| Thus He is
called Hariharaputra-Son 0 Vishnu (Hari), and Siva (Hara)-and is regarded as the third son
of Siva, the' other two being Ganesa and Muruga or Karttikeya. This is how His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Sankara of Kanchi describes the
phenomenon: 'when the merciful charm of Narayana and the serene jnana (knowledge) of Siva
combined, an effulgent light (Tejas) was the come. Out of this Tejas was born Ayyappa also
as Ayyanar, Sasta or Hariharaputra." The word Ayyappa is derived from Aryan (one
worthy of reverence) and, Appa or appan meaning 'Father' in Malayalam. |
