: "" (The day at which Vaik ...

on the 20th day of the Tamil month of Masi, the date on which the Ayyavazhi followers believe that

Lord Narayana Narayana (Sanskrit: नारायण, IAST: ''Nārāyaṇa'') is one of the forms and names of Vishnu, who is in yogic slumber under the celestial waters, referring to the masculine principle. He is also known as Purushottama, and is consi ...

himself incarnated as Vaikundar during an encounter with a deity Goddess Lakshmi, he was beget inside the sea and arose from the sea of

Thiruchendur Tiruchendur is a municipality located in Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India. It is home to the Arulmigu Subramaniya Swamy Temple, which is one of the Six Abodes of Murugan. Etymology Tiruchendur, a temple town like many towns in the st ...

on Kollam Year 1008 at 20th day of Tamil Month Masi (1 March 1833 CE, Friday). He took the human form as Narayana Pantaram at Tharuvaiyur near seashore to destroy the evil spirit of

Kali Kali (; sa, काली, ), also referred to as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, and Kalika ( sa, कालिका), is a Hinduism, Hindu goddess who is considered to be the goddess of ultimate power, time, destruction and change in Shaktism. In t ...

and transform the

Kaliyukam ''Kali Yuga'', in Hinduism, is the fourth and worst of the four ''yugas'' (world ages) in a ''Yuga Cycle'', preceded by ''Dvapara Yuga'' and followed by the next cycle's '' Krita (Satya) Yuga''. It is believed to be the present age, which is ...

into Dharma Yukam. This is the only

festival which is celebrated simultaneously in all worship centres of Ayyavazhi on 19th Masi, the day before the date of incarnation of Vaikundar. The Vaikunda Jayanthi festival is a restricted holiday for the states of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...

and Kerala. It is also a local holiday for the districts of Kanyakumari,

Tirunelveli Tirunelveli (, ta, திருநெல்வேலி, translit=Tirunelveli) also known as Nellai ( ta, நெல்லை, translit=Nellai) and historically (during British rule) as Tinnevelly, is a major city in the Indian state of Tami ...

and

Tuticorin Thoothukudi (formerly Tuticorin) is a port city, a municipal corporation and an industrial city in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city lies in the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal. Thoothukudi is the capital and he ...

districts. The Great Masi Procession from

Nagercoil Nagercoil, also spelt as Nagarkovil ("Temple of the Nāgas", or Nagaraja-Temple), is a city and the administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu state, India. Situated close to the tip of the Indian peninsula, it lies on an ...

Swamithope Swamithope (alternate spelling Swamithoppe) is the name of a village that lies southeast of the City of Nagercoil, the capital of the Kanyakumari district, District of Kanyakumari in the State of Tamil Nadu, at the extreme southern tip of India. ...

on the Avatar day is one among the largest religious processions in

Processions

A grand procession originates from Thiruchendur to Nagercoil on the 19th of Masi representing the way of Vaikundar after the Avataram to

Detchanam Detchanam literally means ''south'' or ''the land of south'' though in greater sense it includes the land south of Kailash. In Akilattirattu Ammanai the word Detchanam directly represents the land of South India with Swamithoppe as its centre, a ...

, and another procession starts from

Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram (; ), also known by its former name Trivandrum (), is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the most populous city in Kerala with a population of 957,730 as of 2011. The encompassing urban agglomeration populati ...

, on the same date representing the release of Lord Vaikundar from the jail of Singarathoppe. Both meet at

in the evening and at the next early morning, on the 20th of Masi the Vaikunda Jayanthi Orvalam originates from

Swamithoppe Swamithope (alternate spelling Swamithoppe) is the name of a village that lies southeast of the City of Nagercoil, the capital of the District of Kanyakumari in the State of Tamil Nadu, at the extreme southern tip of India. In the past, Swamitho ...

with several devotees. This is one of the largest festivals of the district which attracts a large crowd.

Thiruchendur Procession

As per the scriptures of

the incarnation of Vaikundar was from the Sea of Tiruchendur on 20th of Masi. So on celebrating this event the nationwide followers of Ayyavazhi assemble at Tiruchendur on that day (19th Masi or 3 March) at

Avatharappathi ''Avathara Pathi'' is a phrase in Tamil which represents 'The place where God incarnates'. The Avathara Pathi is one among the holy places of Ayyavazhi,''(see: Ayyavazhi Holy Sites)'' which had been erected in Thiruchendur. Avathara Pathi is loc ...

, the

Pathi Pathi ( ta, பதி - "The place where God is") is the name of the primary centres of congregational worship for the South Indian religious system of Ayyavazhi, having a relatively large structure like that of a temple. They are seven in numbe ...

erected on the sea-shore where Vaikundar is believed to be incarnated. 181-st Vaikunda Avataram Tiruchendur

On 18th Masi, (previous day) night the festival at Tiruchendur is celebrated in a grand scale and several conferences, cultural programs and

Anna Dharmam {{Ayyavazhi Anna Dharmam is a term used for an Ayyavazhi ritual that involves sharing food without inter-dining. Inter-dining refers to the act of dining within one's own caste, and excluding others. The practice of Anna Dharmam may have emerged ...

s were held and the celebration goes on for the full night. Then on the 19th Masi morning, around 8 O' clock the people assembled there will take a holy bath in the Sea of Thiruchendur under the leadership of

Avathara pathi ''Avathara Pathi'' is a phrase in Tamil which represents 'The place where God incarnates'. The Avathara Pathi is one among the holy places of Ayyavazhi,''(see: Ayyavazhi Holy Sites)'' which had been erected in Thiruchendur. Avathara Pathi is l ...

Dharmaghartta's. This practise of taking bath (holy dip) at

on the day of Vaikunda Avatar is considered sacred. The Dharmaghartta's applies sacred 'Namam' on everybody's forehead. Then around 9 O' clock the procession starts from Tiruchendur under the leadership of Dharmaghartta's. The people follows Dharmaghartta's chanting ''"Ayya Siva-siva Siva-siva ara-kara ara-kara"''. Several vehicles such as trucks, vans and cars follow the procession. The procession goes through Seerkatchi, Nainarpathu,

Udangudi Udangudi is a Panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Demographics India census, Udangudi had a population of 19,738. Males constitute 49.92% of the population and females 50.07%. Udangudi has an average liter ...

, Chettiarpuram, Theriyoor, Santhayadi, Kottankadu, Muthukrishnapuram, Padukkapathu, Thattarmadam,

Thisayanvilai Thisayanvilai is a special grade town panchayat. It is one of the taluks in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Demographics India census, Tisaiyanvilai has a population of 23,702. Males constitute 48% of the population a ...

and reaches Erumaikulam at noon. Here the people participate in

. Then, the procession starts from here and travels through Ayankulam, Karaichuthupudur,

Koodankulam Kudankulam is a town in the Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is 20 km northeast of Kanyakumari, 30 km from Nagercoil, 70 km from Tirunelveli and about 105 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The town is notable as the co ...

Chettikulam Chettikulam is a small coastal village in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is from Kanyakumari on the east coastal road connecting Kanyakumari with Thiruchendur. The nearest town is Nagercoil. The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project ...

, Chalaipudur,

Avaraikulam Avaraikulam is a village in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India. It is located 72 km from Tirunelveli and 20 km from Kanyakumari. Most residents are involved in agrarian activities. The Arulmigu Mutharamman Thirukovil Te ...

, Ambalavanapuram, Aralvaimozhi,

Thovalai Thovalai is a small village located in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India. The area is well known in India for its production of flowers, especially jasmine. The taluk was among several in Thiruvananthapuram district that with the passage of the ...

and reaches Athalavilai.

Thiruvananthapuram Procession

Lord Vaikundar, was released from the Jail of

Singarathoppe Singarathoppe is a small village near East Fort in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state, south India. It was here Ayya Vaikundar was jailed by Kalineesan (Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma ( ml, സ്വാതി തിരുനാ� ...

on 19th Masi, (3 March) after the trial with the king of

Travancore The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...

, Swathi Thirunal. After the release Lord was carried in a

Vahana ''Vahana'' ( sa, वाहन, or animal vehicle, literally "that which carries, that which pulls") denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical, a particular Hindus, Hindu God is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vahana ...

, by his followers. So on celebrating this event the people used to go to

on that day and go as a procession to

. Though religiously, this celebration is not associated with the incarnation of Vaikundar, since it coincides with that day it too is commonly seen as an incarnational fest and is celebrated in the same vein. Though this was an on-foot procession for some years, now it was changed as a vehicle procession. Most of the people who participate in this procession are from

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a 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 regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

. Like wise the Tiruchendur procession. The procession starts from

East Fort The Kizhakke Kotta, commonly known as East Fort, is a busy commercial street located at the heart of the central business district of Thiruvananthapuram city the capital of Kerala. East Fort is known as the heart of the city as it is located i ...

through the

- Kanyakumari Highway (NH - 47). It passes through the towns of

Balaramapuram Balaramapuram is one of the panchayats that form the city of Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, India. It is the most urbanized panchayat in the Thiruvananthapuram district. Balaramapuram is the centre for the production of traditional varietie ...

, Parasala,

Kaliyakkavilai Kaliakkavilai is a town panchayat in Kanyakumari district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Tamil Nadu, close to the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. It lies on the Kochi-Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari National highway 47. Demogra ...

Marthandam Marthandam is a major trade centre in Kuzhithurai municipality across National Highway (NH 47) in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India. Formerly known as Thoduvetty (another name for the Marthandam market region), it was a portion o ...

, and

Thuckalay Thuckalay or Thakkalai is a town in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India. Thuckalay comes under the Padmanabhapuram Municipality, and is the administrative headquarters of Kalkulam Taluk. The Revenue Divisional Office is located in Mettuka ...

and finally reaches Athalavilai around 6.30 pm.

Celebration in Nagercoil

Both the Thiruchendur and Thiruvananthapuram processions unifies at Athalavilai. The Vaikunda Jyothi is lighted on the top of a hillock

Vaikunda Malai The Vaikunda Malai (Tamil:வைகுண்ட மலை) is a hill which is part of the Mahendragiri Hills situated near Athala vilai of Kanyakumari district in the Western Ghats of India. This hill has religious importance in the Ayyavazhi r ...

at Athalavilai. Then the procession proceeds to Nagercoil. A religious conference is held there in Nagercoil. Eminent persons participate in the conference. It is followed by cultural and religious programs etc.

devotees from all over the nation stays here over the night.

The Great Masi Procession

On the next day on 20th of Masi, (4 March) 'The Great Masi Procession' begins early in the morning from

. The Dharmaghartta's usually will lead the procession. A decorated

vahana ''Vahana'' ( sa, वाहन, or animal vehicle, literally "that which carries, that which pulls") denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical, a particular Hindus, Hindu God is said to use as a vehicle. In this capacity, the vahana ...

is carried in front of the procession in which the Akilathirattu Ammanai (palm-leaf version) is sacredly placed. This is an on-foot procession and people walk following the vahana, chanting Ayya '' 'Siva-siva Siva-siva Ara-kara Ara-kara' ''. The participants will hold a saffron flag on their hands. Decorated

Elephant Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae an ...

s and

horse The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million y ...

s participate in this procession. The procession goes through Edalakudi,

Suchindrum Suchindram is a panchayat town in Kanyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu with Indian postal code as 629704. It is an important pilgrim centre and the site of the famous Thanumalayan Temple. There is an Anjaneya, (or Hanuman), s ...

, Vazukamparai, Ethankadu, North Thamaraikulam. As a sign of religious harmony, people of different faiths,

Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

Kottar Kottar is a locality and a bazaar area of Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu state, in the southernmost part of Peninsular India ; though a part of Nagercoil today, it is the original town around which the city of Nagercoil grew. It was an ancient trade centre ...

;

Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abraha ...

at Edalakkudi; and

Hindus Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

Suchindram Suchindram is a panchayat town in Kanyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu with Indian postal code as 629704. It is an important pilgrim centre and the site of the famous Thanumalayan Temple. There is an Anjaneya, (or Hanuman), sta ...

; welcome the procession by offering churul or garlands on the way. The procession reaches

at 12 noon and goes to the Muthirikkinaru first and then through the four car streets (Ratha veethi) of Swamithope pathi. Then it goes around the Santhana veethi, the inner-circumambulating route of pathi (shown in the blue print above). Before entering the

the people hand over the flags at the pathi. Lakhs of Ayyavazhi followers participate in this procession,

Dina Malar ''Dinamalar'' is an Indian Tamil daily newspaper. It was founded in 1951 by T. V. Ramasubba Iyer. ''Dinamalar'' has an average circulation of 942,812 (ABC Jan-June 2016) History Dinamalar was founded by T. V. Ramasubbaiyer on 6 September 195 ...

, (5 March 2007) Nagercoil Edition, Page 8. and thousands of Vehicles follows. So the transport on

- Kanyakumari Highway will be closed on that day till noon. This is one of the largest festivals of the state which attracts a huge crowd beyond the state. This day was announced as a holiday by the government of

for the districts of Kanyakumari from 1993 and for

and

from the year 2006.

Other processions

Also, several other

s too conduct processions on that day. Apart from these, the festival is also celebrated all over Tamil Nadu and Kerala grandly with processions in some

Thangal The thangals (also spelled tangals) are a social group among the Muslims of Kerala, south India.Kunhali, V. "Muslim Communities in Kerala to 1798" PhD Dissertation Aligarh Muslim University (1986/ref> The thangals are often regarded as roughly e ...

s including in

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

in which thousands participate.

Citations

References

* G. Patrick's, ''Religion and Subaltern Agency'', University of Madras, 2003. * N. Elango and Vijaya Shanthi Elango's, ''Ayya Vaikuntar - The Light of the World'', 2000. * ''

The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the secon ...

'',

Edition, 5 March 2007.
Thousands take part in Ayya Vaikundar Avatar day - The HinduAyya Vaikundar Avatar day - The Maalaimalar
{{Hindu festivals History of Ayyavazhi Ayya Vaikundar Hindu festivals Ayyavazhi mythology Hindu holy days Hindu festivals in Kerala February observances March observances Festivals in Tamil Nadu Religious festivals in India