Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa
Sabari was a devotee of Lord Rama. Her devotion is widely attributed to that of an ideal devotee. Lord Ayyappa wanted his pilgrims to honour the same attributes as that of Sabari and hence the hill on which the temple is situated is known as Sabarimala.
It is been one of my longing desire to visit sabarimala since 1991 but somehow not able to make it due to various reasons. But suddenly things have started moving thanks to my brother-in-law, was able to visit sabarimala and fulfill my long pending prayer.
We started (Me, my brother-in-law and my nephew) from thiruvananthapuram in the night with drizzling showers accompanying all through the journey. First we stopped at Famous ganapathy temple at Trivandrum itself and then proceeded via kilimanoor route. We reached pamba in the midnight and took bath in the holy river. Then we prayed at Ganapathy Temple in the foothills with breaking of coconuts. Then our trekking in hills started. The path is steep though cement slab mixed with stones have been laid to make the trekking little easier. Trekking through the dense forest in the early morning hours is real divine experience. We reached the temple at around 5'o clock in the morning and had wonderful darshan of Sri Ayyappa. It is really wonderful experience and hope and pray lord ayyappa will bless many more trips
I have embeded some video recordings of sabarimala trip collected from youtube and i thank the original contributors of those video recordings.
Location and story
Kerala is a land of Temples. Sabarimala is one of the best known pilgrimage destination in Kerala.Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha Temples.
It is located high up in the Sahyadri Mountains (Western Ghat) ranges of Kerala in Pathanamthitta District. Lord Ayyappan's temple is situated here in the midst of 18 hills. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 914m/3000 ft above mean sea level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests.
Temples exists in each of the hills surrounding Sabarimala. While functional and intact temples exist at many places in the surrounding areas like Nilackal, Kalaketi, and Karimala, remnants of old temples survive to this day on remaining hills. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Ayyappan meditated after killing the powerful demon, Mahishi.
Sabarimala is one of the most famous and visited piligrim centres in India and popular among South Indians. The pilgrimage to Sabarimala is a singular example of one where pilgrims, 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.
There is a place near the temple (east of Sannidhanam), dedicated to the Vavar, a Muslim who was the disciple of Ayyappan, called "Vavarunada".
Temple Openings
The temple is open for worship only during the days of Mandalapooja (November 15 to December 26), Makaravilakku (January 15) and Vishu (April 14). The temple stays closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every malayalam month.
Conditions for pilgrimage
1.The devotees are expected to follow a vratham(41-day penance), i.e. during this period they are to refrain from meat, fish, alcohol, tobacco, sex, using foul words, refrain from hair cut, shaving and should visit the local temples regularly and wear a special Mala( A garland made of Rudhraksha or Tulasi beads) and only black coloured dresses. Though presently, the conditions for Vratham are not as strict as it used to be earlier.
2. The temple is open to males of all age groups and to women who have either passed their fertility age and those before reaching the stage of puberty.
Other details
Vehicular traffic cannot go beyond Pampa, situated on the Pampa river valley and the last five kilometres to the shrine can be best reached by trekking. However, porter carried chairs (called as doli locally) are also available for the aged and handicapped pilgrims.
The trekking path, though cemented in part is still very steep and specially while trekking down. Faciliites like shops, medical aid are available at nearby distance.
For more information,
http://www.sabarimala.org.in/
official website of sabarimala devasthan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabarimala
lot of info on sabarimala with relevant links
http://www.sabarigiri.org/SABARIMALA.HTM
about procedures to be followed during the sabarimala trip
http://www.ayyappan-ldc.com/
Beautiful website of Rtn.Mohanakannan for ayyappa devotees. Thanks a lot for Mohanakannan for such a wonderful collection.
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