He shot an arrow into the forest and it landed at the

He shot an arrow into the forest and it landed at
the summit of Sabarimalai (Mount Sabari). The King promised to
build a temple there. Ayyapan Dharma Shaasta, (Hariharaputran,
Manikanda), then dematerialised. The King built the Holy
Pathineddu Padi temple, which faces East and has eighteen steps
leading into it.
The Number Eighteen
Eighteen has special significance for worshippers of Ayyapan. Being
a multiple of 9 it represents perfection.
Festivals for Ayyapan worship are in January around the time of Thai
Poosam, but in some areas take place in June and November.

T
HE CASTE SYSTEM
Human beings are ruled by three Gunas (powers of nature)
1
:
1. Sattva – calmness, the light and harmony of pure intelligence and goodness that lead to happiness and harmony.
2. Rajas – the fire and desire of mental energy and restless passion that lead to action and greed.
3. Tamas – the darkness of dullness and inertia that lead to ignorance, negligence and delusion.
The gunas combine in different ways in each individual human being and keep her/him earth bound. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna
says: “There is nothing on earth or in heaven which is free from these three powers of Nature (gunas). An individual who reaches a
state in which s/he is detached from gunas, attains moksha (liberation from earthly bonds) and becomes one with Brahman .
The way in which gunas intertwine in each individual, gives rise to different personality types:
1. a brahmin type – ruled by sattva
2. a kshatriya type– ruled by rajas
3. a vaisya type – ruled by rajas
4. a sudra type – ruled by tamas
These personality types are related to human traits not social classes and refer to the predominant tendency of each human being.
We are all part- brahmin, part- kshatriya , part- vaisya , part- sudra , that is, we are all, in different degrees, seekers of knowledge, seekers

3
The Caste System
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of power, passionate, active, greedy and lazy. The extent to which
we are ruled by one of the gunas, determines whether we are mainly
brahmin, kshatriya, vaisya or sudra in character not occupation.
Unfortunately, the association of gunas with Brahmin, Kshatriya,
Vaisya and Sudra led to these being interpreted as occupations and to
the development of social classes based on work. Religious leaders
(Brahmins) , political leaders (Kshatriyas) , traders and craftsmen
( Vaisyas) and workers ( Sudras) became designated castes and
each caste was associated with one particular guna. Sattva was
associated with Brahmins (Priests) who were set up as the highest
caste, Rajas with Kshatriyas (Rulers), the next in rank, followed by
the Vaisyas (Merchants and Traders). Tamas was associated with
Sudras (workers) who were regarded as low caste. These four
castes were further divided along clan and occupational lines and
social interaction between castes was eschewed. The system gave
rise to a fifth caste, the Untouchables, people who removed sewage
and waste. The caste system, which accords people value in terms of
their occupation, is rigid and inhumane and those who are regarded
as valueless are subject to cruel and barbarous treatment.