Swamithoppepathi
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Ekam-The Ultimate Oneness | |
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Akilattirattu Ammanai | |
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Swamithoppe Pathi (also called சுவாமிதோப்பு பதி, Swamithoppu-pathi, Manavaippathi, or Thalaimaippathi (Thalaimai (chief) + pathi)) is the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi path of Hinduism, the head of all worship centers of Ayyavazhi, and the place where Ayya Vaikundar is said to have performed the Tavam.
According to Ayyavazhi , Ayya Vaikundar (or "Ayya Vaikuntar"), an incarnation of Lord Narayana, carried out his tavam at Poovantanthoppe, attracting many people from across India. The ponnmenikkoodu (Sacred Golden Body) of Ayya Vaikuntar were interred there, and the square-shaped Swamithoppu-pathi was constructed enveloping him. The holy book Akilathirattu ammanai of Ayyavazhi refers to the temple as "Thoppuppathi".
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Genesis and history
Ayya Vaikundar incarnated from the Sea, and after providing rules and regulations to God-heads, came to Detchanam (Swamithoppe) and performed Tavam for six years in the place which was now known as Vatakku Vasal in Swamithoppe. Then when the Kalineesan came to arrest him he went once again in to the sea at Muttappathi and after that (in tamil called the Vinchai), he returned Swamithoppe, from where he was arrested.
Then after his trial he was carried in a Vahana by his devotees to Swamithoppe where he incinerated the evil spirits and unified the Seven Virgins with himself. Then after the marriage with the deities in Ambalappathi he returned to Swamithoppe.
According to Akilattirattu Ammanai, Swamithoppe is the only place Narayana (Vaikundar) slept (in Tamil: Pallikolluthal) after the incarnation. Then he send 700 families to Thuvayal Thavasu to Vakaippathi and organised festivals and celebrations. And after all the Avathara Ekanais he attained Vaikundam and his ponnmenikkoodu (Sacred Golden Body) was interred in the place which is now the Palliyarai of Swamithoppe.
Note:- There are claims that Ayya Vaikundar does not take a Physical body and only shows a bodily appearance to the world, based on some quotes from Akilam.
Architecture and structure
Image:Swamithoppe pathi .jpg The Palliyarai contains two oil lamps (kuthuvilakku), an elunetru, and a large mirror. On a raised pedestal, covered with kavi cloth, the temple also preserves some articles believed to have been used by Ayya Vaikuntar, including a rattan cane (perampu) and a pair of wooden sandals. The Palliyarai is surrounded by inner corridors.
There is a common well some 300 meters from the main Pathi. Akilattirattu Ammanai states that all the eighteen castes take baths from that well. It was considered sacred to bathe in and to drink the water from that well. Then there found a Paal Kinaru, in the extreme east, Vatakku Vasal in the north and Sivaye Medai in the west of Palliyarai. Then all these were surrounded by outer corridors. There is a bell tower above the spot where Vaikundar performed the Tavam. Image:SwamithopeMap.jpg
Location
Swamithoppe Pathi is the headquarters of the five pathis (Panchappathis) of Ayyavazhi, and its geographical focal point. Swamithoppe Pathi, is located in the village of Swamithope, which lies southeast of the City of Nagercoil, the head quarters (capital) of the District of Kanyakumari in the State of Tamil Nadu at the extreme southern tip of India. Swamithope lies about half-way between the Cities of Nagercoil and Kanniyakumari on the Nagercoil-Kanniyakumari road.
Festival and celebrations
The main celebration of Swamithoppe includes Kodiyettru Thirunal, which was celebrated thrice in a year during the tamil months of Vaikasi, Aavani, Thai. It startes with Kodiyetrru (flag hoisting) and ends on the eleventh day with Car procession. Then the Thiru edu vasippu, the Seventeen day festival, in which the whole contents of Akilattirattu Ammanai where read melodiously. It was celebrated during the tamil month of Karthigai, the month at which it was written by Hari Gopalan Citar.
The most important festival is Ayya Vaikunda Avataram, the day at which Ayya Vaikundar incarnated from the sea at Thiruchendur. Several processions were held on that day which starts from different places including Thiruchendur and Thiruvananthapuram and ends at Swamithoppe.
