"Swami thinkathathom, Ayyappa thinkathathom" is a slogan that is commonly chanted by devotees of Lord Ayyappa, especially during the annual pilgrimage to the Sabarimala temple. The slogan is often translated as "Swami is in me, Ayyappa is in me," and it is believed to inspire devotion and a sense of connection between the devotee and the deity.
In the context of bhakti, or devotion, the meaning of the slogan is that the devotee sees himself or herself as an embodiment of the divine. The Malayalam phrase "ninda agudhu OM" signifies that the divine consciousness, or OM, resides within the body of the devotee. Thus, the devotee is not just a separate individual but a part of the divine consciousness. When devotees chant this slogan, they are acknowledging the presence of the divine within themselves and striving to align themselves with the consciousness of Lord Ayyappa.
From the perspective of Raja Yoga, the slogan "Swami thinkathathom, Ayyappa thinkathathom" has a slightly different meaning. According to Raja Yoga philosophy, the individual self, or atma, is distinct from the universal consciousness or God. The individual self is considered to be a spark of the divine consciousness and has the potential to realize its connection to the universal consciousness through meditation and spiritual practices.
Therefore, in the context of Raja Yoga, the slogan means that the devotee recognizes himself or herself as a soul or atma that is residing within the body. The word "OM" in this context refers to the individual soul, which is a part of the universal consciousness or God. The goal of Raja Yoga is to achieve self-realization, which means recognizing the true nature of the self and realizing its connection to the divine.
In conclusion, "Swami thinkathathom, Ayyappa thinkathathom" is a slogan that has both bhakti and Raja Yoga interpretations. While the bhakti interpretation emphasizes the presence of the divine within the individual, the Raja Yoga interpretation focuses on the individual self's potential to realize its connection to the universal consciousness. Ultimately, both interpretations serve as reminders to devotees of their spiritual journey and the need to strive for self-realization.