Upanayanam

Upanayanam as per Vedic rituals should be done at the

age of 7 or 9 or 11. 13 is ok, but after 16 it is not permitted in Sastras.

Uttarayanam is the right period to perform Upanayanam-

from the Tamil month Tai to Ani, when the sun journeys northwards.

Adi Sankara's Upanayanam, it is believed, was performed when he was five years old.

If the child is extraordinarily intelligent and can articulate words properly,

his Upanayanam may be performed at five years.

The delay in performing the upanayanam should make you uneasy deep

within if you have some concern for the Vedic dharma. According to the Sastras,

the lower limit of Brahmin youngsters is eight years and the upper limit is sixteen

which means a grace of eight years.

It is sinful not to have performed Upanayanam of a Brahmin boy before his passing the upper age limit.

Aryan Kerala Varman

Lord Ayyappa who resides at Sabarimala HIS original name is Aryan Kerala Varman, he was born in 1095 AD. Aryan was exceptionally brilliant in scriptures and warfare unable able guidance of his father Jayanthan Namboothari. He was extra ordinarily brave and intelligent. 

Aryan's mission was to put an end to attacks of Udayanan, restore peace & happiness to people, and most importantly to renovate Sabarimala temple which was burnt down by Udayanan. After completion of this mission, Aryan sat on Meditating to Lord Shiva and Parvati, this most scared place is where Mani Mandapam stands. On the first day of the month of Makaram, the re-installation of the idol was ceremony was conducted. 

Soon after the ceremony was over, a holy flame was seen at Ponnambalamedu and thereafter no one saw the Arya Kerala Varman. It was only then everyone realised the amazing truth that their merciful & lovable Aryan was the Avatharam of Sri Dharma Sastha and started calling him " Ayyan" and  Appan was added as a mark of respect in Kerala lipi to Ayyan.... And does became " Ayyappan "  

One of the most prominent names of Sastha is Aryan......

Saptamatrikas

Saptamatrikas, the group of seven mother like goddesses, consist of Brahmi, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Varahi, Indrani and Chamunda. 

As narrated in Devi Mahatmya, it is said that Matrikas goddesses were created by Gods in order to aid Mahadevi in her battle against the demons Shumba and Nishumba.

The Matrikas emerged as Shakthi's out of the bodies of the gods. Brahmi form Brahma, Vaishnavi from Vishnu, Maheshwari from Shiva, Kaumari from Skanda, Varahi from Varaha and Indrani from Indra. It is a group of six Deva Shakthi's and one Devi Shakthi, making it as seven ( Sapta ) 

They were armed with the same weapons, wore the same ornaments and ride the same vahanas and also carried the banners like their corresponding male Gods did. Saptamatrikas as a group indicate transformation of the male identities of gods into goddesses.

We can also see Virabhadra playing Veenai and Vinayaka on either sides of Saptamatrikas. 

Palli Kondeswarar, Lord Shiva at Surutapalli

During the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean of milk) by the gods and demons, many treasures along with the Amrita (elixir of the gods) and the poison Halahala rose from the ocean. To rescue the beings of the world from the poison, Shiva consumed it.

When the poison was just going down the throat of Shiva, his consort Parvati stopped it there by tightly holding Shiva’s throat, turning Shiva's neck blue. After the episode, Shiva proceeded to his abode Kailash with Parvati.

On the way, he felt exhausted and slightly uncomfortable, when he reached a place in the bounds of Andhra, which came to be called Suruttappalli.

There, He lied down to relax, keeping his head in the lap of Parvati. The gods, who were concerned about Shiva’s well-being assembled there and stood around him, waiting for the Lord to open his eyes.

This lying posture of Shiva is rare and unique, is almost similar to Vishnu’s reclining posture.

Can Ladies participate in Laksharchana for Hari Hara Putra Swami?

Laksharchanai is primarily dedicated to Poorna Pushkalabal Samedha Shree Hari Hara Putra Swami and not to Ayyappan.

A lot of devotees by mistake or loosely use the word Ayyappa Laksharchanai. Since the Sankalpam is Poorna Pushkalabal Samedha Shree Hari Hara Putra Swami prasaada siddhyarthe jape viniyoga.

Swami's Sahasranamam can be recited by any devotees, their is myth that ladies should not recite Sahasranamam or only Brahmins are allowed to sit in Laksharchanai.... These are just Myths needs to go.....

Sahasranamam which glorifies Swami's names and hidden stories should be chanted and cherished by devotees....

Poorna Pushkalabal Samedha Shree Then Kulathoril Ayyan Thunai..... Regards Mahesh Jayaraman....

Kottai Muni

Kottai Muni are generally classified as SivaGana's. They are actually furious and servants of Lord Shiva.

Riga Veda define them as people who were having supernatural feats and magic arts. 
Their are multiple Muni's like Kottai Muni, Agni Muni, Vettai Muni, Raja Muni, Bhadra Muni, Veera Muni, Dharma Muni, Vettai Muni, Nundi Muni etc.... Many of these Muni's have not gone through human life cycle, but some of them refered above were former warriors, kings or sage who achieved the status of Muni after human death.  

Additionally, the trees as such as Ala Maram,Arasa Maram and Pana Maram are believed to be the gateways used by the Muni's to travel between different dimensions. The Muni's are also believed to reside in such trees. 

Tree Worship is the oldest form of Muni worship. Kottai Muni is the presiding deity of the annual bullfight which happens in Tamil Nadu.

Kashi Thirubulaaneswar Temple Sri Dharma Sastha

It was this idol which was taken around south India before the Puna Pratishta at Sabarimala. 

It was TDB which dis-allowed this idol for Puna Pratishta at Sabarimala due to some strange reason, though the Guruswamis of the time were for it.

Subsequently another vigraham by Thattavila Neelakanta Panicker and Ayyappa Panicker were commissioned and the Pratishta was undertaken. 

I think Swami Vimochanananda a.k.a. Krishnan Nair of Trivandrum was instrumental in this idol being consecrated at KASHI.

Information shared by Guruswami Rammohan Bala and Photo courtesy: Balki Guruswami