Sabarimala is an important pilgrimage
centre, which is located in the north eastern part of Pathanamthitta, amid the
untouched forest of Western Ghats. This holy mountain temple is situated at a
distance of about 72 km to the northeast of Pathanamthitta district. The
pilgrim season at this place initiate form the month of November and lasts till
the mid of January.
The landscape surrounding this temple
comprises of endless forests, captivating rivers and lush green plantations. A
sacred descends from Sabarimala, named Pamba River, which has been formed by
the union of five smaller rivers.
The temple is located at a height of about
914 m above sea level and is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa who is believed to have
been born from Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva, the destroyer. The
festivals celebrated in this temple are Mandala Pooja, the Makara vilakku and the
Vishnu vilakku.
Mandala Pooja
Mandala Pooja is celebrated for a long
period of about 41 days that initiates form the first day of the Malayalam
month of Vrishchikam or November to December and peaks on the eleventh day of
Dhanu or December to January. No women who falls in the fertility age group is
allowed to go beyond Pamba.
Devotees carry out painstaking penance, ritual vows
and fasting for 41 days during the festival, before visiting the temple.
Thousands of devotees, irrespective of caste, creed and color, from different
parts of the country, climb up the 18 sacred steps that lead to temple, for a
glimpse of Lord Ayyappa. According to the tradition, those visiting the
Sabarimala temple should also visit the Guruvayur temple. The chief day of this
festival is the 41st day, after the 1st of Vrichikam.
Rituals and
Traditions
The Vrutham or austerities performed
by the devotees during the festival is the important aspect of Mandal Pooja.
The austerities prescribed for the festival are quite tough for the devotees
who wish to take pilgrimage at the temple on the day of Mandala Pooja or on the
auspicious day of Makara Sankranti.
The 41 days of Vruthum should be lead
on a simple and pious way by the devotees. The Vruthum commences after the
Tulasi or Rudraksha Mala with a locket of Lord Ayyappa, is worn by the
devotees, till he visits the Sabarimala temple and removes the Mala. Till the pilgrimage is completed with the
initiation of Vruthum, the devotee is called 'Ayyappan' or 'Swami'. During this
period, devotees should keep their mind and body clean and pure and must not
get indulged in worldly pleasures.
It is believed among the devotees that if
they follow the austerities properly, it will help them in cleansing their soul
and body. Women between the age of 1-9 and 50 above allowed to follow Vruthum
and are called 'Malikapuram', which means the ‘The Shakti of Lord Ayyappa’.
Celebrations
at Guruvayur
Special ceremonies are also organized
at Guruvayur temple during this festival. Over here, panchagavya is held every
day during the festival. Panchagavya is made with mixture of five products,
namely cow’s milk, curd, ghee, urine and cow dung.
It is believed to have
cleansing properties. During the Mandalam period, besides the renowned
Guruvayur Ekadasi festival, other activities are also performed in the temple
like the installation day of Melpathur statue, Narayaneeyam day and Kuchela
day.
How to Reach
By Road: Transportation facility to this
temple is only available till Pamba, which is around 66 km from Pathanamthitta.
From there, pilgrims have to trek to the holy shrine.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to this
temple is Chengannur, located at a distance of about 28 km from Pathanamthitta.
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