There are a lot of stories pertaining to Ayyappa. People are confused about Sastha, who was born during the union of Harihara. Following the churning of the ocean for Amrutham and the baby was found by Pandala Raju from the 12th Century Pandala Dynasty, there are three stories about the dharma sastha and his incarnation as Ayyappa.

Story 1:

Before the Churning of the milk ocean for Amrutham Goddess Parvathi and others were in deep discussion to know which women on earth was Pativrata (faithful) wife. Lord Vishnu declared that Anasuya has that cadre to be called. Anasuya was the chaste wife of Maharishi Atri. She wanted a son from the incarnation of Trimurthies. To test Anasuya, the goddesses sent the Trimurthies in the absence of her husband and the condition that she should be naked while giving the alms. Anasuya Devi being the pious women made the Trimurties infants and gave them the sweetness of motherhood. Meanwhile the goddesses (Saraswati,Lakshmi and Parvati) were worried about their husbands and came to know about what happened to them. They requested Anasuya to get back their husbands in the actual form. Anasuya then asked a boon that she needs a son who is the incarnation of the Trimurties.Dattatreya Swamy was born to Anasuya and Maharshi Atri who was the incarnation of the Trimurties.  As days went on Dattatreya Swamy became a scholar of all studies. He was married to Leelavathi. Dattatreya Swamy left in pursuit of bliss. An argument happened between Leelavathi and Dattatreya Swamy regarding maya and bliss. Dattatreya Swamy became angry and cursed Leelavathi to take rebirth as Mahishi in demon dynasty. Leelavati cursed Dattatreya Swamy to take a birth in same demon dynasty and join her.

Story 2:

Lord Mahavishnu took the form of Mohini to handle a situation involving Bhasmasura who was given a boon to turn anyone into ashes if he places his hand on them. After a dance sequence between Mohini and Bhasmasura. Bhasmasura placed his hand on himself unknowingly to repeat the same steps as Mohini does and thus Bhasmasura turns into Ashes. Later Lord Siva requests Maha Vishnu to reveal him the form of Mohini in which the union of HARIHARA takes place and Sastha was born. Nepala Rajyadhipati named Palinjan had planned to execute a spinster(unmarried girl) who was a strong devotee of Lord Siva to Mahakali as Bali (ending life by smashing the body with the sword) to beget some boon. Sastha rescued her and made the king realise his mistake. Rajyadhipati Palinjan requests Sastha to forgive him and marry his daughter. Sastha married Palinjan’s daughter. On the other side, Malayala Desadhipati Pinjakan kingdom was torture by the Bhetala demons. Sashta rescued Pinjakan kingdom from them for which Pinjakan asks Sastha to marry his daughter. Sastha married Pinjakan’s daughter. Knowing this Nepala Rajyadhipati Palinjan gets angry and questions how he can marry other women while he is already married to his daughter? Palinjan then curses Sastha to take rebirth on Earth and stay for twelve years as a human. Sastha also was enraged and cursed Palinjan to be born as king of Pandala dynasty and be childless. Palinjan requested Sastha to forgive his foolishness. Sastha then gave him his word, saying, “I will grow in your parenthood for some years in my incarnation on earth meanwhile you will have one own son.” Thus Palinjan took birth as King of Pandala Dynasty in Kerela and Sastha as manikanta (wearing a diamond in neck Maharshi Agastya names him manikanta, later Ayyan and appa forming Ayyappa came into being) will be found on the bank of Pamba.

To read the next story of Lord Ayyapa