LORD AYYAPPA THE THIRD SON OF GOD SHIVA

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While every one knows Ganesha and

Murugan, the two sons born of Shiva and

Parvati, not many know of Hari Hara,

another son to Shiva, who was actually born

outside the Shiva Shakti wedlock.

Click icon to add picture Hari Hara, unlike his other brothers, was born not from

the union of Shiva and Shakti, but from a unique

condition that has no parallel elsewhere. Hari Hara

takes form from both-- Shiva and Vishnu—the two

Godheads that otherwise do not come together, and that

makes him extra special in the pantheon of gods.

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But how did Hari Hara

come to possess in his

body both, Shiva and

Vishnu?

Click icon to add picture Sometime in Treta yuga, a demon goddess Mahishi, prayed with such

devotion that Brahma appeared before her to grant her a boon. Mahishi

asked Brahma to make her invulnerable. Which of course could not be

allowed for the sake of mankind. So Brahma refused. Mahishi, not to be

outdone, then changed her request. She then asked for invulnerability

from all men, except from the one born of a male-male union, knowing

full well that such a birth would never be possible. Brahma,

unsuspecting, granted her boon.

Click icon to add picture Knowing that none, or almost none, can

harm her Mahishi went about wrecking

havoc. Her iniquities were such that the

Devas had to beg Vishnu and Shiva to save

mankind.

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Vishnu, in one of his avatars had taken a female form; he had

transformed into Mohini. Now, it is this avataar that Vishnu

assumed to have a child with Shiva. The child born, Hari

Hara—part Vishnu and part Shiva, was born out of a male-male

wedlock and so could break Mahishi's protection.

Hari Hara slayed Mahishi and saved mankind.

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Hari Hara is also known as Sri Ayyappan (and

sometimes Manikandan), in the southern parts

of India. Every year over 30 million devotees,

trudging a mountainous path, come to visit

Ayyappan at his Sabari malai temple.

Click icon to add picture Since Sri Ayyapan took birth to vanquish

evil and to save his people from evil, even

today devotees turn to him, seeking refuge

from evil with the prayer-- “ Swamiye

Saranam Ayyapa”

Ayyapa in your feet I seek refuge!

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