sabarimala pilgrimage

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Sabarimala Pilgrimage

to transcend earthly limitations,

change for better

Periodic fasts or vrithams observed in Hinduism intend to purify the human mind and body. The adherence to austere way of life and observance of tapas in body, mind and speech, makes it easy to transcend earthly limitations and get a better change, according to the Bhagavad Gita. Sabarimala Pilgrimage is one of the pious pilgrimages where a devotee has to be pure physically and mentally to get the darshan of Lord Ayyappan. He is expected to observe fast or vritham for a 41-day period, usually when Malayalam month of Vrischikam begins in mid November. A pilgrim on maiden trip to Sabarimala is called as Kanni Ayyapppan.


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The fast that longs for 41 days throws light on the significance of abstinence and austerity in lives of devotees seeking a complete merger with the Ultimate. If the devotee wants to mount the pathinettu padikal and enter Sabarimala temple, he has to follow several regulations and dictates. He can only embark on the 41-day vritham with permission from his parents and Guru. On an auspicious day, the vritham can be commenced with poojas to the family deity and making a holy knot with yellow cloth, which contains 1.25 currency units. This is presented to the family deity, which means the devotee

gains his or her approval to commence the deeksha.

The Sacred Mala beaded mala/garland with tulsi or rudraksham highlights his renunciation of material temptations. Most devotes begin to wear mala from the very first day of Vrishchikam. It is auspicious to wear mala on the day of asterism of Uthram or on a Saturday or a prior to the first day of Vrishchikam. The devotee receives mala from a Guruswami, one who visited Sabarimala many times. The ritual is conducted usually in the precincts of a temple or any holy place. The pilgrim swears all commitment to Lord Ayyappan as he wears

mala. All his thoughts words and deeds are surrendered to the powerful deity and begin to lead the austere life of an ascetic.

The 41-day

Vritham If the devotee

wants to mount

the pathinettu

padikal

and enter

Sabarimala

temple, he has to

follow several

regulations and

dictates.

“

“

The pilgrim awakes early on the first day of the fast, bathes and prays to family deity, the holy mala, and navagrahas (the nine planets). Along with his guru, he then proceeds to the temple to receive mala amid chanting of saranams. The devotee should shun all social activities like the renunciant, Lord Ayyappan, and immerse in bajans, prayers, poojas, temple visits, feeding the poor, cleaning temples, to spiritual lectures and attending to the poor/sick. Only satvic food has to be consumed. Having meat, intoxicants like drugs, alcoholic beverages, betel leaves, and smoking are all strictly restricted.

The Ayyappa swami (one who wears mala) takes bath in the pre-dawn hours, applies vibhooti and sandalwood paste regularly. He meditates and sings about Lord Ayyappan all 41 days. He does not shave, refrains from hurting anybody, do not cause any inconvenience to family, identifies other Ayyappa devotees as lord himself. The swamy do not oil hair or body and carries a tulsi leaf always to ward off evil and temptations. He does not sleep on the bed nor wear footwear to protect his feet.

First day


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The Aazhi pooja is an important event of the pilgrimage, and is a celebration of attaining a renunciant’s frame of mind. It is performed on an auspicious day before the beginning of the holy trek. The ritual is even called Daham Veppu, Vellamkudi or Padukka.

A special pandal is erected and fuels for aazhi (fire blaze) are stored in front of the pandal in stacks. The fire is started using camphor. ‘Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’, is chanted while the fumes go higher. Parched rice, rice flakes, and coconut pieces are regularly thrown in into the raging fire. After the poojas, camphor is burnt.

Aazhi pooja / VellamkudiThe preparation of the travel kit is termed irumudi kettu. Only who observe the 41-day vritham can carry it and a devotee cannot climb up the pathinettaam padi at the Sannidhanam without the irumudi. The bag is reminiscent of Lord Ayyappan’s trip to the forest for tigress’ milk; it has two pockets, the Munmudi is the front portion and the Pinmudi is the rear pouch. This has an opening in the middle. While the offerings and pooja articles are placed in the front bag, the rear pouch contains pilgrim’s personal belongings.

The worshipper is bound with the worshipped, with Irumudi. Munmudi comprises 2 or 3 Mudra bags, holding items for vazhipadu (offering) at the Sannidhanam like: Beetel leaves, Coconut filled

with ghee for Abhishekam (Neithenga), beetel nut, coins (kanikkappanam), 2 to 4 coconuts (vidalai thengai), cashewnuts, dry ginger, Jaggery (achuvellam), poha (thin & thick variety)Cardamoms, raisins, avil ( beaten rice), Dried turmeric, dates, honey, kadhi chakkar, turmeric powder, vibhooti, blouse piece, kumkum, sandal paste Sambarani, agarbathi, camphor rosewater, lemon, rice & dal TTT.

A medium sized coconut is selected to prepare the ghee coconut for abhishekam. Outer shell is cleaned and polished. Hole made in one of the coconut’s eye using pointed instrument and water inside is emptied. A cork is used to close the opening. Later, it is filled with ghee

during kettunira.

At regular intervals, vidalai thenga are broken during the actual pilgrimage i.e. one each at Erumeli and Sharam Kutti and two upon pathinettam padi (the sacred 18 steps at Sabarimala). Pilgrim’s personal articles are kept in the pinmudi, which include items useful from the day of commencement of journey after Kettunira till return. Some snacks and other food ingredients will be placed in the second bagHole made .Guruswami prepares the irumudikettu and places on the head of the devotee. The journey is conducted in groups to the Ayyappa temple on Sabarimala. The Ayyappa swami who ascends the Patinettampadi 18 times plants a coconut sapling on Sabarimala.

Kettunira

The

worshipper is

bound with the

worshipped,

with Irumudi.

Munmudi

comprises 2 or

3 Mudra bags,

holding items

for vazhipadu

(offering) at the

Sannidhanam

like

“

“

sabarimala pilgrimage

Spiritual