Lord Ayyappa's Strategy Holds Lessons For India's Fight Against Terror

News18

12-05-2025

Last Updated:
Sabarimala's legend reminds us that spiritual resolve and strategic firmness can go hand in hand
Sabarimala Temple, located in Kerala in the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats of Pathanamthitta district, is home to one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in India. Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, the temple attracts millions of devotees from all over the world, especially during the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku season (November-January). Nestled amidst dense forests and rugged hills, Sabarimala offers not only a deep spiritual experience but also an enchanting experience of Kerala's natural beauty.
The history of Sabarimala is deeply intertwined with the Pandalam royal family of Kerala, who are believed to be the lineage of Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity of the Sabarimala shrine. The Pandalam kingdom, established in 903 AD, was founded by the Pandya dynasty, and the royal family holds a significant place in the Sabarimala lore. Lord Ayyappa is often depicted as the son of the Pandalam Raja, and he grew up to become the commander of the Raja's army.
During those days, the entire Western coast of India used to be regularly frequented by traders, seafarers and plundering pirates of various nationalities. Even from the remote past, Arab pirates were attacking different parts of Kerala, though a narrative is assiduously propagated that the Arab traders came only for trade and commerce. A mysterious Muslim pirate named Vavar (could be a colloquial pronunciation for Babar), either of Turkish origin or a Shia from Babylon or an Arab nomadic from Mecca, fought and lost to Ayyappa multiple times before becoming his trusted lieutenant.
In current circumstances, such an attack from the seas would have been labelled as a 'terror attack', like the 2008 Mumbai attacks, also referred to as 26/11 attacks, which were carried out by sea-borne terrorists. The pirate Vavar had launched a maritime terror attack at Kayamkulam, near Pandalam. The local king sought the help of the Pandalam Raja to retaliate against the foreigner. The Pandalam King despatched Lord Ayyappa, who subjugated the foreign pirate Vavar. Perhaps, in the annals of India's maritime history, this could rank as the earliest sea-borne terror attack that was effectively repelled by shore-based defenders.
The maritime environment is an important part of the modern battlespace that has been changed by the advent of strategic terrorism. The traditional openness of the maritime frontier leaves numerous opportunities to be exploited for piracy and maritime crime on the world's seaways. By trouncing and detaining Vavar, Lord Ayyappa sent another important message to the world: never allow the defeated foreigner to return to his homeland.
For example, the cardinal mistake made by many Indian rulers in the case of Mahmud of Ghazni, the Turkish marauder, was that though he was defeated 17 times between 1000 to 1027 AD, every time, the Hindu rulers magnanimously spared his life and permitted him to flee to his homeland. Vidyadhara Chandela defeated him twice and forced him to give up his plans to conquer North and Central India. Kirtiraja Kachwaha of Gwalior also defeated him once. Sangramaraja of Kashmir defeated him twice when he invaded Kashmir. He was defeated by Govindraja Chauhan at Ajmer.
Twice, Ghazni refused to fight and simply fled from the rulers of many Western Indian kingdoms. But he returned like the proverbial Phoenix, and destroyed and plundered the Somnath Temple, apart from killing thousands of innocent people.
Another recent example that can be cited is that of the present Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, designated a 'global terrorist" by the UN in 2019, who was released by the NDA government in 1999 in exchange for hostages of the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814. Thereafter, he has been repeatedly executing terror operations and has been accused of being the mastermind of the 2001 Parliament attack, suicide attack on Jammu and Kashmir state assembly, attack on Pathankot IAF base and the Pulwama terror strike. Lord Ayyappa's first principle is to never allow the pirate or terrorist to return to his country, rather, he should be kept in servitude, permanently.
Lord Ayyappa gave Vavar a subordinate position in life and death. Wrong narratives are spread in the media that Vavar was Lord Ayyappa's companion!
The second principle of Lord Ayyappa was that he upheld the renowned magnanimity of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism), to allow absolute religious freedom. There was no compulsion to convert whatsoever, even for a defeated captive. This is an important lesson for the Abrahamic faiths, which are constantly indulging in a conversion agenda through Jihads of various kinds, inquisitions, camouflaged proselytising using schools, colleges, hospitals, and aid relief, to force a change of faith.
The third principle is that during the annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala, pilgrims wear a full black dhoti and upper garment. The attire resembles that of special forces that use black uniforms to create the fear factor. We as humans are hardwired to fear the colour black. In Sanatana Dharma, black coloured clothes are to be generally avoided, not only when doing puja and visiting devālayas, but even in ordinary life. But, in Sabarimala, pilgrimage is performed wearing black coloured clothes.
Closely associated with the black coloured clothes prescription is the insistence of observing a Spartan lifestyle for 41 days, referred to as 'Vrutham", which includes constant prayers, righteous conduct, abstinence from alcohol, smoking and refraining from sexual relations and no shaving or cutting of hair. Many of these practices resemble those of the special forces, who are permitted to have beards and long hair. The Sabarimala pilgrimage closely resembles those of an annual military exercise. Perhaps Lord Ayyappa wanted his devotees to be mentally and physically fit.
Like the special forces who carry a backpack containing essential items, Sabarimala pilgrims carry the 'Irumudi', a travelling kit carried on the head during the pilgrimage. Only those who observe fasting for 41 days are allowed to carry it. Without the 'Irumudi', one is not allowed to step onto the holy 18 steps at the hill-top shrine.
This 'Irumudi' bag is in two compartments – the Munmudi (the front part) and the Pinmudi (the back part) & the opening at the centre. The front portion is reserved for keeping all the puja articles and offerings to the deity. The rear part is meant to hold the pilgrims' personal requirements for the arduous mountain trek.
Just like the Bushido Code observed by the Samurai warriors of Japan, the Sabarimala pilgrims also observe the same 7 principles called Bushido. These 7 principles are righteousness, loyalty, honour, respect, honesty, courage and consistency.
Another remarkable ritual is performed at a place en route to the hilltop shrine called Sharamkuthi. Sharam means 'arrow". According to legend, Lord Ayyappa and his army, after defeating the Marva Pada (an army of thugs), discarded their weapons at Sharamkuthi. Today, first-time pilgrims to the Sabarimala shrine carry a Sharakol —a symbolic wooden arrow—which is placed at Sharamkuthi, where there is a large banyan tree known as Sharamkuthi Aal.
It is believed that Lord Ayyappa and his soldiers relinquished their weapons here after liberating the Sabarimala temple from the control of a fierce brigand named Udayanan, who is said to have defiled the temple, destroyed the Murtis, and killed the temple priest.
It is to be especially noted that only the Kanni-Ayyappan —those undertaking the pilgrimage for the first time—are expected to bring the arrow. This act symbolises the renunciation of violence in what is considered a deeply spiritual journey.
The Sabarimala pilgrimage begins from the temple town of Erumeli. Nestled within this town was once a small mosque dedicated to the memory of the foreign pirate Vavar. Over the years, this modest structure has been replaced by a large mosque—funded, in part, by Hindu pilgrims themselves. In 2025, revenue from the Sabarimala pilgrimage soared to Rs 297 crore. This entire amount is appropriated by the Kerala government.
The mosque at Erumeli also collects a substantial amount—if not equivalent, then certainly significant. Yet, although the money originates from Sabarimala pilgrims, the exact figures are neither disclosed to the public nor reported to the government. While every rupee collected by the temple is taken over by the state, not even a single rupee from the mosque can be touched by the government. What a secular irony.
At the top of the hill shrine, just below the temple, stands another small structure dedicated to the pirate Vavar, which also functions as a cash collection centre for offerings from Hindu pilgrims. Although fabricated narratives continue to circulate in sections of the media claiming that Vavar was a friend of Lord Ayyappa, is it not curious that not a single Muslim pays obeisance at the Ayyappa temple—either at Erumeli or at the main shrine atop the hill? Moreover, no Hindu pilgrim is permitted to enter the mosque. Such is the irony of Indian secularism.
Be that as it may, there are scholarly articles in the public domain suggesting that the Vavar mentioned in the Lord Ayyappa legend may have been an entirely different individual. If true, it would be one of the greatest comedies of errors.
Yet beyond the irony lies a more serious concern: the unaccounted and undisclosed cash collections at these two mosques could serve as important nodes for large-scale money laundering. No authority—neither the Income Tax Department nor the Enforcement Directorate—undertakes surveys or assessments there. As Pope Francis rightly observed, 'Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that create huge inequalities."
Today, terrorism has manifested as a hydra-headed monster, including in its ambit narco-terrorism, money laundering, and a variety of Jihads.
Presently, many nations, including India, are spending enormous resources and manpower, hunting for an elusive cadre of terrorists who have renounced righteousness. In Islam, righteousness (taqwā) is described as a garment, a protective layer, and the best attire for believers. This is emphasised in the Quran, particularly in Surah Al-A'raf (7:26), where God states that while physical clothing is important for covering and adornment, the 'garment of righteousness" is ultimately the most valuable. Most of the terrorists and their sponsor nations have relegated the noble teachings of Islam and are using it as a garb to pursue violence against humanity.
Many democracies, including India, have made terror offences justiciable, whereas the correct approach should have been like that of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who famously stated, 'To forgive the terrorists is up to God, but to send them to Him is up to me." It reflects Putin's famously tough stance on terrorism, resonating deeply with public sentiment.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also take a leaf out of Lord Ayyappa's actions: 'Step into my land to commit any dastardly act, and you shall be enslaved under me for eternity."
The writer is Former Director General, Multi-Disciplinary School of Economic Intelligence, and National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
tags :
Lord Ayyappa Sabarimala temple
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
May 12, 2025, 19:10 IST
News opinion Opinion | Lord Ayyappa's Strategy Holds Lessons For India's Fight Against Terror