In the hill town of Erumeli, in Kerala’s Kottayam district, two places of worship stand only a short walk apart. One is the Sri Dharmasastha temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The other is the Vavar mosque — known locally as Vavar Palli or Nainar mosque — dedicated to Vavar, remembered in tradition as Ayyappa’s close Muslim companion. During the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, black-clad devotees flow between the two, bowing at the temple and then at the mosque, and in that simple act Erumeli becomes one of India’s most quietly moving symbols of shared faith.
The legend of Ayyappa and Vavar
The story that binds the two shrines is told as sacred legend, and it comes down in more than one version. In the most widely repeated account, Vavar was a warrior — some say a Muslim saint who had travelled from Arabia, others say a seafarer who arrived on the Kerala coast — who crossed paths with the young Ayyappa. The two clashed, and Vavar was defeated; but Ayyappa, moved by his courage, embraced him not as an enemy but as a friend and comrade. Vavar is said to have then stood beside Ayyappa in his battles in the forested hills, including the slaying of the demoness Mahishi at Erumeli.
As the legend continues, when Ayyappa finally set out for the hill of Sabarimala, he asked Vavar to remain at Erumeli. And so, devotees say, Ayyappa himself established that anyone journeying to seek his blessing should first honour his friend Vavar here. These are matters of devotional tradition rather than documented history — the details differ between tellings — but the meaning the pilgrims draw from them is unmistakable: loyalty, respect across difference, and friendship that outlasts a fight.
Two shrines, one act of devotion
The Vavar mosque is a modest structure without an idol — in keeping with Islamic tradition there is no image of Vavar — yet it receives a constant stream of Ayyappa devotees, most of them Hindu, who come to pay their respects before continuing to Sabarimala. Pilgrims circle the mosque, offer pepper and other simple offerings, and receive sacred ash. Only a few hundred metres away, at the Petta Sri Dharmasastha temple, the same pilgrims worship Ayyappa. During the Petta Thullal ritual, the dancing processions deliberately pass by both, welcomed at the mosque by its committee members before moving on to the main temple.
- The Vavar mosque (Vavar Palli / Nainar mosque) honours a Muslim companion of a Hindu deity — a rare shared devotional site.
- There is no idol of Vavar; devotees offer respect, pepper and simple offerings, and receive sacred ash.
- By tradition, pilgrims visit both the Dharmasastha temple and the Vavar mosque before beginning the trek to Sabarimala.
- The two shrines sit only a short walk apart in the heart of Erumeli town.
A living emblem of harmony
What makes Erumeli remarkable is that this is not a museum-piece of tolerance but a working, everyday custom observed by millions. Hindu pilgrims bow at a Muslim shrine as an ordinary and essential part of their vow; a Muslim committee helps receive the pilgrim processions. In a subcontinent where religious lines are too often drawn in anger, the sight of black-clad devotees moving freely between temple and mosque, treating both as their own, carries a weight far beyond the town’s size. It is often held up in Kerala as a quiet, centuries-worn answer to communal division.
Visitors of any background can experience this respectfully. The mosque and temple both welcome pilgrims, though the temple observes the customs particular to the Ayyappa tradition. Dress modestly, remove footwear where required, keep phones quiet, and follow the lead of the devotees around you. Even outside the frenzy of the main season, the two shrines standing companionably side by side tell their story to anyone who pauses to notice.
Where the trek begins
Erumeli is not only a place of homage but a threshold. It is the traditional starting point of the long forest trek to Sabarimala — the peruvazhi or Periya Pathai, the great path believed to trace Ayyappa’s own route through the hills. From the twin shrines the trail leads roughly 40–45 km through forest and ridge, by way of landmarks such as Perur Thodu, Kalaketti, Azhutha and Karimala, before the final ascent from Pampa. Pilgrims pay their respects at temple and mosque, then step out of the town and into the green — carrying, in a sense, the friendship of Ayyappa and Vavar with them onto the path.
| Detail | Information (indicative — confirm locally) |
| Location | Erumeli, Kottayam district, Kerala |
| Twin shrines | Petta Sri Dharmasastha (Ayyappa) temple and Vavar mosque (Vavar Palli) |
| Nearest railhead | Kottayam, roughly 56–60 km |
| Nearest airport | Cochin International Airport, roughly 120 km |
| Trek to Sabarimala | Traditional Erumeli forest route, roughly 40–45 km |
| Peak season | Mandalam–Makaravilakku, roughly November to January |
Frequently asked questions
Who was Vavar?
In devotional legend, Vavar was a Muslim warrior or saint who became a close companion of Lord Ayyappa after the two first clashed. The Vavar mosque at Erumeli is dedicated to him. The details are matters of sacred tradition and vary between tellings rather than being settled history.
Why do Hindu pilgrims visit a mosque at Erumeli?
By long-standing tradition, Ayyappa himself is said to have asked that pilgrims honour his friend Vavar. So devotees heading to Sabarimala customarily worship at both the Dharmasastha temple and the Vavar mosque — an act widely seen as a symbol of Hindu–Muslim friendship.
Can non-pilgrims visit the twin shrines?
Yes, visitors are generally welcome to see both shrines respectfully. Dress modestly, remove footwear where required, and follow local customs; note that the temple observes the specific traditions of the Ayyappa pilgrimage.
How is Erumeli connected to the Sabarimala trek?
Erumeli is the traditional starting point of the long forest route to Sabarimala, the peruvazhi or Periya Pathai. Pilgrims worship at the twin shrines before setting out on the roughly 40–45 km trail through the hills.