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Ayyappa :Iconography


Ayyappa , the most famous deity of South India .
He was not much known to people outside South sadly nowadays he is also been dragged to the court .
However
Ayyappa is considered to be the son of Lord vishnu and Lord shiva
Now if you go by just sentence it would mislead you.

So the meaning of the sentence is Ayyappa is the combined energy of compassion (daya)  of Lord vishnu and wisdom ( gyana ) of Lord shiva.

Ayyappa is embodiment of tapas or austerity.
The deep meditation which generates internal quality of compassion and wisdom (vishnu and shiva)

His iconography is very much simple
He sits in yogic posture displaying varada and abhaya mudras.

The icon of Ayyappa is yoga murti.

These type of icons represent supreme Being in various meditation posture. They are worshipped by people who aspire for yoga or self mastery.
These icons are established either in river banks , hill tops, in forests and the places where there is no human habitation.
The reason is to afford Peaceful and undisturbed environment in which aspirants can practice yogic meditation.


Crown of Ayyappa
indicates unknowable reality which is been trying to represent by this deity.


Earrings represent two methods of pursuing knowledge
1. Sankhya (intellectual knowledge)
2 .yoga (intuitive perception)


chin mudra
indicates the imparting of knowledge from the deity to the contemplator and having received the knowledge of aspirant is expected to pass to others.
thumb pressing on index finger indicates suppress of egoism, 3 upraised finger indicates overcoming self referent desire, anger and greed

Varada mudra
Indicates benevolence of deity as well as the teaching principles of generosity to all beings on the planet.


Keertimukha(face of glory) behind his head is
The reminder that every thing is conditioned by time and space and all things including the deity is subjected to appearance and disappearance. Everything is impermanent and subject to constant change.


He sits in the lotus throne

Indicates
The idea of purity which arises from the law of conduct (dharma ) and the wisdom (jnana or gyana)
Lotus is symbol of enlightened mind. It rises from mud of material existence , growing through waters and opens up to the sun in all glory.
Water splashed on lotus leaf  never remains but immediately slips off. In same way dirt of worldliness never stains on enlightened  being.

Both legs on the lotus seat indicates
Full intentions to assist the devotee and an impending act of great compassion guiding others to enlightenment.


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