Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple,
Pathanamthitta District, Kerala , India The Legend of Lord Ayyappan King Rajasekara
The descendants of Pandya dynasty were living scattered in places like Valliyur, Tenkasi, Shengottah, Achankovil and Sivagiri and in parts of Travancore, where they were the ruling dynasty. The descendants of Pandya dynasty belonging to Chempazhanattu Kovil, living in Sivagiri were given the right to rule the country of Pandalam, by the King of Travancore eight hundreds years ago. King Rajasekara was the direct descendant of this dynasty.
King Rajasekara was a very talented, courageous and just ruler in all his dealings. People were living happily and prosperously during his regime. However, the king was very unhappy that he had no children and his subjects were also worried that he had no heir to inherit his kingdom. As per the wish of the queen, both of them prayed to Lord Shiva for blessing them with a child.
Kerala is a land of temples; perhaps the best known pilgrimage destination in Kerala is Sabarimala, high up in the Sahyadri Mountains (Western Ghats). Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha Temples. It is believed that "Parasurama Maharshi" who retrieved Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe, installed the idol of Ayyappa at Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa.
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.
The shrine gets thronged with devotees especially during the main pilgrim season from November to January.
Mandala pooja (November16,2009) and Makarajoothi(Jan.14th) are the two main events of the pilgrim season. The temple stays closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam month and during Vishu (April).
Certain customs are to be strictly observed if one has to undertake a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. A pilgrim attending the Mandalapooja should observe austerities for 41 days. During this period, the pilgrim should abstain himself from non vegetarian food and carnal pleasures.
Pilgrims set out in groups under a leader, and each carry a cloth bundle called Irumudi kettu containing traditional offerings. Unlike certain Hindu temples, Sabarimala temple has no restrictions of caste or creed. 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.
The easiest route is via Chalakkayam, by which one can reach the banks of the river Pamba by vehicle. Pamba is the main halting point on the way to Sabarimala. From here one has to trek 4 to 5 kms to reach the temple.
sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha temples. This is one of the most ancient temples in Kerala. Lord Parasurama consecrated the deity of the temple at the foot of Sabari hills to which reference has been made in Ramayana. The temple attracts pilgrims from all part of the country and abroad. The main feature of the temple is that it is open to everybody. Sabrimala temple gives much importance for the secularism and communal harmony and has turn out to be a model for the whole world. Another significant aspect of the pilgrimage is that all the pilgrims whether rich or poor, learned or illiterate holding position or not master or servant, are all equal before LORD AYYAPPA. There is no other temple in the world in which the pilgrims itself are called after the deity of the temple.
The Lord Ayyappa is always around us. Yes in your mind, body, speech, thought and every inch of your body is made with the blessings of the paramathma .The Lord affirms that "The kingdom of God is within us" and that one is not to wander outside to achieve salvation. The meaning of the holy word "THATHWAMASI" written in the front of the temple shows how you are related to Lord Ayyappa.
Sabari Hills, the Secred aboard of Lord Ayyappa, is thronged by millions of devotees throughout the year, particularly during the Mandalam period. On the first day of 4th month of malayalam calendar, the pilgrims commences a well defined preparatory routine of austerities enduring for a "Mandalam" of 41 days. The emphasis is to give up all materialistic desires and surrender oneself to the thought of Lord- a sort of penance from the sins committed knowingly or unknowingly.
The accosting of "Maala" symplices the invoking of the Lord into the pilgrims' hearts. The pilgrims lead a simple life in uniform grab of black and dark blue colors. These and unkempt, unshaven face signify immersing one's Ego in sacred anonymity. During the period the devotees greets each other as "Swami Saranam" to be reciprocated by"Ayyappa Saranam".
Swami Saranam, meaning one is at the mercy of the Lord is a significant mantram. Anyone who had undertaken pilgrimage to the Hills,especially during the peak period of "Mandalam", will understand the significance and divine feeling one gets by chanting the "Mantram", which echoes through the Hills. The Lullabies of birds, the whistling winds and roaring sound of river 'Pumba' submerge in the chanting of mantram and all these together create a divine atmosphere only to heard to be believe.
The Holi river Pumba is considered to be sacred as the Ganga. A holi dip in the river before proceeding to the hills is an experience itself.
The common offering to the Lord is ghee filled coconut. The hard shell of the coconut signifies how stubborn are our desires for worldly life, the sweet fruit inside signifies how serene is our heart and filling it with pure ghee signifies our true love for the God.
Once the pilgrim reach the "sannidhanam "after trekking the Hills, their hearts overflow with the vision of Lord at the temple. What we see in the sanctum sanctorum is the Lord in a posture of meditation. This is the "Nirvikalpa Samadhi" of the Lord as the Lord in his superior manifestation, seeks His own identity with the cosmic immanent, as the self meditates on itself.
The experience of the long walk from Erumeli to Sabarimala,Commanding oneself to the total care of the Lord, signifies a unique feeling and the effects lasts for long after returning home. This experience prospects the temptation to accost 'Maala' year after year.
With the manifestation of Vishnu as the divine mother in the form of " Mohini" and "Shiva" as divine Father arrived Shaastha- the supreme Lord of Law and Love.
Sabarimala - Makara Jyothidharshan Sree Ayyappa
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