| Lord Ayyappa Swami Temple Sabarimala |
Sabarimala in the midst of 18 hills is a pilgrim centre in Kerala. Temple in Sabarimala is dedicated to Lord Ayyappan. The area is in the hilly regions east of Kerala bordering Tamilnadu. At an altitude of 914m/3000ft the temple is situated on a hilltop above mean sea level. Lord Ayyappan is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. The place where Ayyappan meditated after killing the powerful demon, Mahishi is Sabarimala. After Haj in Mecca, Sabarimala is reported to be the world's second largest annual pilgrimage. The period of Ayyappa is considered to be somewhere between 300-400 M.E. (1125-1225 A.D).
Raja of Pandalam constructed the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala based on the advise of Lord. It is also believed that there already existed the DharmaSastha temple at Sabarimala, one of the 64 temples established by Parasurama, and Lord Ayyappa merged into the deity there. The King (Raja) of Pandalam renovated/ reconstructed the temple, supervising the work by staying at Perunadu. He constructed an Ayyappa temple there also for performing his daily pooja of the Lord. Deities of Malikappurathamma, Kadutha swami and Vaver |
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| swami were installed as also the 'pathinettampadi' (holy 18 steps) and 'bhasmakulam'. |
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Ayyappa is a Hindu deity. The name "Ayyappan" is used as a respectful form of address in Malayalam, and the famous mantra Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa can be directly translated as Give me shelter, Lord Ayyappa!. The most famous Ayyappa shrine in India is the one at Sabarimala with over 50 million devotees visiting it every year. And Dharmasasta, Hariharasutan, Manikandan, Sathanar, Sastan, Cattan (from Sanskrit Sasta), Ayyanar, Natrayan, Nattarasan, and Bhutanathan are the different names Ayyappan is known. |
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| Without consideration of caste, creed, position or social status, go with one mind and one `mantra' dreaming constantly of the darshan of the presiding deity at the Holy Sannidhanam. Vehicles can go up to Pamba River. Thereafter, pilgrims have to follow a path approximately four kilometres up a steep hill. The path, now fully cemented, with shops and medical aid by the sides, used to be a mere trail through dense forest. |
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| A place dedicated to the Vavar, a Muslim who was the disciple of Ayyappan, called "Vavarunada". Only during the days of Mandalapooja (November 15 to December 26), Makaravilakku (January 15) and Vishu (April 14), and the beginning of every month in the Malayalam calendar the temple door are opened for devotees. |
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The pilgrimage begins in the month of November and ends in January. The temple attracts pilgrims not only from the southern states of India, but also from other parts of the country and abroad. Mandalapooja (Nov.17th)and Makaravilakku (Jan.14th)are the two main events of the pilgrim season.
Sri Kambakkudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer composed Harivarasanam is recited before closing the temple door at night. The composition has 352 letters, 108 words in 32 lines (8 stanzas).
Distance from other locations / towns from sabarimalai are Pathanamthitta (65 km), Punalur (102 km), Pandalam (80 km), Erumeli ( 53 km (via Plappally, Mukkoottuthara)), Kottayam ( 109 km (via Erumeli)), Kollam ( 128 km ), Alappuzha ( 130 km ) and Chengannur ( 93 km)
Nearest Railway Station is Chengannur on Cochin/Kochi - Thiruvananthapuram Railway Line. Get down at Chengannur and Buses are available from Railway Station to Pamba which is 93 km. |
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| Makara jyothi |
| The celestial star worshipped by the pilgrims is Makarajyoti. On the day of Makara Sankaranthi every 14 January the main worshipping rituals are performed and it draws the second largest number of pilgrims in the country. Witnessing the light brings them good luck and a divine blessing is the belief of the devotees. The Makara Jyothi marks the climax of the Makaravilakku season of Sabarimala pilgrimage lasting 41 days. "It is the star that is worshipped as a celestial light. The Makaravilakku is merely a ritual involving the lighting of a fire as a symbolic act," he said. Makarajyothi is a celestial star while Makaravillakku is the symbolic deeparadhana in the hills, where there was a temple earlier. |
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