Origin story
Manikandan, the son of Shiva and Vishnu as Mohini, was adopted by the Pandala king and saved the kingdom from the demoness Mahishi. He then withdrew to Sabarimala, where he blesses devotees who come after the vow of penance.
Ayyappa is worshipped through restraint: the forty-one day vow, the irumudi offering and the barefoot climb through the forest. The tiger mount, the bell, the bow and the mala of beads mark his ascetic and protective nature, and the pilgrimage itself is understood as a journey of self-discipline.
Source: Wikipedia: Ayyappan — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyappan
