One day, while Rajasekara went for hunting, he was resting in a place after a tiresome hunt. Lord Shiva along with Mohini left the baby in the dense forests on the banks of River Pampa, which was in Pandalam territory of Rajasekara. He directed Dharma Saastha to be born as a baby and grow up in Pandalam. Lord Shiva decided to answer their prayers through Dharma Saastha. The king and the queen prayed Lord Shiva for blessing them with a child. The king had only one worry in life that he had no children to take up the responsibility after his tenure. King Rajasekara was very successful as a king, keeping his kingdom prosperous. One such king called Rajasekara, who was the direct descendant of the Pandya dynasty was ruling Pandalam region. He was also called Hariharan as he was born to Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva).ĭuring the Pandya dynasty, while the Pandyas were ruling parts of Kerala apart from Tamilnadu, the descendants of the dynasty were given the rights to rule the country of Pandalam. He was named Dharma Saastha who was growing up in Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. He got attracted with the beauty of Mohini, and there happened the union of Lord Shiva and Mohini (Lord Vishnu), out of which a male child was born to them. Lord Shiva saw Lord Vishnu who was in the avatar of Mohini. Bhasmaasura innocently touched his own head and turned into ashes. Mohini agreed to it with a condition that he should touch his head and swear that he will not think of any other woman after marrying Mohini. On seeing her beauty, he wanted to marry her. Lord Vishnu took the form of a Mohini (a beautiful woman), and went to Bhasmaasura. Lord Shiva went and requested Lord Vishnu to rescue him. Bhasmaasura just couldn’t believe it and wanted to test it on Lord Shiva Himself. When Lord appeared to him, he asked for a boon that whoever he touches should turn into ashes. Mahishi started troubling Devas as the revenge.Ī demon king called Bhasmaasura performed penance praying Lord Shiva. She cleverly asked such a boon as both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu were male Gods. Mahishi prayed Lord Brahma that she should get such powers that no one should be able to kill her except a son who is born out of the union of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma appeared to Mahishi and told her that she can ask for any boon except immortality. Mahishasura was killed by Mahishasuramardhini (Kali) as per Devas’ prayers. To reach the temple, one has to trek through the hills by walk in the dense forest range.Īccording to both history and mythology, Lord Ayyappa is the last and only God belonging to the present Kaliyugam.Ī demon female called Mahishi, performed severe penance towards Lord Brahma to take revenge against Devas who were responsible for the death of her brother Mahishasura. The temple (Sannidhanam) is located on the hill top, at an altitude of 4135 ft. Sabarimalai is situated amidst the dense forests in Sahya hill (Sahyadri) range in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala.