__Amar_Chitra_Katha___Ayyappan

yya

Illustrated Classics From India

Over 86 milli on copies of over 400 titles sold worldwide!

Amar Chitra Katha is a colleclion of illustrated classics Ihal reldl slories from Ind ian
mythology, history, folktale and legend through the fascinating medium of comics. Over
430 stories from all o~er India have been told in this series that has been endorsed by
educationists and recommended by teachers the world over.
Through a masterful blend of commentary, dialogue and illustration , Amar Chitra Katha
presents complex historical facts and intricate mythology in a format that would appeal
to children. They not on!>' entertain, but also provide a filling introduction to the cultural
heritage of India. In a country so vast and varied. the series also serves as a medium
for national integration, by introdUCing young readers to the rich cultural diversity of
the country and highlighting the achievements of local heroes.
Amar Chitra Katha comics are like rami!>' heirlooms. passed down from generation to
generation. These timeless illustrated classics are now also available online on www.
AmarChilraKatha .com. Slarl your own collection lodayl

No. 673 • Rs 30

ii'ii

INDIA BOOK HOUSE

o Indi~ BooIo: Hou~ Pvl. lid. 1975 Reprinted: Augusl 2005 ISBN: 81-7508-198-8

Published ~nd Printed by I ndi~ Book Hou~ Pv1 lId, Millhalaxmi Chambers,
5 th Floor, 22 Bhulabhai O~i Road, Mumbai 400 026, India.

AYYAPPAN

KIN0 THE WIYILTHY RULER OF
NO CHILDREN.

HIS SUBJECTS WERE WORRIED. HIS FJMB/TIOUS DIWIIN, HOWEVER.
WIlS HIIPP'T. , - - - - -- - -
o15 NO HEIR THAT HE WERE
AS LON0 AS THERE
TO THE THRONE, BLESSED WITH Ii 15 NO HEIR TO THE

WHAT WILL BECOME SON. r - - - - " 1 THR.ONE, WHEN
OF U5 WHEN OUR ~,..-'
"P'"IO.U" SSAONND RA..JASHEKHRRA
KIN6 DIES? AS
orES HI5
lttD46 ENEROUS
AS HE J&! KIN0DOM WILL
CERTAINLY
BE MINE.

ALAS! WHO WI LL VOU ARE RIGHT. MY
QUEEN . LET U5
RULE THE KIN600M
AFTER ME? BE<?IN PRA'VIN6

TODAY.

FROM TffIlT OIlY

FERVENTLY TV
LORD SHIVII
FOR II SON.

MEIINWHILE, PIIR
11l" IIIY.THE EII7L

PENIIIVCES
TO 08Tlt/N II

BOON FROM
LORD BRfJHMIl

'-"'~ " LORD 8R~HMfj APPEARED BEFORE HIM . YOU HAVE PlEASED
ME MAHI5HA5URA .

WHAT ·BOON
DO YOU 5E.EK?

MIIH15HI15URA Wl15

LET MY DEATH
NOT BE CAUSED
By ANY MAN ON
THI5 EARTH.

l

EMBOLDENED BY THE BOON. MitHISHfi5llRfJ B£6fIN HIIRRSSIN6 fiLL ON EflRTH.

o DEVA5.

5AvE US!

THE DEV~ HELD COUNCIL . THEN LET
US EVOKE
THIS ASURR MU5T SE ONE WITH
DffiTROYED. BECf\U5 E OF
OuR
BRAHMA'S BOON ,ONLY A COMBINED
WOMAN WOULD BE ABLE
POWER5.
TO DO IT.

•

A5 SOON ~ THe WOMI1N BeFORE: DEVI ! 60 TO EflRTH
THEM-
I\ND DE5TROY

THE EVIL
MI\HI5H1\5URA.

WE

WILL C"LL

HER

CHANDIKf\

LIiU0!fIN6 I1LL THE WHILE, CHIiNDIKrJ WHO 15 THAT

DEV! ON EIIRTH. THE WHOLE 5ENSELESS
WOMAN ,?60
WORLD WfTH FORCE. BRINE'> HER

TO ME.

l

BUT CHIWOiKA DEVI VIINQUISHED THEM IN N O nME.

Tl\KE THE WHOLE ARMY
IF NECES~RY; BUT
BRING HER HERE!

HOWEVER, THE IlRMY Wil5 NO
NlilTCH EITHER FOR CHIINOIKA

RDOEUVIT.EITDw. l'l5 SOON r=~~::=::

,

MIlHISHII5URII WIIS MilD WI TH IIN6t:R . HE IIPPRO/ICHED
CHI'INDIKfl D£VI

THAT
WOMAN

HA560NE
TOO FAR.
I S HAL L
DESTROY
HER .

HER.

HER MISSION IICCOMPLISHED, WHEN MIiHISHIJ THE WIFE OF
CHIINOIKA DEVIIt5CENDED TO ltC/WeN. MIiHISHfiSL/Rfi ,LEARNT OF HER..
HU5B1WD'S D£ATH-

I SHALL TEACH
THE DEVAS
A LESSON. IT
WAS THEY
WHO INVOKED
THE DEVI.

MIlHISHI UNDERTOOK II DEEP PENIINCE BR.flHMfI eRllNTED tiER TliE
BOON fiND VflN/StiED.
70 PROPITIIiTE LORD BR.I1tiMfi. HE

flPPEilRED BEFORE HER. ,.----- ---.1

THAT I S HOULD

MAHISHI' WHAT NOT MEET MY
DO YOU DEATH AT THE

DE5IRE? HANDS OF EITHER

VISH NU OR SHI VA I

8

MIIHISHI 8E6IIN TO WHOM WILL YOU TURN NOW?

Tilt/NT/No THE SHIVA AND VISHNU
,----r it...----DEW/S.
POWERLESS ,--......

A6AIN5T ME.

SHIVII WIITr:HeD IINO IfE//RD fILL.

WE MUsT CREATE WHO WILL RERf't.
~ !;ON WHO lflE. 811BY?
WILL DESTROY
., MAHI5Hr.

I MUST PUT
I1N END TO
MAHI5H"S
I1RROOJ1NCE..

MY DEIIOTEES- I WILL TI1I<E
HIM THERE!
~~~~~~~ ARN/1DJl1HsIHSEQKHUIE1RE/N1.
THE.Y LONe; FOR
A CHILD.

A~ SOON AS THE INFANT w/lS·CREffTED -
I -W ILL TIE 11-115 60LD
BELL AR<;>UND HIe>
NECK BEFORE I TAKE
HIM TO EARTH.

HOIV
AND QUIET
ITI5 HERE.

5lIOOENLY HE HEARD fj FEEBLE WIlIL. A BABY'S
CRY? HERE?

IfE 51lW Il POOR BIlBY ! IfE LOOICED AROUND,
IlLONEON DON'T CRY!
It ROCK , NOTA SOUL
IN '51e>HT, TO
WHOM COULD
IT BELON6?

11

WHAT SHOULD WHILE HE DEBATED WITH HIMseLF II

I DO<' SHOU LD Ie.<~HMIlN SLlDOENLY /lPPEJ'IREO BEFORE
I TAKE HIN'r HOME?
HIM.
OR5HOULD I
DO NOT
LEI\VE HIM HESITATE,
HERE?' ."
o KIN6.TAKE

HIM HOME.

BUT

WHO

15 HE ?

YOU WILL KNOW THEN WHEN THE BRl'lliNlflN WfiS
WHEN HE 15
TWELVE YEARS flBOUT ro LEIWE-

O LD. WAIT! WHAT CRLL HIM
SHALL I liFTER

C/ILL HIM '? BELL WHICH HAN05

KVUNU HIS N ECK .

RI'l<lflSHEKHflRfI TOOK MfiNIK/iNTliflN BUT R/I<lflSHEKHflRfI'", DI WflN DIDW'T

HOMe TO HIS QUEEN. THINK. so.

HE IS ~T-H E A-CW-RSED-

A CHILD AT LAST ! GOD'S CHILD! IT
HAS U PSET ALL
HOW HAPPY OWN
MY PU~N 5.
l AM. 61FT.
o
o

__ __r-____________--~~____--, !4~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~

THE TIME MIWIKIINTffltN'S STUDIES THeN THE 6URI./ 8ROU6HT. HIS BLIND
MllTE SON BEFORE M/fNIK/lNTHIJIV.
IWI'RE OVER, THE 6URLI KNEW THAT HE WIJS

/I DIVINE

PLEASE ACCEPT MY 6URU- MANIKANTHAN.
DAK.5HINA~ PLEASE RE5TORE

HIS 516HT AND

FROM YOU SPEECH .

I WANT

Ccw\PflSSION.

NOT THESE.

FATHER! I HAVE BEEN
GIVEN PI NEW
LIFE'

N7ER THIS FIR.5T MlRflCLE MIINlt:lWTHIIN PERFORMED MIWY .-.

MORE. THE NEWS SPREflOll":D~•...F==::::-::;~;:;;;-;;;:~;;-;;;"""\

P' OUR FUTURE ~6

I HAVE NEVER A55URED. HE WILL

SEEN .suCH A SUCCEED THE

elFTED BOY. K IN6.

THE DlWIW, WHO OVERffEllRD TH£5E COMMENTS ...
TRIBUTE GIVEN BY A OISCIPl£ TO HIS TEACHER

. ..60T RE.ALLY WORRIED. RND THEN THE UNFORESEEN HAPPENeD.
THE QUEEN (?AVE BIRTH TO Ii SON.
~~
RLA5 ·! WHY WERE
I MU5T6ET YOU NOT BORN
RID OF THE ERRLlER? NOW YOU
BOY SOME- WILL NEVER
HOW. BECOME KIN6.
UNLE5S. •.

THE OIWIIN WIIS J/J8ILIINT. II FEW Ofl'rS LATER. HE WENr TO THE
QUEEN.
THE THRONE
E*iALL YET MANI KANTH"N WI LL
BE MINE ! SOON BE TWELVE
YEARS OLD .HE WilL LI
THEN BE CROWNED

HEIR RPPARENT

"

WITH' THAT. YOUR WHAT CAN WILLVOU 00
OWN OON WILL I DO?
LOSE ALL CHANCES IflM A5 I TELL yOU I?

OF EVER 8ECOMIN6 HELPLESS . FOR THE SAo::E
THE RULER,
OF 'lOUR

OWN 50N '?

r WILL . FOR MY
5Of\I J WILL DO

ANYTHIN0.

THE DIW/tN THEN WENT TV THE
COUIi!.T PHYSIC/lIN.

DO FtS I TELL
'IOU RND 'IOU
WILL6E WELL
REWARDED.

5PEFtK!

THE QUEEN HAS A VERY WELL .
SEVERE HEADACHE.
YOU WILL PRESCRIBE
TI0RES6'S MILK AS
THE ONLY REMEDY.

JUST THEN FI THE QUEEN IS IN
NlE55EN6ER A60NY. THE P;::IN6
(fiME 70 THE HAS ASKED YOU TO
PHYSIC/FIN . EXf\MINE HER IMMEDIATELY.

lIFTER THE WHAT 15 THE THE
QUICKEST Y REMEDY FOR
PHYSiClIIN I AILMENT is
REMEDY?I CIlN-
HIlD NOT BEAR TO TI6RE5S'S
SEE MY QUEEN
EXIlMINED
IN PAIN.
THE

QUEEN-

,..:..:-==-',--' T I6RE5S'5 MILK ~
BUT HOW ftRE

WE TO 6ET IT '?

MItNY MEN WENT &IT ItLL ReTURNED-
UNSUCCESSFUL.

WE SAW A
NUMBER OF
Tl6ERB . BUT•• .

THEN, E XIICTL Y 115 THE WICkED OIWIIN FOR MY MOTHER'S SAt:::E
LET ME 60, FATHER .
HAD FOR£SEEN-
HOW CAN I
MANIICJ1NTHA N ,
LET YOO 00
FATHER,LET NO! YOU ARE ON SUCH R
Df\N/3EROU5
ME 00 ON TOO 'fDUNE> . VENTURE.

THIS

ERRAND!

BUT M/WIK/lNTHflN ALL
PERSISTED fiND
RI6 H T .
RffoJII5HEK/fffR/l MY SON.
HAD TO YIELD. 60 IF yOU

1V145T.
BU T TAKE

CARE.

MffNlKffNTHffN
SETOUT
fOR THE
FOREST.

"

HE wANDERED DEEPER AND DEEPER. INTO I T HE CliME 70 THE oc:mlllN OF'"
MflHISH/J WHO LIVED IN THIIT FOREST.

WHO IS THJt1 CRERruRE
WHO D~RES TO TRESP~~
ON ()LIR FOREST? I MUST

TELL MY MISTRES S.

THE ASliRA RAN TO MRftI5HI . HOw DARE HE,

----r WITHOUT MY

THERE IS Po PERMI5SION !
BOY ROMIIN6 I'L L DEST ROY
IN OUR HIM.
FORESTS.

MflttlSHI WENT
LIP TO
M/fNIK/WTHIW
fiND. IITTIICKED

HIM .

I
MY E~RTHLY
Ml5510N
I~ ABOUT
TO BE

20

M fWIKflNTHIiN 500N
KiLLED MAHI5ff1.

115 MIWIKflNTHIW CONTINUED HIS THE DEVilS WHO HAD ACCOMPANIED
5£11RCIf rOR If T/6RES5 , INDRfI . J;:IN6 INDRfl !1L50 TURNED THEMSELV£5
Or THE DEVIlS,IlPPEARED BErORE HIM .
INn? n~55~£5~.Jr----J7~~~~~
r SHAL L TAKE THE
FORM OF A TI6RES5 • WE WILL
AND COME WITH YOU FOLLOW YOU
INTO THE CITY AS
INTO THE
YOuR MOUNT .
CI T Y.

c <---

21

liS MIINIKRIVTHRN RODE INTO mE CITY ON HIS TERRIFYING MOUNT
BY liN EQUIiLL Y TERRIFYING RETlfYUE- ·

TI6ER5! '

~C---....,

MAN1KANTHf\N MAN IKf\NTHAN
HAS
IS TWELVE
RETURNED.. , TODAY. TODAY
WITH A I WIL L KNOW
HORDE OF WHO HE 15.

r

JUST TH£N HE HE/IRD AND FELL liT
It DIVINE VOICE .

--------1

MANll(ANTHflN

IS NONE
BUT 00D

HIMSELF.

PLEASE
SEND THE
TI6RE5sE5

AWRY,
MRNllCflNTHRN.

MY PEOPLE ARE
TERROR-

5TRICICEN.

MfiNIKRNTHAIV SMILED, liND THE MY SUSPICION S
TIGRESSES VIINl5HED.·, . . - - - - - - d WERE CONFIRMED

AS SOON AS YOU WHEN I
L EfT. THE QUEEN OVERHEARD
A CONVER-
RECOVERED.
I BECfWlE SIITION
BETWEEN
SUSPICIOUS.
HER liND
M'I DIWAN.

" tlH"LL PUNI.5H "ND NOW
THEM fOR I MUST
THIS.
LEIWE
THIS

WORLD.

"P~RE

THEM.THEY

HASTENED MY

MI5SION OF

SLAYING
M"HISHI.

LORD, ~ L~ 5T REQUEST. r ~M PLE~SED . 'You MAY OBSERvE
SnOW ME THE PLACE IN BU ILD IT . TH E PATH OF THE
MY KIN0DOIVI WH ERE
I MA,( BUILD A TEMPLE WHERE THIS ARROW.
FOR '(Ou. ARROW I SHOOT

FALLS .

MIWtKIWTH/jN vl1NISHED /jIVO THE

TO?P;;-;::====:::-::--- lKIN0 BE6li1V HIS TREK TO THE

MOlINrmN

IT 1550
HI6H .. .
IMPOSSIBLE .

. LET THERE
BE J U ST
EI0HTEEN

STEPs LERDIN6
TO THE TEMPLE
AT THE EASTERN

. erATE.

itT L!loT RIkIfl5HEXHIIRII REflCHED THE ffi HE STCXJO THERE; D/jZED
TOP OF THE MOUNT/UN. WONDERlN6 WHERE TO 8E6fN-

n eM HOW WILL I 5HALL SEND

I EVER VI5HWRKflRM/\

ACHIEVE TO HELP YOU
OUT.
M"f -rn~" ~

···THE Mfl6NIFICENT TEMPLE WflS SOON T HROUGH THE l ORD'5
COMPLETED. GRACE IT HR5 RISEN-

NOBLE AN D
IMPOSING.

WILL I FIND LORD VISHNU DIVINED THE
A BEFITTING KIN6'5 IINXIETY. HE SENT
IDOL NOW ?' FOR P,9RffSHURI'IMII.

60 OOWN TO EARTH
AS A 5TONE-Cf\RVER.

HEL P R1WAS HEKHAR.-9
INSTALL TH E IDOL .

27

PAR!1S1fURflMfI LEFT FOR R/jVFJ5HEKHIIRII~

Pi/LllCE IIV "HE 0flRS OF II SCULPTOR .

--,,--'

liT THE I HAVE HEARD OF YOuR. PROBLEM .I IWI'I
KIN6'S COlIRT-
BE RSLE TO

SHO W ME YOUR HELP.

WARES BEFORE 'fOU TRICE - --
UP THE

TASK. .

YOU RRE N O ORDtNAR)' SCULPTOR. TELL PfiRASHURfiMfl ASSUMED
ME THE TRUTH. WHO ARE YOU? HIS OWlY FORM .

I RM PRRASHURF\MR. TODAY. THE DAY OF
I Hf\VE ALRERO'f
MAKRRA ,sRNK-RANTt,IS
FASHIONED THE RU5P1etOUS. t SHALL INSTALL
IDOL.
THE IDOL STRAI0HTRWA'f. To""'';?

THU5 IT WilE> TWIT
THE IMfll?JE OFflYYIIPPII,
As MflNIKfiNTHAN CAME

TO BE POPULARLY
KNOWN, WfJ5

MEIiNWHILE THE WICKED DIW/'JIV wti5 ONE Nf6HT HE HIiD fl

IiFFLlCTED BY liN INCURABLE COME TO MY TEIYIPL.E
D/5EIiSE . ON THE 5HASARI HILL
aUT ENTER ONLY
I HAVE SINNED. AFTER. CLEANSING
WIL L I EVER 'tOuR5ELF IN THE

BE CLEANSED '? PAMPR'!"

I H/WE COME TO WASH
AWAY M't SIN 5 IN
R.EMORsE , HOLY
fV\OTHER.5I\VE

-

THE D/WItH CliME ~'g~!:.TH.~~:..!:,.~t1!:r.~G::R-=--_-.d

GLOWIN0 WITH "!I

HEIILTH - I AM CLEANSED.

THE HOLY MOniER

HR S BEEN

MERCIFUL.

-

'If RIVER 51UD TO 8£ ENUVENED By THE SPIRIT OF SHfJBftRf. THE. DE'vOTEE OF
LORD RfiMFI.

THEN WITHOUT P/tU.5INg FOR. 8RE/JTfi HE R/lN UP TO THE rE.~M.::A..:';-::E::'~--,_--,;-_1

A'IYAPPA!

A YY~PPA !

\

IWffEN HE REACHED THe

51WCTUM 5I11VCTOR.UM,
CNERCOME By EMonON HE
FELL /iT THE FeET OF THE IDOL.

f;lWAMIYE
S Hf\Rf!NAM
RYYf'lPPA !

TO THIS D!iY IJs PILGRIMS NlFlKE THEIR WfiY TO THE TEMPLE OF ItYY/lf>pIl,
THEY CflLL OUT 'SWflMIYE SHflR/1NflM flYYflPPfI .'

31



Amor Chitro Kotho is a coll ection of illustrated classics that retell stories from Indian mythology,
history, folktale and legend , through the fascinating medium of comics. Over 400 titles have

been published in the Amor Chitro Kotho comic series that are approved by parents, appreciated
by children and accepted by schools.

Mythology 525 Toles of Arjuno 570 Dmhoro!ho
531 I<omo 571 DhOJvo ond A$hrovokro
501 I(ri$hr'lO 533 Abhimonyv
S02 Honumon 547 GaOJdo 512 Ancestors 01 Ramo
510 Buddho 565 Drooo
511 Sovilri 566 S~ryo 569 I(rishno olld Shishupolo
567 Illdro ond Shochi 592 Ghototkocho
512 Toles 01 Vishnu 612 Urvoshi
663 Min.>ddho
.520 Totes of No.odo
524 Ind.o ond Shibi 558 Bimol the Clever 6(7 A Bog of Gold Coins
559 Bi,bol the J~st 621 Udoyooo
Folktales 578 i(esori lhe Flying Thiel 625 Bortle of Wits
580 Inim ~oble Birbol 659 Devi Chovdhuroni
507 Nolo Domoyonti 58 1 Romon the Molchless Wit 664 I(ing I(usho
523 Romon of Teooli 667 Bikollt1e Terrible
543 Jotako Toles: Monkey Siooes 584 Gapol the Jester 713 The Fool's Di$Ciples
553 JOlOko Toles: Jackol SlOries
55 4 Jotoko Toles: Elephonl SlOries 587 Birbol the Genius
555 Jotoko Toles: Deer SlOnes
557 Bimol the Witty 606 Roni Durgovoti 685 Chond Bib;
701 Noor Johon
Hi story 627 Horsho 704 Jollionwolo Bogh
630 Rono 50ngo 722 Megos!henes
SOB Chonokyo 632 Vidyosogor 723 Jnoneshwor
536 Ashoko 648 Somvdro Gupta 725 Sulrono Ralic
563 Rono Protop 676 Rona Kumbho 734 Bondo Bohodur
568 Vikromodityo 682 Tonoji
579 Modhvochoryo
564 Shivoji 647 lot Bohodur Shostri
603 Akbar 608 81-.ogot Singh 650 Mohormo Gondhi
604 Pnrhviroj Chouhan 611 Booosoheb Ambedkor 678 Veer Sovon.or
6135oo.dos 679 Swomi Prooovonondo
Biography 631 Choitonyo Mohoprabhu 693 Joyaprokosh Narayan
636 Krishnodevo Reyo 70:1 Jowohorlol Nehru
517 Vivekonondo 645 Lokomonyc Tilok 732 Sworn. Chinmoyonondo
535 Miroooi
539 Roni 01 Jhonsi
54 4 Subhos Chondro 80se
548 Robindronorh Togor~
551 Tulsidos
563 Reno Protop

Visit www.AmarChitraKatha.com for details o n how to order these titl es online.

~

liN

INDIA BOOK HOUSE

MJhJla~mi Chambers, 51h Floor, 22 Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400 026, India.
Te123523827 Fa~ 23538406 Email infoOamarchitrakalha.com

Illustrated Classics From India

Awppan

The legend of Shabari Malai

A strange and fascinating series of divine events led to the birth of Manikanthrm.

Manikanthan had a glorious destiny. At the end of a life full of dramatic Bvents, Lord Parn hurama himself
sculpted and installed an idol 01him in the hill temple of Shabari. There, as lord Ayyappan, he is worshipped
as the p resi d in ~ deity of the entire hill fange .

This lone temple on the top of the Shabari hills, deep in the fOfests of Ketala, attracts millions of devotees

from all over the country every year. They travellhrough dense forests full of wild animals, over steep hills
and in incleme:'lt weather to obtain his 'datshan' (e glimpse) on Makara Sanbenthi day (which l alls on 14th
January each yearl. It is said that the lord comes down to the Shabari Hills on Makara Sankranti in the form
of light to give 'darshan' to his innumerable devotees and himself lights the tempte tamp. Then In a moving
and beautiful ritual the pilgrims partake of the 'prasad' and watk backwards down the eighteen steps, their
laces turned towards the l ord, shining with devotion and ecstasy .

Editor: Anant Pai

Script: Shyamala Mahadevan Illustrations: M. Mohandas Cover: C.M. Vitankar

Related Tilles

Tales of Shiva • Ganesha • Shiva Parvati
Kartikkeya • Sati and Shiva • Sons of Shiva

ISBN 81-7508-198-8

1M

INDIA BOOK HOUSE