Bringing Dharma to Earth: The Sabarimalai Pilgrimage and Ayyappan Myth

Hinduism is a religion of 330 million gods. It is a living religion where gods and the stories about them are continuing to form and its abundant diversity, color and humor are compelling. Its nature is exotic, playful and engaging and its tales and philosophies are full of contradiction and surprise. From a Jungian perspective, it serves as a rich symbol system by which we can approach an understanding of the depth and nuance of the psyche, for it depicts processes that are continually developing, taking different twists and turns with multiple endpoints. Hindu mythology allows for the “both/and” and is one which can draw us into a conscious relationship with the enticing, intriguing and surprising aspects of ourselves.

In this talk, we will examine the myth of the much beloved south Indian deity Ayyappan and the pilgrimage to his shrine in Kerala, one of the largest in the world. Ayyappan is a child god – a divine child – whose name means “father of fathers” who is the son of Vishnu and Shiva – two male gods! The focus will be on understanding the meaning of the myth and pilgrimage, both psychologically and in terms of lived life experience. Importantly, we will explore the question of how the myth and pilgrimage serve the psyche’s journey towards wholeness.