I have decided to penned down my Thoughts on Sabrimala as kerala is one of my favourite destination because of it’s serene and capturing beauty. I have been to kerala more than 3 times in my life and this review about Charming Sabrimala is a happy recollection of thoughts and time that I spent there with my many kerala friends.
Welcome to”Journey of Faith”Sabrimala:
Location : Western Ghats, Kerala
Dedicated To : Lord Ayyappa
Altitude : 914 m Above Sea
Main Festival : Sabarimala Temple Festival celebrated in honour of Lord AYYAPPAN.
About Sabrimala:It is most important temple in kerala. There are several temples dedicated to Lord Ayyappan all over India. Among these the important temples along the Western Ghats are: Kulathupuzha - Ayyappan is a child here, Aryyankavu - He is a bachelor here, Achankovil - here he is as Dharmasastha with Poorna and Pushkala (his wives) Sabarimala - here he is a yogi, meditating for the benefit of all.
Whoever is the Guru he is Lord Shiva !
Whoever is Lord Shiva he is Guru !
Tradition of Guru: The role of guru is significant in Ayyappa Cult. He is considered as “Ayyappan” himself. The Guruswamy, as he is called, is usually an elderly person who has undertaken pilgrimage to Sabarimala not less than seven consecutive years in the traditional long route and had darshan of Makara Joyti!!
About Lord Ayyappan: Lord Ayyappan is a symbol of religious unity and communal harmony. Being born out of Mohini (the female incarnation of Lord Vishnu) and Lord Shiva, he is also known as Bhuthanatha, Dharmasastha, Hariharan, Ayyanar and Manikanta.
The name Ayyappa is derived from aryan, ’’one worthy of reverence’’ and appa, meaning ’’father.’’
The Malayalam folk songs about Ayyappa convey both the stories of His advent and the traditions of the pilgrimage to Sabarimala.
Irresistable beauty: This temple is open to everyone irrespective of caste, creed, religion, social status.
Journey To Heaven: The pilgrims undergo 41 days of fast to purify their mind. Pilgrams observe severe austerities as it’s believed that life of man can be made better by observing austerities of Mind, Body and Soul(GITA).
18 observances: wearing a mala of rudraksha or tulsi beads; a vegetarian diet; no shoes, no sex; no smoking, drinking or drugs; cold water bath twice a day; no shaving or haircuts; visiting a temple once a week; wearing a black or blue veshti; wearing sandalwood paste and kumkuma daily; eating one meal a day; keeping away from women of child-bearing age; maintaining a temple composure; addressing all other pilgrims as ’’Ayyappa’’ or ’’swami;’’ no lying, stealing or cheating; sleeping on a straw mat with no pillow; no TV or other entertainment; and finally, to always think of the Lord, gathering daily to sing His praises.
Travelling Kit: Pilgrims carries on their head, the holy ghee for the Lord’s Abisheka filled in coconut in “ irumudi”(two compartment cloth bag). Without the Irumudi one is not allowed to step onto the holy 18 steps at the Sannidhanam.
The temple is open only to males and menopaused females (beyond 50 years of age) and little girls below 10 years of age. This is because the Lord is a chaste yogi in Sabarimala. The male pilgrims are called ’Ayyappan’ and the female pilgrims are called ’Malikappuram’.
The shrine is open only during specific period in a year. It is open from Mid- November to Mid-January and for first five days of every Malayalam month.
Fascinated Charm of the proceedings of Jewel Casket:
The Jewel Casket is carried on head from the ancestral residence of the royal family of Panthalam to the Shrine on the day. A Garuda, the Brahaman kite, follows this ornaments carrying procession, hovering about in the sky. After these ornaments are worn on the Lord the bird circles the temple in the sky three times and disappears. Excited by this sight the devotees begin to chant ’’Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’’. A Star never seen before in the sky appears on the day of Makara Joyti day before the sighting of the Jyoti. A Jyoti is seen for a little time on the hilltop showing the presence of Swamy Ayyappan gracing his devotees.
ROUTES:There are three routes to Sabarimala - (a) The Erumeli route (b) The Vandiperiyar route (c) The Chalakayam route.
Pampa :
Pampa is the most important and holy place on the way to Sannidhanam. It is here Lord Ayyappa was found by King Rajasekara(the traditional story). The Pampa river is as holy as the Ganges. It is believed that the Pampa water purifies one from curse and evil.
The holy 18-step(Patinettampadi ):When I first heard about these 18 Golden Steps , I asked my kerala friend’s father the reason attached to the sancity of number 18.One popular belief is that the first 5 steps signify the five Indriyas or Senses, the next 8 the Ragas, the next 3 the Gunas, followed by Vidya and Avidya. Here devotees chanting “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!”can have darshan of lord ayyappa.
An Unmatched Instance of Religious Tolerance
Opposite the main temple complex, there is a smaller temple for the Muslim god called Wavar, who is an ally of Lord Ayyapa.
Here the devotees pay obeisance to Lord Wavar, on their way to the main temple keeping intact the tradition and faith of olden days.
The people making the pilgrimage for the first time are known as ’’Kanni Swamys’’ and the person leading the group is known as ’Guru Swamy’ or the lead person of a team who is incharge of all the rituals.
In the end, I would like to share a small story with you all..
Blind Men and the Elephant, The GOD
There is an analogy to how differently we each understand or experience God in a classic story about three blind men and the elephant. As each of the three blind men are trying to understand exactly what the elephant is like, but experiencing different parts of the same thing.
The first blind man is feeling all over the leg of the elephant and says to the others, ’’It is like a strong tree.’’ But, the second is holding the trunk, explaining, ’’It is like an ever changing vine.’’
Still, the third blind man is running his hands across the large body of the elephant, exclaiming, ’’No, it is endless, like a wide mountain.’’
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL ……WISH YOU ALL PEACE, HAPPINESS AND LUCK ALWAYS!!