Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Pilgrimage to Sabarimalai
Every year lakhs of devotees throng the hills of Sabarimalai to have darshan of Lord Ayappa. But the darshan of Ayaappa is not an easy task. For darshan of Ayaappa one has to take deeksha. Deeksha period runs for minimum 41 days and upto 61 days. It is a rigorous penance for the devotees.
During the deeksha period the devotee has to wear a garland of tulsi or rose wood. He has to wear only black clothes. His days start at 5 A.M,. After morning bath he has to do special Ayaappa puja. He has to eat only once a day that also self cooked. He has to observe celibacy. Every evening after bath again he has to do special puja. He has to sleep on mat on floor. He cannot shave. During deeksha period the devotee is called by swamy or Ayappa by everyone including his family members.
After completing the rigorous deeksha only one is allowed to have darshan of Lord agape.
The journey to Sabarimalai is not an easy task. His journey starts normally from an Ayaapa temple, near his residence, where after performing puja he will be given a specially made cloth bag called Irumudi. It is called Irumudi because it has two portions. One portion contains rice for his own consumption during the journey and other portion contain rice, a coconut filled with Ghee, incense sticks, honey, and some other puja materials, which he has to carry for the lord. He has to carry Irumudi on his head till he reaches Sabarimalai and has his darshan of the lord..
He has to reach Kottayam, the nearest railhead from where he has to take taxi or bus to Erumeli, which is some 23 kms from Kottayam. For convenience purpose especially those from other states start their motor journey from Kochi, the second largest city of Kerala.
Traditionally the trekking to Sabarimalai temple should start from Erumeli. Here the devotee takes a dip in river pampa and first visits the Babar swamy mosque. Babar swamy was an associate of Ayappa. From there he has to visit the Ayappa temple at Erumeli. Now a days devotees avoid the long trekking route and instead go to Pampa by motor from where the trekking begins. But till date the first timers i.e. who is going to the temple for the first time (called Kannya Swami) take this long tour which called pedda patha.
All the devotees throng Pampa and after a dip in the river Pampa starts trekking to Sabarimalai which is 6.5 kms from Pampa. The temple entry is through a staircase of 18 steps called Padennimittti Padi, which is very auspicious for the devotees. The devotees who have taken deeksha and who carries Irumudi are only allowed through these steps. For general visitors there is a back side step.
The devotees break the coconut, which they have carried in their irumudi and take out the ghee. They conduct ‘Neyi abhishekham’ of Ayaappa i.e. Abhishekham with Ghee thus concluding their deeksha.
During the deeksha period the devotee has to wear a garland of tulsi or rose wood. He has to wear only black clothes. His days start at 5 A.M,. After morning bath he has to do special Ayaappa puja. He has to eat only once a day that also self cooked. He has to observe celibacy. Every evening after bath again he has to do special puja. He has to sleep on mat on floor. He cannot shave. During deeksha period the devotee is called by swamy or Ayappa by everyone including his family members.
After completing the rigorous deeksha only one is allowed to have darshan of Lord agape.
The journey to Sabarimalai is not an easy task. His journey starts normally from an Ayaapa temple, near his residence, where after performing puja he will be given a specially made cloth bag called Irumudi. It is called Irumudi because it has two portions. One portion contains rice for his own consumption during the journey and other portion contain rice, a coconut filled with Ghee, incense sticks, honey, and some other puja materials, which he has to carry for the lord. He has to carry Irumudi on his head till he reaches Sabarimalai and has his darshan of the lord..
He has to reach Kottayam, the nearest railhead from where he has to take taxi or bus to Erumeli, which is some 23 kms from Kottayam. For convenience purpose especially those from other states start their motor journey from Kochi, the second largest city of Kerala.
Traditionally the trekking to Sabarimalai temple should start from Erumeli. Here the devotee takes a dip in river pampa and first visits the Babar swamy mosque. Babar swamy was an associate of Ayappa. From there he has to visit the Ayappa temple at Erumeli. Now a days devotees avoid the long trekking route and instead go to Pampa by motor from where the trekking begins. But till date the first timers i.e. who is going to the temple for the first time (called Kannya Swami) take this long tour which called pedda patha.
All the devotees throng Pampa and after a dip in the river Pampa starts trekking to Sabarimalai which is 6.5 kms from Pampa. The temple entry is through a staircase of 18 steps called Padennimittti Padi, which is very auspicious for the devotees. The devotees who have taken deeksha and who carries Irumudi are only allowed through these steps. For general visitors there is a back side step.
The devotees break the coconut, which they have carried in their irumudi and take out the ghee. They conduct ‘Neyi abhishekham’ of Ayaappa i.e. Abhishekham with Ghee thus concluding their deeksha.
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