Within the Ayyavazhi tradition, sacred geography is woven closely around the life and acts of Ayya Vaikundar, especially in the southern regions of Tamil Nadu and nearby areas. At the heart of this landscape stands Swamithope Pathi, regarded as the principal and most revered center, where Ayya Vaikundar is believed to have been born and to have performed many of his divine deeds. This site functions as the primary abode and focal point of worship, drawing devotees for major festivals and regular observances. In many ways, Swamithope serves as both a spiritual axis and an organizational center for the tradition’s religious life.

Around this central shrine, a constellation of other holy places forms a network of pilgrimage. Several sites, often referred to collectively as Pathis, are associated with key episodes in Vaikundar’s mission: Ambala Pathi, Muttapathi, Thamaraikulam Pathi, and Poovantanthope Pathi are all linked to his teachings, penances, miracles, and interactions with devotees. These places are not merely historical markers but living centers of devotion, where the memory of specific events is kept alive through ritual, storytelling, and communal gathering. Many devotees undertake journeys that move from one Pathi to another, treating them as stages on a single sacred itinerary.

Beyond these primary centers, the tradition also recognizes a wider network of sacred spaces that extend the reach of Ayyavazhi into everyday communal life. Numerous Nizhal Thangals—smaller worship centers and community halls—are found across the region, and some of these have become important destinations in their own right for vows, festivals, and collective worship. Together, Swamithope Pathi, the other major Pathis, and the prominent Nizhal Thangals create a layered sacred landscape in which pilgrimage is not confined to a single shrine, but unfolds as a journey through multiple sites that all echo the same call to dharma and unity.