ABOUT

Swamithoppe Pathi is the primary pathi of the Ayyavazhi, the head of all Worship centers of Ayyavazhi, and the sacred venue of the Tavam. Religiously Swamithope is considered primary among the Pancha pathi and the primary centre of the incarnational activities of Vaikundar. The Palliyarai contains two oil lamps (kuthuvilakku), an elunetru, and a large mirror. On a raised pedestal, covered with kavi cloth, the temple also preserves some articles believed to have been used by Ayya Vaikuntar, including a rattan cane (perampu) and a pair of wooden sandals. The Palliyarai is surrounded by inner corridors. There is a fifty-five feet tall Flagmast at a distance of 50 feet from Palliyarai. And in north of flagmast there is a Unpanpurai. Here, they cook the food and distribute it to the devotees. There is a common well some 300 meters from the main Pathi. Akilattirattu Ammanai states that all the eighteen castes take baths from that well. It was considered sacred to bathe in and to drink the water from that well. Then there found a Paal Kinaru, in the extreme east, Vatakku Vasal in the north and Sivaye Medai, which is also called Karuda medai in the west of Palliyarai. Then all these were surrounded by outer corridors. There is a bell tower above the spot where Vaikundar performed the Tavam. This place is the primary pathi for the followers of Ayyavazhi, which is a henotheistic belief followed in the Southern part of India. This place is the chief of all Worship centers of Ayyavazhi. It is also the sacred place of Tavam. This place is home to the Ayya Vaikundar deity. Swamithoppe Panthi is also the place for incarnational acts of Vaikundar. Legend has it that Vaikundar slept only at this place after incarnation. He then sent 700 complete families to Thuvayal Thavasu to Vakaippathi. These people organised festivities following which he attained Vaikundam or and his physical body was interred in the place which is now the Palliyarai of Swamithoppe.