In the twelfth century in South India in a region called Kerala, was a kingdom known as Pandalam. The people of the kingdom of Pandalam during the reign of King Rajasekara lived in joy and peace. This king was talented, courageous and fair to his subjects. Despite the people's happiness and prosperity of his kingdom, the king was unhappy because he had no son to succeed him to the throne. The King and Queen fervently prayed Lord Shiva so that he could by his blessing have a son.

At the same time, a lively man Mahishasuran an evil spirit (Asura), was committing atrocities and bloody murders on earth and terrorized men. Because of the atrocities committed by Mahishasuran, the Devas (the saints) decided to approach Durga Devi asking her to put an end to Mahishasuran abuses. Durga Devi killed Mahishasuran in a duel on earth.

The death of Mahishasuran caused sadness and anger of his cousin Mahishi. So she decided to undertake a long and deep penance (dhavam) to get a boon from God Brahma. She managed to do it successfully, Brahma appeared before her and asked her the boon she wanted to get. Mahishi asked him immortality, Brahma replied that every living being has to die sooner or later. Mahishi therefore asked him that she must die only by a child born of the union of Hari (Vishnu) and Haran (Shiva). God Brahma granted him the second boon requested by Mahishi. After getting the boon, Mahishi went to Devaloka (palace of devas(demigods)) and began abusing the Devas, then multiplied on earth atrocities, killing ascetics and priests.

No longer able to withstand the abuses of Mahishi, the demigods went to the god Shiva, and begged him to put an end to the atrocities committed by Mahishi. God Shiva decided to respond favorably to their request. Lord Vishnu took the appearance of a woman (Mohini), the union of Mohini and Lord Shiva gave birth to Swami Ayyappan. The child was deposited in the banks of the river Pampa.

One day, the king Rajasekara, went for hunting with his men in the woods located near the river Pampa. After chasing the roiet his men rested there, when suddenly they heard a cry , King walked quickly towards the child. Immediately after taking the child in his arms, the king saw a hermit (Sanyasi) that stood before him, the ascetic advised him to take the child to the palace and raise him as his son. He told him that the divine origin will be revealed to him when the child is twelve years. He also advised him to call Manikandan because the child wore a bell (Mani). After providing this advice the hermit disappeared.

The king took the child to the palace and explained the queen, about the circumstances in which he found the child. The presence of Manikandan the palace brought an immense joy to the royal couple and the people satisfied with the presence of a successor to the throne. During the growing of Manikandan, the prosperity of the kingdom was very important. Once Manikandan was old enough to follow education, he was placed with a Guru (master). During initiation, the Guru was surprised by the agility and intellectual faculties of Manikandan and concluded that he was not an ordinary child but a manifestation of divine power. At the end of his education Manikandan thanked his guru by giving him a dakshina. At that time the master told him the case of his son who was blind and mute. Manikandan by laying his hands on the head of the child permitted the Guru's son to recover speech and sense of hearing. Manikandan also known under the name of Ayyappa asked his Guru to keep secret his divine powers, then returned to the palace.

Ayyappa terminated the thefts of a thief known as the Vavar, Vavar a Muslim pirate. Vavar later became an ardent supporter of Ayyappa, and one of his lieutenants. Ayyappa having learned the atrocities commited by Udayanan, a robber who came from south India, having the upper hand over a large part of the kingdom of Pandalam. Ayyappa accompanied by army and Vavar began their fight against Udayanan. After a fierce battle that lasted some ten days they put end to Udayanan abuses. Ayyappa Swami gave his lieutenant Vavar a place with him in Erumeli or mosque dedicated to him.

After the arrival of Manikandan to the palace, the queen had given birth to another boy. The king Rajasekara very impressed with the talents of Manikandan decided to make his coronation. But this project displeased the "prime minister" (Diwan). He empoisoned Manikandan’s food, but the attempt was a failure. Therefore he decided to join the Queen to his cause. He suggested to the Queen that it would be better to crown his son instead of the "adoptive" son Manikandan. The Prime Minister asked the Queen to simulate a pain in the belly, the intervention of several doctors do not arrive to find a treatment. The Diwan suggested to the king the intervention of a doctor he knew, but that doctor was prearranged by the Diwan. This doctor suggested that the queen’s ailment can be cured only with the milk from a tigress. Following the diagnosis. King was in a very difficult situation and wondering how to get this "antidote". Manikandan manifested spontaneously.

Manikandan convinced the king to let him go. The king wanted to send some men with him, but Manikandan refused. On his way in the forest, Indran (the leader of the demigods) met Ayyappa and asked him to put an end to the atrocities of Mahishi. Ayyappa went to look at Mahishi in Devaloka and after a duel, he managed to kill her. Of the remain body of Mahishi, appeared a woman called Leela, who, because of his sins in a previous life was reincarnated as Mahishi. Leela asked her redemptor Ayyappa to marry her. Ayyappa Swami explained that in this incarnation, he would be a Brahmachari (celibate) but however she will have a place with him in his temple and would be known as the Mallikapurathamma. Ayyappa then went to the palace with tiger’s milk and standing on the animal. On his arrival at the palace, the King, the Queen, the Prime Minister and the people at the palace, were surprised to see Manikandan appear before them sitting on a tiger and came to the conclusion that he was a God’s incarnation, and they gathered their hands and began to pray. The king, who had just learned that it was a prime minister conspiracy wanted to arrest him. But Swami Ayyappa told the king that this event had the effect of helping him to accomplish His divine task. Ayyappa told the king and queen as his divine mission on earth is finished and that he had to leave. The queen asked Ayyappa, when she would see him again. Ayyappa replied that every year, the Day of Mahara sakranthi (usually January 14)) he would appear in the sky as a flame to bless all devotees. Ayyappa explained to the king armed with bow and a arrow, that he should build a temple at the place of landing of the arrow. The arrow is landing at Sabarimala. This temple must have a staircase of 18 steps representing 18 gifts and 18 major obstacles that must be overcome to attain Moksha . The King Rajasekara built the temple and Rishi Parasuramar (a great saint) installed the statue of Swami Ayyappan the Day of Mahara sankaranthi.