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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Ayyavazhi}}
'''Ambala Pathi''' ({{langx|ta|அம்பல பதி}}), also known as ''Pallathu pathi'' or ''Moolakunda pathi,'' is one of the primary pathi of the [[Ayyavazhi]], and the second important pilgrim center of Ayyavazhi and the place where [[Ayya Vaikundar]] is said to have unified all divine power into himself by symbolic marriages.

According to Ayyavazhi legends, Ayya Vaikundar, an incarnation of god, as per the instruction in [[Vinchai to Vaikundar|Vinchai by Narayana]] unified six female deities into himself in various forms such as [[Shiva|Siva]], [[Brahma]], etc. Because of these events, this [[Pathi]] obtained religious importance  next to [[Swamithope pathi]]. Before this Pathi there existed a [[Kali]] temple at the  spot. It was changed by Ayya into a Pathi.

Akilam gives almost an equal status and importance for Ambalappathi with [[Swamithope pathi]].

==History==

[[Vaikundar]], after incarnating from the sea, came to [[Detchanam]] carrying the [[Tavam of Vaikundar|Great Tavam]] and other incarnational activities. Before, during the [[Vinchai to Vaikundar|Vinchai]], Vaikundar had promised to [[Narayana]] that he would go to Ambalappathi after completing the incarnational activities in [[Swamithope]]. Narayana sensed that it was now time for that, but felt that he had no right to order Vaikundar directly. So Narayan decided to remind Vaikundar indirectly. For that, he ordered ''Samala devi'' to take away two of the Seven Virgins. When two of them died, the whole mass of people were shocked and assembled before Vaikundar.

A man in the midst of the crowd stood up and told about the dream he   had had a few days before. In the dream, Narayana said, ''"Vaikundar had forgotten the work which was given by me. His duty of destroying the Kali has been forgotten by him because of his joyful climate with the virgins"''. Hearing this Vaikundar proceeded towards Ambalappathi.

He stayed at [[Pallam]] near [[Manakkudy]] for two years for completing the incarnational activities. This place is called Ambalappathi. Ayya Vaikundar was a ''Shiva-sorub'' (taking the form of [[Shiva|Siva]]) at this place. As a Shiva-sorubi, Ayya assumed the powers of [[Parvathi]] and Bhagavathi. As [[Muruga]], he assumed the powers of [[Valli]] and [[Dheivanai]]. As [[Brahma]], he also assumed the powers of [[Madaikattal]]. It was from this place that the devotees took Ayya on horseback to such villages as [[Kadambankulam]] and [[Pambankulam]]. Ayya established [[Nizhal Thangal]]s in these villages. Later, at the end of the second year, Ayya Vaikundar returned to Swamithoppe.

==Legendary==

The former name of Ambalappathi was ''Kurali Vadalivilai'', and the land is owned by [[Latchumanan Potthi]]. Once there was [[Shiva|Siva]] and [[Kali]] temple where the Ambalappathi is located now. To conduct [[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]] in the temple this, Letchumanan Potthi use to come daily to this temple. At that time, [[Vishnu|Ayya]] in the form of a mendicant, sit beneath a [[Sacred fig|Pipal]] tree, pretend to be a newcomer and use to collect information about this temple with Latchumanan Potthi. Then he asked Latchumanan Potthi to open the temple. Hearing this Latchumanan Potthi asked five panam (a then currency) to open, and five ''Panam'' to close; so totally ten panam to show the deity. Ayya replied, ''"If the one who present inside is my sister, then the door will open itself."'' The door opened immediately, and Ayya went inside.

Then after when Ayya asked Latchumanan Potthi for some water to drink. Potthi answered that it was hard to fetch water in that jungle. Hearing this Ayya pointed the ''Perambu'' (cane)  to a spot there and asked Potthi to dig. When he did so water squeezed from the earth. It was this the present [[Muthirikkinaru]] of Ambalappathi.

Then for some days Ayya stayed there and performed several miracles beneath a Pipal tree there. After, Latchumanan Potthi donated that land to Ayya.

==Location and Religious status==

Later, on this very spot the followers of Ayya constructed a [[Pathi]] and conducted daily [[Panividai]]. Now, this Pathi is managed by the descendants of the people who constructed the Pathi. Every year, [[Kodiyettru Thirunal]] including Car festivals are conducted in this Pathi. There are many ''Vahanas'' to carry Ayya Vaikundar around the Pathi. It lies 8 kilometers south-east to [[Nagercoil]], the capital of [[Kanyakumari district]] and 11 kilometers west to [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]], the southern tip of the [[Indian sub-continent]]. It also lies halfway between the towns of [[Rajakkamangalam]] and Kanyakumari  on the [[Western Coastal Road]]. There is a direct bus service from Nagercoil to this Pathi. Ambala Pathi is located at {{coord|8.05|N|77.27|E|}}

Since Ayya Vaikundar unified all the different divine powers into himself and revealed his supremacy here in Ambala Pathi, this is one of the most important Pilgrim centers for Ayyavazhi people, next to [[Swamithoppe]]. Akilam the primary scripture of [[Ayyavazhi]], gives though not a greater, but an equal status for Ambalappathi with [[Swamithope pathi]]. This Pathi is also called ''Pallathu pathi'' and ''Mulakunda pathi''.

==Architecture and Structure==

The [[Palliyarai]] of Ambalappathi is said to be constructed during the period of Ayya. It was surrounded by the inner corridor. This inner corridor is called [[Tatuva Kottagai]] and it earn its name from its unique architecture planning. It was a tiled roof structure and is designed that 96 wooden beams starting from the end of the corridor and converge into a single wooden pot mounted at the center of the roof, which symbolises the 96 [[Tatvas]] of the human body. There is no other external support for this roof other that the four walls of the corridor.

In front of this inner corridor, there is a hall in which the prayers are conducted. The ''Vahana purai'' is in the left and the ''Unpan purai'' is located right to the central hall. ''Vadakku vaasal'', the northern entrance is located on the right of the Palliyarai. And the Sivaye medai is located left to the central prayer hall. The Flag mast is placed in front of the prayer hall. The outer corridor is constructed enclosing all these. The ''Thear mandapam'', which houses the [[temple car]] is located 100 feet east to the prayer hall.

The [[Muthirikkinaru]] is located 50 meters north-eastern corrnor of the [[Pathi]]. Near this well there is a separate monument constructed similar to [[Hindu architecture]] near the pipal tree, which is believed to be the place where Ayya use to rest as per a legendary. But this structure doesn't include any images or idols of god-heads of [[Hinduism]]. But constitutes only the images of Ayyavazhi symbols. The Four-car street surrounds the whole of the Pathi, excluding Muthirikkinaru.

==Prayers and Festivals==

Though the [[Panivdai]]s are conducted thrice a day the special panividais are on every Tuesday. Every Tuesday is considered a festival day in Ambalappathi. The [[Akilam]] is read during these festival days. At the end, the [[Vahanam eduppu]] is conducted. The festival then closes with [[Anna Dharmam]]s.

The [[Kodiyettru Thirunal]] in Ambalappathi is conducted during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of '''Aippsi''' (October/November). [[Ayya Vaikunda Avataram]] is also celebrated in a grand scale in Ambalappathi. The [[Thiru Edu Vasippu]], the festival during which Akilam is read melodiously, also takes place.

==See also==

* [[Pancha pathi]]
* [[Ayya Vaikundar]]
* [[Pathi]]
* [[Akilattirattu Ammanai]]

==References==

*  G.Patrick's, ''Religion and Sub altern Agency'', University of Madras, 2003.
*  Dr.R.Ponnu, ''Sri Vaikunda Swamigal and Struggle for Social Equality  in South India'', Ram Publishers, 2000.
* Tha. Krushna Nathan's, ''Ayya Vaikundar Vazvum Sinthanaiyum''.*[[List of Ayyavazhi-related articles]]

{{Ayyavazhi Holyplaces}}
{{District of Kanyakumari}}
{{coord|8.097050|N|77.460294|E|region:IN_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Holy cities]]
[[Category:Pancha pathi]]