ayyavazhi began to be seen firstly by the large number of people gathering to worship ayya vaikundar at swamithoppe, which is at that time "poovandanthoppe". the majority of the followers of ayyavazhi were from the poor group of the society. for the christian missionaries it gives a big challenge in their converting mission from its beginning. although the majority of these followers were from the chanar cast, apart from ayyavazhi sources, some outer sources too says that a large number of people from other castes also followed this religion.