Arayan Book Authors
About the Authors
Our journey began a decade ago, during our first pilgrimage to Sabarimala. By the grace of Śrī Ayyappa, who guides every seeker’s steps, the vision behind this work gradually took shape and became a reality.
At the heart of this book stands Śrī Arayān — the glory of Lord Ayyappa, the manifestation of Śrī Mahā Vishnu. This work is the culmination of years of tapas, deep study, and sincere research. It explores a fundamental question: Why is Lord Ayyappa understood as Mahā Vishnu Himself, and not merely Śāstha?
Our quest led us through extensive reading and analysis. After studying numerous works on Ayyappa, we noticed a consistent pattern — most repeated the idea that Ayyappa is a manifestation of Śāstha. Yet, when we asked foundational questions and applied logical, historically grounded analysis, a very different narrative emerged.
Historical evidence shows that stories linking Ayyappa to Śāstha appear only within the last 150 years. Older British records, Travancore surveys, and traditional accounts uniformly describe Sabarimala as the Abode of Lord Ayyappa, distinct from Śāstha temples. The Travancore State Manual itself lists Sabarimala separately from Śāstha temples until 1863.
Our research also includes inscriptions of Lord Ayyappa found at Moolathanam, Showing early and clear references to Ayyappa’s independent identity. These inscriptions, along with every recorded historical event from the 1800s to the present at Sabarimala, have been carefully compiled and analyzed in this book.
As we explored local histories, oral traditions, and early records, we found that for centuries the people of the region recognized only Ayyappa — a memory still preserved among many hill communities. The now-prominent Mahishi narrative, introduced much later, does not align with older traditions and appears to have overshadowed the original identity of Ayyappa (Arayān).
Through sustained and meticulous study, a clear understanding emerged:
Arayān (Ayyappa) — not the recently constructed “Śāstha version” — represents the true historical and cultural identity of Sabarimala, with deep connections to both the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyana traditions. This book presents the inscriptions, documents, and historical evidence supporting this truth in comprehensive detail.
Authors:
L. Srinivas & Satish Chandra L
ARAYAPPA-AYYAPPA
SWAMIYE SARANAM AYYAPPA