1) Amar Chitra Katha is a popular Indian comic book series that retells stories from Indian mythology, history and folklore. It has sold over 86 million copies worldwide.
2) The comics use illustrations and simple language to make complex topics accessible to children. They aim to introduce young readers to India's rich cultural heritage.
3) The comic book being summarized is about the legend of Ayyappan, a Hindu god who was born to destroy an evil demon named Mahishi.
2. Illustrated Classics From India
Over 86 million copies of over 400 titles sold worldwide!
Amar Chitra Katha is a colleclion of illustrated classics Ihal reldl slories from Indian
mythology, history, folktale and legend through the fascinating medium of comics. Over
430 stories from all o~er India have been told in thisseries that has been endorsed by
educationists and recommended by teachers the world over.
Through amasterful blend of commentary, dialogue and illustration, Amar Chitra Katha
presents complex historical facts and intricate mythology in a format that would appeal
to children. They not on!>' entertain, but also provide afilling introduction to the cultural
heritage of India. In a country so vast and varied. the series also serves as a medium
for national integration, by introdUCingyoung readers to the rich cultural diversity of
the country and highlighting the achievements of local heroes.
Amar Chitra Katha comics are like rami!>' heirlooms. passed down from generation to
generation. These timeless illustrated classics are now also available online on www.
AmarChilraKatha.com. Slarl your own collection lodayl
No. 673 Rs 30
ii'ii
INDIA BOOK HOUSE
o Indi~ BooIo: Hou~ Pvl. lid. 1975 Reprinted: Augusl 2005 ISBN: 81-7508-198-8
Published ~nd Printed by I ndi~ Book Hou~ Pv1 lId, Millhalaxmi Chambers,
5th Floor, 22 Bhulabhai O~i Road, Mumbai 400 026, India.
3. AYYAPPAN
KIN0 THE WIYILTHY RULER OF
NO CHILDREN.
HIS SUBJECTS WERE WORRIED. HIS FJMB/TIOUS DIWIIN, HOWEVER.
15 NO HEIR
TO THE THRONE,
WHAT WILL BECOME
OF U5 WHEN OUR
KIN6 DIES?
o THAT HE WERE
BLESSED WITH Ii
SON. r----"1
~,..-' "'" ." SON
AS PIOUS AND
6 ENEROUS
lttD4AS HE J&!
WIlS HIIPP'T. , - - - - -- - -
AS LON0 AS THERE
15 NO HEIR TO THE
THR.ONE, WHEN
RA..JASHEKHRRA
orES HI5
KIN0DOM WILL
CERTAINLY
BE MINE.
4. ALAS! WHO WI LL
RULE THE KIN600M
AFTER ME?
FROM TffIlT OIlY
FERVENTLY TV
LORD SHIVII
FOR II SON.
MEIINWHILE, PIIR
11l" IIIY.THE EII7L
PENIIIVCES
TO 08Tlt/N II
BOON FROM
LORD BRfJHMIl
VOU ARE RIGHT. MY
QUEEN . LET U5
BE<?IN PRA'VIN6
TODAY.
5. '-"'~" LORD 8R~HMfj APPEARED BEFORE HIM .
MIIH15HI15URA Wl15
LET MY DEATH
NOT BE CAUSED
By ANY MAN ON
THI5 EARTH.
l
YOU HAVE PlEASED
ME MAHI5HA5URA .
WHAT 揃BOON
DO YOU 5E.EK?
6. EMBOLDENED BY THE BOON. MitHISHfi5llRfJ B贈6fIN HIIRRSSIN6 fiLL ON EflRTH.
THE DEV~ HELD COUNCIL .
THIS ASURR MU5T SE
DffiTROYED. BECfU5 E OF
BRAHMA'S BOON ,ONLY A
WOMAN WOULD BE ABLE
TO DO IT.
THEN LET
US EVOKE
ONE WITH
OuR
COMBINED
POWER5.
o DEVA5.
5AvE US!
7. A5 SOON ~ THe WOMI1N
THEM-
WE
WILL C"LL
HER
CHANDIKf
LIiU0!fIN6 I1LL THE WHILE, CHIiNDIKrJ
BeFORE:
DEV! ON EIIRTH. THE WHOLE
WORLD WfTH FORCE.
l
DEVI !60 TO EflRTH
WHO 15 THAT
5ENSELESS
WOMAN ,?60
BRINE'> HER
TO ME.
IND DE5TROY
THE EVIL
MIHI5H15URA.
8. BUT CHIWOiKA DEVI VIINQUISHED THEM IN NO nME.
HOWEVER, THE IlRMY Wil5 NO
NlilTCH EITHER FOR CHIINOIKA
DEVI.IT wl'l5 SOON r=~~::=::ROUTED.
,
TlKE THE WHOLE ARMY
IF NECES~RY; BUT
BRING HER HERE!
9. MIlHISHII5URII WIIS MilD WITH IIN6t:R. HE IIPPRO/ICHED
CHI'INDIKfl D贈VI
THAT
WOMAN
HA560NE
TOO FAR.
I SHALL
DESTROY
HER.
HER.
10. HER MISSION IICCOMPLISHED,
CHIINOIKA DEVIIt5CENDED TO ltC/WeN.
WHEN MIiHISHIJ THE WIFE OF
MIiHISHfiSL/Rfi ,LEARNTOF HER..
HU5B1WD'S D贈ATH-
I SHALL TEACH
THE DEVAS
A LESSON. IT
WAS THEY
WHO INVOKED
THE DEVI.
MIlHISHI UNDERTOOK II DEEP PENIINCE BR.flHMfI eRllNTED tiER TliE
BOON fiND VflN/StiED.70 PROPITIIiTE LORD BR.I1tiMfi. HE
flPPEilRED BEFORE HER. ,.----- ---.1
MAHISHI' WHAT
DO YOU
DE5IRE?
THAT I S HOULD
NOT MEET MY
DEATH AT THE
HANDS OF EITHER
VISH NU OR SHI VA I
8
11. MIIHISHI 8E6IIN TO WHOM WILL YOU TURN NOW?
Tilt/NT/No THE SHIVA AND VISHNU
DEW/S. ,----r POWERLESS ,--......it...----
A6AIN5T ME.
SHIVII WIITr:HeD IINO IfE//RD fILL.
. ,
I MUST PUT
I1N END TO
MAHI5H"S
I1RROOJ1NCE..
MY DEIIOTEES-
~
~~~~~~ R/1Jl1sHEKHI1R/1AND HIS QUEEN.
THE.Y LONe; FOR
A CHILD.
WE MUsT CREATE
~ !;ON WHO
WILL DESTROY
MAHI5Hr.
I WILL TI1I<E
HIM THERE!
WHO WILL RERf't.
lflE. 811BY?
12. A~ SOON AS THE INFANT w/lS揃CREffTED -
I -WILL TIE 11-115 60LD
BELL AR<;>UND HIe>
NECK BEFORE I TAKE
HIM TO EARTH.
HOIV
AND QUIET
ITI5 HERE.
13. 5lIOOENLY HE HEARD fj FEEBLE WIlIL.
IfE 51lWIl
IlLONEON
It ROCK , POOR BIlBY!
DON'T CRY!
11
A BABY'S
CRY? HERE?
IfE LOOICED AROUND,
NOTA SOU L
IN '51e>HT, TO
WHOM COULD
IT BELON6?
14. WHAT SHOULD
I DO<' SHOU LD
I TAKE HIN'rHOME?
OR5HOULD I
LEIVE HIM
YOU WILL KNOW
WHEN HE 15
TWELVE YEARS
O LD.
HERE?' ."
WHILE HE DEBATED WITH HIMseLF II
Ie.<~HMIlN SLlDOENLY /lPPEJ'IREO BEFORE
HIM.
BUT
WHO
15 HE ?
DO NOT
HESITATE,
o KIN6.TAKE
HIM HOME.
THEN WHEN THE BRl'lliNlflN WfiS
flBOUT ro LEIWE-
WAIT! WHAT
SHALL I
C/ILL HIM '?
CRLL HIM
liFTER
BELL WHICH HAN05
KVUNU HIS N ECK .
15. RI'l<lflSHEKHflRfI TOOK MfiNIK/iNTliflN
HOMe TO HIS QUEEN.
A CHILD AT LAST !
HOW HAPPY
l AM.
HE IS
GOD'S
OWN
61FT.
BUT R/I<lflSHEKHflRfI'", DIWflN DIDW'T
THINK. so.
~----THE ACWRSED
CHILD! IT
HAS UPSET ALL
MY PU~N5.
o
o
16. r-____________--~~____--, !4~~~~~~~~~__~__~
THE TIME MIWIKIINTffltN'S STUDIES THeN THE 6URI./ 8ROU6HT. HIS BLIND
IWI'RE OVER, THE 6URLI KNEW THAT HE WIJS MllTE SON BEFORE M/fNIK/lNTHIJIV.
/I DIVINE
PLEASE ACCEPT MY 6URU-
DAK.5HINA~
FROM YOU
I WANT
CcwPflSSION.
NOT THESE.
MANIKANTHAN.
PLEASE RE5TORE
HIS 516HT AND
SPEECH .
FATHER! I HAVE BEEN
GIVEN PI NEW
LIFE'
N7ER THIS FIR.5T MlRflCLE MIINlt:lWTHIIN PERFORMED MIWY
MORE. THE NEWS SPREflOll":D~...F==::::-::;~;:;;;-;;;:~;;-;;;"""
P' OUR FUTURE ~6
I HAVE NEVER
SEEN .suCH A
elFTED BOY.
A55URED. HE WILL
SUCCEED THE
KIN6.
..
-
THE DlWIW, WHO OVERffEllRD TH贈5E COMMENTS ...
TRIBUTE GIVEN BY A OISCIPl贈 TO HIS TEACHER
17. ...60T RE.ALLY WORRIED.
I MU5T6ET
RID OF THE
BOY SOME-
HOW.
~~
THE OIWIIN WIIS J/J8ILIINT.
THE THRONE
E*iALL YET
BE MINE !
RND THEN THE UNFORESEEN HAPPENeD.
THE QUEEN (?AVE BIRTH TO Ii SON.
RLA5 揃! WHY WERE
YOU NOT BORN
ERRLlER? NOW YOU
WILL NEVER
BECOME KIN6.
UNLE5S..
II FEW Ofl'rS LATER. HE WENr TO THE
QUEEN.
"
MANI KANTH"N WILL
SOON BE TWELVE
YEARS OLD .HE WilLLI
THEN BE CROWNED
HEIR RPPARENT
18. WITH' THAT. YOUR
OWN OON WILL
LOSE ALL CHANCES
OF EVER 8ECOMIN6
THE RULER,
WHAT CAN
I DO?
IflM
HELPLESS .
WILLVOU 00
A5 I TELL yOU I?
FOR THE SAo::E
OF 'lOUR
OWN 50N '?
r WILL . FOR MY
5OfI J WILL DO
ANYTHIN0.
THE DIW/tN THEN WENT TV THE
COUIi!.T PHYSIC/lIN.
DO FtS I TELL
'IOU RND 'IOU
WILL6E WELL
REWARDED.
5PEFtK!
19. THE QUEEN HAS A
SEVERE HEADACHE.
YOU WILL PRESCRIBE
TI0RES6'S MILK AS
THE ONLY REMEDY.
VERY WELL .
JUST THEN FI
NlE55EN6ER
(fiME 70 THE
PHYSIC/FIN .
THE QUEEN IS IN
A60NY. THE P;::IN6
lIFTER THE
PHYSiClIIN
HIlD
EXIlMINED
THE
QUEEN-
HAS ASKED YOU TO
EXfMINE HER IMMEDIATELY.
WHAT 15 THE
QUICKEST
REMEDY?I CIlN-
NOT BEAR TO
SEE MY QUEEN
IN PAIN.
THE
Y REMEDY FOR
I AILMENT is
TI6RE5S'S
20. T I6RE5S'5 MILK~
,..:..:-==-',--' BUT HOW ftRE
WE TO 6ET IT '?
MItNY MEN WENT &IT ItLL ReTURNED-
UNSUCCESSFUL.
WE SAW A
NUMBER OF
Tl6ERB. BUT≒ .
21. THEN, EXIICTLY 115 THE WICkED OIWIIN
HAD FOR贈SEEN-
FOR MY MOTHER'S SAt:::E
LET ME 60, FATHER .
FATHER,LET
ME 00 ON
THIS
ERRAND!
BUT M/WIK/lNTHflN
PERSISTED fiND
RffoJII5HEK/fffR/l
HAD TO YIELD.
MffNlKffNTHffN
SETOUT
fOR THE
FOREST.
MANIICJ1NTHAN,
NO! YOU ARE
TOO 'fDUNE> .
ALL
RI6 HT.
MY SON.
60 IF yOU
1V145T.
BUT TAKE
CARE.
"
HOW CAN I
LET YOO 00
ON SUCH R
DfN/3EROU5
VENTURE.
22. HE wANDERED DEEPER AND DEEPER. INTO I T HE CliME 70 THE oc:mlllN OF'"
MflHISH/J WHO LIVED IN THIIT FOREST.
WHO IS THJt1 CRERruRE
WHO D~RES TO TRESP~~
ON ()LIR FOREST? I MUST
TELL MY MISTRESS.
THE ASliRA RAN TO MRftI5HI .
THERE IS Po
BOY ROMIIN6
IN OUR
FORESTS.
MflttlSHI WENT
LIP TO
M/fNIK/WTHIW
fiND. IITTIICKED
HIM .
I
MY E~RTHLY
Ml5510N
I~ ABOUT
TO BE
----r
20
HOw DARE HE,
WITHOUT MY
PERMI5SION !
I'LL DESTROY
HIM.
23. 115 MIWIKflNTHIW CONTINUED HIS
5贈11RCIf rOR If T/6RES5, INDRfI . J;:IN6
Or THE DEVIlS,IlPPEARED BErORE HIM.
r SHALL TAKE THE
FORM OF A TI6RES5
AND COME WITH YOU
INTO THE CITY AS
YOuR MOUNT .
c <---
21
M fWIKflNTHIiN 500N
KiLLED MAHI5ff1.
THE DEVilS WHO HAD ACCOMPANIED
INDRfl !1L50 TURNED THEMSELV贈5
INn? n~55~贈5~.Jr----J7~~~~~
WE WILL
FOLLOW YOU
INTO THE
CITY.
24. liS MIINIKRIVTHRN RODE INTO mE CITY ON HIS TERRIFYING MOUNT
BY liN EQUIiLL Y TERRIFYING RETlfYUE- 揃
MAN1KANTHfN
HAS
RETURNED.. ,
WITH A
HORDE OF
r
TI6ER5! '
~C---....,
MANIKfNTHAN
IS TWELVE
TODAY. TODAY
I WILL KNOW
WHO HE 15.
25. JUST TH贈N HE HE/IRD
It DIVINE VOICE .
--------1
MANll(ANTHflN
IS NONE
BUT 00D
HIMSELF.
PLEASE
SEND THE
TI6RE5sE5
AWRY,
MRNllCflNTHRN.
MY PEOPLE ARE
TERROR-
5TRICICEN.
MfiNIKRNTHAIV SMILED, liND THE
TIGRESSES VIINl5HED.揃,..------d
AS SOON AS YOU
LEfT. THE QUEEN
RECOVERED.
I BECfWlE
SUSPICIOUS.
MY SUSPICIONS
WERE CONFIRMED
WHEN I
OVERHEARD
A CONVER-
SIITION
BETWEEN
HER liND
M'I DIWAN.
AND FELL liT
26. " tlH"LL PUNI.5H
THEM fOR
THIS.
LORD, ~ L~5T REQUEST.
SnOW ME THE PLACE IN
MY KIN0DOIVI WHERE
I MA,( BUILD A TEMPLE
FOR '(Ou.
"P~RE
THEM.THEY
HASTENED MY
MI5SION OF
SLAYING
M"HISHI.
r ~M PLE~SED .
BUILD IT .
WHERE THIS
ARROW I SHOOT
FALLS .
"ND NOW
I MUST
LEIWE
THIS
WORLD.
'You MAY OBSERvE
TH E PATH OF THE
ARROW.
27. . LET THERE
BE JUST
EI0HTEEN
STEPs LERDIN6
TO THE TEMPLE
AT THE EASTERN
. erATE.
MIWtKIWTH/jN vl1NISHED /jIVO THE
KIN0 BE6li1V HIS TREK TO THE
MOlINrmN TOP?;;-;::====:::-::---l
IT 1550
HI6H .. .
IMPOSSIBLE .
28. itT L!loT RIkIfl5HEXHIIRII REflCHED THE
TOP OF THE MOUNT/UN.
HOW WILL
I EVER
ACHIEVE
n eM M"f -rn~" ~
ffi HE STCXJO THERE; D/jZED
WONDERlN6 WHERE TO 8E6fN-
I 5HALL SEND
VI5HWRKflRM/
TO HELP YOU
OUT.
29. 揃揃揃THE Mfl6NIFICENT TEMPLE WflS SOON
COMPLETED.
WILL I FIND
A BEFITTING
IDOL NOW ?'
27
THROUGH THE l ORD'5
GRACE IT HR5 RISEN-
NOBLE AN D
IMPOSING.
LORD VISHNU DIVINED THE
KIN6'5 IINXIETY. HE SENT
FOR P,9RffSHURI'IMII.
60 OOWN TO EARTH
AS A 5TONE-CfRVER.
HELP R1WASHEKHAR.-9
INSTALL THE IDOL .
30. PAR!1S1fURflMfI LEFT FOR R/jVFJ5HEKHIIRII~
Pi/LllCE IIV "HE 0flRS OFII SCULPTOR.
--,,--'
liT THE
KIN6'S COlIRT-
I HAVE HEARD OF YOuR. PROBLEM .I IWI'I
BE RSLE TO
SHO W ME YOUR HELP.
WARES BEFORE 'fOU TRICE - --
UP THE
TASK. .
31. YOU RRE N O ORDtNAR)' SCULPTOR. TELL
ME THE TRUTH. WHO ARE YOU?
I RM PRRASHURFMR.
I HfVE ALRERO'f
FASHIONED THE
IDOL.
PfiRASHURfiMfl ASSUMED
HIS OWlY FORM .
TODAY. THE DAY OF
MAKRRA ,sRNK-RANTt,IS
RU5P1etOUS. t SHALL INSTALL
THE IDOL STRAI0HTRWA'f. To""'';?
THU5 IT WilE> TWIT
THE IMfll?JE OFflYYIIPPII,
As MflNIKfiNTHAN CAME
TO BE POPULARLY
KNOWN, WfJ5
32. MEIiNWHILE THE WICKED DIW/'JIV wti5
IiFFLlCTED BY liN INCURABLE
D/5EIiSE.
I HAVE SINNED.
WILL I EVER
BE CLEANSED '?
I H/WE COME TO WASH
AWAY M't SIN5 IN
R.EMORsE ,HOLY
fVOTHER.5IVE
-
ONE Nf6HT HE HIiD fl
COME TO MY TEIYIPL.E
ON THE 5HASARI HILL
aUT ENTER ONLY
AFTER. CLEANSING
'tOuR5ELF IN THE
PAMPR'!"
-
THE D/WItH CliME ~'g~!:.TH.~~:..!:,.~t1!:r.~G::R-=--_-.d
GLOWIN0 WITH "!I
HEIILTH - I AM CLEANSED.
THE HOLY MOniER
HRS BEEN
MERCIFUL.
'If RIVER 51UD TO 8贈 ENUVENED By THE SPIRIT OF SHfJBftRf. THE. DE'vOTEE OF
LORD RfiMFI.
33. THEN WITHOUT P/tU.5INg FOR. 8RE/JTfi HE R/lN UP TO THE rE.~M.::A..:'-;::E::'~--,_--,;-_1
IWffEN HE REACHED THe
51WCTUM 5I11VCTOR.UM,
CNERCOME By EMonON HE
FELL /iT THE FeET OF THE IDOL.
f;lWAMIYE
SHfRf!NAM
RYYf'lPPA !
A'IYAPPA!
AYY~PPA !
TO THIS D!iY IJs PILGRIMS NlFlKE THEIR WfiY TO THE TEMPLE OFItYY/lf>pIl,
THEY CflLL OUT 'SWflMIYE SHflR/1NflM flYYflPPfI .'
31
35. Amor Chitro Kotho is a collection of illustrated classics that retell stories from Indian mythology,
history, folktale and legend, through the fascinating medium of comics. Over 400 titles have
been published in the Amor Chitro Kotho comic series that are approved by parents, appreciated
by children and accepted by schools.
Mythology
501 I(ri$hr'lO
S02 Honumon
510 Buddho
511 Sovilri
512 Toles 01 Vishnu
.520 Totes of No.odo
524 Ind.o ond Shibi
Folktales
507 Nolo Domoyonti
523 Romon of Teooli
543 Jotako Toles: Monkey Siooes
553 JOlOko Toles: Jackol SlOries
554 Jotoko Toles: Elephonl SlOries
555 Jotoko Toles: Deer SlOnes
557 Bimol the Witty
History
SOB Chonokyo
536 Ashoko
563 Rono Protop
568 Vikromodityo
579 Modhvochoryo
603 Akbar
604 Pnrhviroj Chouhan
Biography
517 Vivekonondo
535 Miroooi
539 Roni 01 Jhonsi
544 Subhos Chondro 80se
548 Robindronorh Togor~
551 Tulsidos
563 Reno Protop
525 Toles of Arjuno
531 I<omo
533 Abhimonyv
547 GaOJdo
565 Drooo
566 S~ryo
567 Illdro ond Shochi
558 Bimol the Clever
559 Bi,bol the J~st
578 i(esori lhe Flying Thiel
580 Inim ~oble Birbol
581 Romon the Molchless Wit
584 Gapol the Jester
587 Birbol the Genius
606 Roni Durgovoti
627 Horsho
630 Rono 50ngo
632 Vidyosogor
648 Somvdro Gupta
676 Rona Kumbho
682 Tonoji
564 Shivoji
608 81-.ogot Singh
611 Booosoheb Ambedkor
6135oo.dos
631 Choitonyo Mohoprabhu
636 Krishnodevo Reyo
645 Lokomonyc Tilok
570 Dmhoro!ho
571 DhOJvo ond A$hrovokro
512 Ancestors 01 Ramo
569 I(rishno olld Shishupolo
592 Ghototkocho
612 Urvoshi
663 Min.>ddho
6(7 A Bog of Gold Coins
621 Udoyooo
625 Bortle of Wits
659 Devi Chovdhuroni
664 I(ing I(usho
667 Bikollt1e Terrible
713 The Fool's Di$Ciples
685 Chond Bib;
701 Noor Johon
704 Jollionwolo Bogh
722 Megos!henes
723 Jnoneshwor
725 Sulrono Ralic
734 Bondo Bohodur
647 lot Bohodur Shostri
650 Mohormo Gondhi
678 Veer Sovon.or
679 Swomi Prooovonondo
693 Joyaprokosh Narayan
70:1 Jowohorlol Nehru
732 Sworn. Chinmoyonondo
Visit www.AmarChitraKatha.com for details on how to order these titles online.
~
liN
INDIA BOOK HOUSE
MJhJla~mi Chambers, 51h Floor, 22 Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400 026, India.
Te123523827 Fa~ 23538406 Email infoOamarchitrakalha.com
36. Illustrated Classics From India
Awppan
The legend of Shabari Malai
A strange and fascinating series of divine events led to the birth of Manikanthrm.
Manikanthan had a glorious destiny. At the end of a life full of dramatic Bvents, Lord Parn hurama himself
sculpted and installed an idol 01him in the hill temple of Shabari. There, as lord Ayyappan, he is worshipped
as the presidin~ deity of the entire hill fange.
This lone temple on the top of the Shabari hills, deep in the fOfests of Ketala, attracts millions of devotees
from all over the country every year. They travellhrough dense forests full of wild animals, over steep hills
and in incleme:'lt weather to obtain his 'datshan' (eglimpse) on Makara Sanbenthi day (which lalls on 14th
January each yearl. It is said that the lord comes down to the Shabari Hills on Makara Sankranti in the form
of light to give 'darshan' to his innumerable devotees and himself lights the tempte tamp. Then In a moving
and beautiful ritual the pilgrims partake of the 'prasad' and watk backwards down the eighteen steps, their
laces turned towards the lord, shining with devotion and ecstasy.
Editor: Anant Pai
Script: Shyamala Mahadevan Illustrations: M. Mohandas Cover: C.M. Vitankar
Related Tilles
Tales of Shiva Ganesha Shiva Parvati
Kartikkeya Sati and Shiva Sonsof Shiva
1M
INDIA BOOK HOUSE
ISBN 81-7508-198-8