SABARIMALA, AYYAPPA,FAMOUS HINDU GOD,HINDU PILGRIMAGE DESTINATION

                                                  

 Lord ayyappa refer also (or) manikanta   (or )sasta( or) sabari(or)hariharasudhan  (or ) dharmasastha is one of the famous deity for hindu religious people in India especially south indian people worship ayyappan  one among the most important annual pilgrimage sites within the world with an estimate of over 40 to 50 million devotees visiting per annum . The temple is devoted to a Hindu celibate deity Ayyappan also referred to as Dharma Shasta, who consistent with belief is that the son of Shiva and Mohini, the female incarnation of Vishnu. The traditions of Sabarimala are a confluence of Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism,  Some millions of hindu religious male people even kids to old man taken deeksha( or) vratham 41 days The temple attracts millions of visitors every year during mandala season from mid November to mid January.sabarimala is one of the major hindu pilgrimage center 

Temple of ayyappa not open through out the year , temple is open only few days in a month

LOCATION

The Śabarimala or ayyappa  Temple is a temple complex located at Sabarimala inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve forest in the Perinad Village, Pathanamthitta district,state of   Kerala,  in India, sabarimala located in southern part of India, it also located sahyadri ranges in western ghats of India

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE

• 9.4375    East latitude
• 77.0805  North longitude

MSL( OR ) ELEVATION

• Elevation or mean sea level of sabarimala is 1260 meter or 4134 ft above sea level

CLIMATE

Sabarimala enjoys a tropical climate and differences due to the season in temperature aren't extreme. The weather in Sabarimala are often classified as summer, winter and monsoon. The weather in Sabarimala is pleasant throughout the year and thus the day – time temperature varies according to differences thanks to the season .

• The typical maximum temperature recorded in Sabarimala is during a range of 20 – 37º Celsius.
• The climate of Sabarimala is at its best during November to February.
• The summer in Sabarimala – March to May – usually records a maximum of 40º Celsius and a minimum of 24º Celsius. 
• High humidity is additionally recorded which during a range of 66 – 90%. Occasional showers help to stay the temperature in restraint . 
• The monsoon months in Sabarimala are from June to November, with a mean annual rainfall of around 130 cm. Monsoon in Sabarimala consists of South – West monsoon (June to September) 
• North – East monsoon (October to November). Sabarimala receives 75% of annual rain fall during South – West monsoon. 
• The temperature in monsoon months vary in between 27 – 20º Celsius. The winter season in Sabarimala is during December – February when the utmost temperature is around 25º Celsius the minimum at about 19º Celsius. 
• Days are pleasant with cool salubrious winds and thus the nights are cold during winter in Sabarimala. November to January is that the best suited time to go to Sabarimala. this is often also the height pilgrim season in Sabarimala. 
• This pilgrim centre also attracts substantial tourists during the months of April and September.

BEST VISITING MONTHS

• November to february
• april    to   sep

LOCAL LANGUAGE

• Malayalam

BIRTH OF AYYAPPA

MOHINI

• 
  

  There is an enormous confusion regarding the identity of Ayyappa. many of us think that he's a son of Shiva and Vishnu, which is merely partially correct.
• Lord Vishnu has taken just one female avatar which is that the divinely beautiful Mohini, which incidentally means ‘The Desirable One’.
• Lord Vishnu assumed this type to kill Bhasmasur who might be killed only by stealth. He took his Mohini form once more during the churning of the Milk Ocean to get the Nectar of Immortality. For the record, it had been Lord Shiva and Mohini who had a toddler named Dharmashastra.
• He was born to fulfil the boon that Mahishi had acquired from Lord Brahma that only a son of both Shiva and Vishnu can kill her. His name and therefore the story of His birth is explained intimately within the Bhagavata Purana.
  
  
• 
  
• Dharmashastra manifested Himself in various forms - as Ayyanar, as Ayyappan, and as Himself. Prince Manikantan of Pandalam (Sabarimala Ayyappan) was the precise avatar He took to kill Mahishi.

  

  KILL MAHISHASURA
  

  
  
  So while Dharmashastra finds a mention within the Puranas, it's unlikely that Ayyappa would even be mentioned as Ayyappa’s birth happened a few years after the Puranas were compos

ABOUT AYYAPPA

• The kingdom of Pandalam where god Ayyappan originated.The royalty was childless. at some point the king of Pandalam found a baby boy during a forest. 

  

  
  
• The king carried the baby to an ascetic within the forest to inquire about the boy. The ascetic advised the king to wish the baby bring home , raise manikanta like his own son, which in 12 years he would discover who the baby was.The royalty did so, naming the baby Manikantha.
• Ayyappan, also called Hariharaputra, is believed to vary state from the union of Shiva and Mohini.
• At age 12 of ayyappa, the king wanted to formally invited Manikantha because the heir prince (yuvraja).
•  However, the queen of kingdom under the influence of an evil minister objected. The minister had advised the queen that only her younger biological child should be subsequent king. 
• The younger child was disabled and lacked the power to perform the duties of the king, something that the scheming evil minister thought would make him the de facto ruler. 
• The minister persuaded the queen to feign an illness, invite "tiger's milk" to cure her illness and demand that Manikantha be sent to forest for the milk . 
• Manikantha volunteers, goes into the forest and returns riding on a tigress. The king, realising Manikantha have special ability recognizes the adopted son to be a divine being, resolves to form a shrine for him. 
• For location, Manikantha shoots an arrows that lands thirty kilometers faraway from where he's . The young boy then transforms into Ayyappan. The place where arrow of ayyappan landed is now there Ayyappa shrine, a site of a big pilgrimage that's particularly popular for visits on Makara Sankranti (about January

ABOUT AYYAPPA TEMPLE

AYYAPPA TEMPLE IN SABARIMALA

• The Sannidhanam (main temple) is made on a plateau about 40 feet high 
• The temple was rebuilt after arson and vandalism in the year of 1950. No charges were brought and therefore the earlier stone image of the deity was replaced by a panchaloha(an alloy from five metals) idol, about 1 and half feet.
• The temple consists of a sanctum, sanctorum of the temple with a gold-plated roof and 4 golden finials at the highest , two mandapams, the balikalpura which houses the altar. In 1969, the flag staff (dhwajam) was installed.
• The shrine of Kannimoola ganapathi prathishta is south-west side to 
• The Sreekovil of the Sannidhanam. every Devotees offer a part of the broken coconut (Neythen Ga) to the fireside (Azhi). Ganapathi homam is that the main offering. 
• The Pathinettu thripadikal or the 18 sacred steps is that the main stairway to the temple. As per the custom followed, 
•  who want to go in to the temple through  the steps they should have "Irumudikettu" can ascend the 18 sacred steps. In the year of 1985, the 18 steps of temple  were covered by Panchaloha metal. The northern gate is open for those that don't carry an "Irumudikettu", ]
• The temples of Lord Ayyappan's trusted lieutenants Karuppu Sami and Kadutha Sami are positioned as his guards (kaval) at the foot of the holy 18 sacred steps.

 ABOUT 18 STEPS

STEPS IN SABARIMALA

• 18 steps – part of the ritual Lord Ayapana devotees who visit the Sabarimala shrine need to climb up 18 steps to the sanctum sanctorum, all the while chanting the Pathinettam padi (song of the 18 steps).
• The climb has rules: Every devotee of ayapana must begin  with their right foot. 
• Only those that have undertaken the 41-day penance — which involves abstinence from all worldly pleasures — are allowed to ascend the 18 steps
• On their thanks to the temple, Ayapana devotees must carry the"irumudi" a little black cloth bundle that consists of puja items (or) personal possessions sort of a change of garments and something to eat like dry fruits, on their head.
• The 18 steps have considerable religious significance. Devotees believe that ascending these steps helps detach them from worldly desires, mentally and physically.

• The first five steps are called panchedriyas: They symbolise the five human senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.
• Next come the eight steps of the ashtaragas. These signify emotions: Krodh (anger), Kama (love), lobh (greed), moh (lust), asooya (jealousy), dhoom (boastfulness), madha (unhealthy competition) and matsarya (pride). It is believed that climbing up the steps while chanting helps control emotions that cause pain within the world.
• The trigunas, subsequent three steps, represent three human qualities, satva (goodness or purity), rajas (passion) and tamas (inertia or dullness).
• The last two steps represent vidya (knowledge) and its opposite, avidya (ignorance).
• The steps were originally of granite, but later covered with panchaloha, a special mixture of gold, silver, copper, iron and tin.
• The steps are believed to be special for other reasons too. For one, Ayyappa was a master of 18 weapons — each step is devoted to every of these weapons, which Ayyappa is believed to possess finally surrendered at the “pathinettam padi” or the eighteenth step.
• Some also believe that the steps represent the 18 hills around Sabarimala, of which the very best is that the one the temple stands on

 RITUALS IN TEMPLE

• Mandala kaalam
• 
• The pilgrimage to Sabarimala starts from the primary day of Vrischika month of Malayalam year (month of Scorpio) and ends on the 11th day of Dhanu month (the Month of Sagittarius). This season of 41-days pilgrimage is understood as Mandala kalam (season) . The season is within the months of December and January

Harivarasanam

• Harivarasanam is recited before closing the temple door nightly . The Harivarasanam prayer, which is sung at Sabarimala may be a Urakku Pattu. it's composed by Kambangudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer in Sanskrit. it's said that Srinivasa Iyer wont to recite the composition after the Athazha Puja, standing ahead of the shrine of Ayyappa within the main temple. With the efforts of Swami Vimochanananda, it came to be accepted because the lullaby by the Tantri and Melsanthi. The composition has 352 letters, 108 words in 32 lines in 8 stanzas
• Though there are many versions of this song sung by many renowned vocalists, the temple plays the rendition by K. J. Yesudas, composed by the renowned conductor G. Devarajan, which is within the Madhyamavathi raga of Indian Carnatic music.

Neyyabhishekam

• This significant ritual involves pouring sacred ghee brought by pilgrims in their Pallikettu or Irumudi (a two compartment bag made from handwoven cotton wont to carry the offerings for Sabarimala Temple carried on their heads) on the idol of Lord Ayyappa. It symbolically means the merging of Jeevatma with the Paramatma. While a red-colored irumudi is employed by a pilgrim on his first journey as a Kanni Ayyappan to Sabarimala, others use dark blue till third year and thereafter saffron colored irumudi.

Makaravilakku

• Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana met Sabari, a tribal devotee, at Sabarimala. Sabari offered the Lord fruits after tasting them. But the Lord accepted them gladly and whole-heartedly. The Lord then saw a divine person doing tapasya. He asked Sabari who it had been . Sabari said it had been Shasta. Rama walked towards him. Shasta stood up and welcomed the Prince of Ayodhya. The anniversary of this incident is widely known on Makara Vilakku day. it's believed that on Makara Vilakku day, Lord Dharma Sastha stops his tapasya to bless his devotees. The day is additionally called Makara Sankranti.

Aham Brahmasmi and Tatvamasi

• The most important message written at the temple façade is one among the four Mahāvākyas of Advaita or the non-dualistic school of philosophy. Tat Tvam Asi, the 3rd of 4 Mahavakyas which in sanskrit translates to "Thou Art That" is that the principle philosophy that governs the temple and pilgrimage. because the pilgrimage is symbolic for the journey to self-realization that each one living beings possess the essence of Brahman, pilgrims ask one another as Swami, acknowledging their divinity.[citation needed]
• It means, in short, you're a part of the Paramatma which is that the quintessence of Advaita philosophy.[citation needed]

Aravana Payasam at sabarimala

• The prasadam at Sabarimala temple is Aravana payasam and Appam. These are prepared by using rice, ghee, sugar, jaggery etc. The rice needed to organize the prasadam at Sabarimala temple is supplied by Chettikulangara Devi Temple, the second largest temple under the Travancore Devaswom Board situated at Mavelikkara. The Chief Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board said that the board has appointed Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore as a consultant for providing technical guidance to make sure the standard of Aravana, Appam and other prasadam preparations at Sabarimala temple.

AYYAPPA DEEKSHA OR VRATHAM

ABOUT AYYAPPA DEEKSHA

Ayyappa deeksha or vratam followed by many people in India especially south indian people practice ayyappa deeksha, some millions of people  are practice deeksha or vratam ,every year once even small children to old men,  this deeksha mainly only men s are practice

MY FRIEND IN DEEKSHA

Devotees must and will follow 41 days ritual. Devotee wears Ayyappa Mala, shouldn't wear footwear, must wear black clothes. (There’s a story for this deeksha. I’ll explain it in below paragraph) then here the solution for the question.. On 41st day, devotees who ever is following 41 days rituals, visit nearest Ayyappa temple, after the Pooja, Guruswamy (head priest of the temple) ties Irumudi. Iru means 2 and Mudi means knot.

1.ABOUT IRUMUDI

• One bag contains 2 pouches. One side they fill with coconuts crammed with pure ghee. Guru Swamy make a hole for one among the coconut pore. Fills a ghee into holed pore and a few other Pooja items like incense sticks, camphor, sandal powder, Vibhuti, Vermilion etc.
• In another pouch, they fill pouch filled with raw Rice which devotees will consume by cooking it while trekking 18 hills of Sabarimala from Ermelo.
• Devotees will carry it on their head and visit Sabarimala. After Ayyappa Darshanam, devotees will deduct the ghee coconut, break it and collect the ghee inside one container and provides it to temple. Tantri will do Abhisheka with the ghee which devotees brought by Irumudi.

2.Ayyappa Deeksha are as follows-

• Story why devotees should follow strict rituals while mandala deeksha (41 days of wearing Mala) :
• Once Lord Ayyappa meet Lord Shani and questions why he punishes human so cruelly? Shani replies, that’s his job as he's a Karma Phala Dātha. Ayyappa requests Shani to not punish his devotees which Shani declines it. Then Ayyappa tells tells that his devotees will maintain strict rituals for 41 days while they wear Ayyappa Mala.
•  The Deeksha Should be taken for 41 days or more but not but 41 days.
• This features a reason coz if you see any Ayurvedic Treatment it'll be for 41 days. The Deeksha what we do is strictly of ayurvedic Treatment. And our body and mind are trained for 41 days with a routine will generally become a habit, and our habits become our behaviour and our behaviour becomes our character. So if one is taking deeksha and following all rules are going to be good and can benefit to society. One will get transformed from inside if one is basically following all the principles of deeksha.
•  we should always keep our Mind with purity and control our feelings altogether aspects.
• This works in synchronisation with the concept why we call everyone as swamy only. it's an idea of seeing everyone as Swamy himself and provides due reference to him. it's a process of removing the I (ego) factor. an equivalent principle applies why swamy should bow to a different swamy. If swamy's are having a pure and clean mind, the ego will vanish and where ego vanishes, there divinity reflects.
• we should always awaken at 4:00 A.M(Brahma Gadiya)
• This is the time when the whole nature are going to be peaceful, one can feel the subtle vibrations of the prayers done everywhere the universe and obtain synchronised with those vibrations and over practice can get himself elevated to higher planes within the path of spirituality. because the day proceeds there'll be various sorts of disturbances around, which can not allow the person to attach to the vibrations around him within the nature. it's the proper time for meditating upon god during a choice which the person likes.
•  we should always perform pooja twice during a day Before sunrise and After sun set.
• This has scientific approach if you inhale the Camphor during early Hours your sinus are going to be clear. These are the days , when an individual mind can get distracted and if trained to participate within the pooja activity can slowly specialise in Swamy through which one slowly learn to regulate the mind and master the mind.

3. ABOUT  MEAL

• We should take meal just one occasion during a day and night we should always take only Tiffin(Eka Bhukta)
• It cleans our Pancreas,Liver,Stomach. consistent with ayurveda, an individual who eats once each day may be a yogi, an individual who eats twice each day is bhogi, and an individual who eats thrice each day is rogi. we should always eat to measure , not live to eat. The deeksha may be a tool to understand thyself. during this process it's essential to survive ourselves, so we should always take minimum food sufficient to stay the body active, and not overburden it in order that it makes us affected with diseases.
• Who ever calls us for Bhiksha(Meal or Tiffin) we should always attempt to attend and will never say no, Irrespective of caste and religion, shouldn't discuss the food what they keep, as Food is that the another Depiction of Para Brahma.
• Swamy is that the embodiment of dharma and he's the authority for purnatwam (Purnam) and pushkala team(Pushkalam). So an individual taking swamy deeksha are going to be blessed abundance and completeness. If one has got to be blessed, one should take the prasadam of Swamy. Prasadam of swamy has got to be taken therein sense only not considering the caste,creed,religion,race, status etc of the person. Getting food may be a great blessing in disguise, only those that are fortunate will get the prasadam of swamy.
• These are the 18 Sutra's for deek
• We shouldn't eat Non-veg,Onion's(Food Prepared with Onions),Garlic,Road sidefood.
• This is because, the food we eat will reflect on our thought process. There are basically 3 sorts of gunas , Sattvic, Rajasic and tamasic. and therefore the foods who prepare them and intake them are reflected by their respective gunas.
• Sattvic foods are light and straightforward to digest.—They bring clarity and perception.—Sattvic food has the potential to unfolds love and compassion within the individual.—Sattvic food promotes the qualities of forgiveness and austerity.it gives a sense of contentment.
• Raja sic foods are hot, spicy and salty.—They are irritants and stimulants.All morish or tempting foods come under the category of raja sic
• Heavily spiced foods e.g. hot pickles and chutneys which may stimulate the senses.Raja sic foods make the mind more agitated and vulnerable to temptation.The mind can become more rajasic, which suggests it tends towards anger, hate and manipulation.
• Tamasic food is heavy, dull and depressing.It induces sleep.Under this category comes meat , lamb, pork, beef, also as thick cheese
• Old and rancid food is additionally tamasic.Only when an excessive amount of of it's eaten, it causes the dulling Under Construction moderation, tamasic food is taken into account as grounding and promotes stability.
• One should choose only sattvic food during the deeksha period.
• 9) we should always eat Food prepared by ourselves or By Other swamies or our people that did bath and ready sacredly.
• This has reason as Road side food and unhygienic food aren't knowing http://Eat.As mentioned within the above rule, swamy's should eat food prepared by other swamy's or who are cooking with clean body and clean hearts

4.  ABOUT BEHAVIOUR

• Swamy's shouldn't scold anybody , shouldn't lie.
• When we are seeing everyone as a sort of Swamy, in what way can we abuse or scold that specific sort of Swamy, or to whom we are lying. this is often to find out and identify the truth that everything is permeated by swamy only.
•  we should always call each and each person as Swamy(Males) and Amma or Matha for females.
• This is the primary step to understand Swamy, we train the mind to ascertain every male as a sort of swamy and to ascertain mother in every woman.

5.AVOID THINGS

• Please note that we should always stop smoking ,Drinking, Chewing Pan, Gutkha and every one bad habits.
• This is always good. Bad habits are a symbol of mental weakness. To become mentally strong, one should quit these habits. By leaving them one will practice self control. Indirectly one will get confidence over himself, and slowly this may lead him to the trail of success in his personal life. So leaving the bad habits is that the initiative in transformation of an individual leading him to happiness and success.

6.ABOUT HAIR OIL

• We shouldn't apply oil to our hair.
• This is good whatever Dandruff you've got it'll be cleaned. this is often again in synchronisation of seeing Swamy everywhere by getting victory over the ego (I) factor. Swamy's should have less body consciousness and will convert their ego. Should be ready to accept everyone as Swamy without considering their external appearance.

  7.ABOUT BATHING

• Should Take Head bath Twice during a day with cold Water.
• It keeps our selves Fresh and that we are going to be very Active it are often experienced. Doing head bath with cold water makes the body and mind fresh and it helps in controlling the mind through the body. Mind always asks for comforts(like hot water), and by doing the cold water bath, we are winning over our mind. And as also word given by Swamy to Shani deva, swami's taking deeksha should haven't any comforts during their deeksha days.

 8.ABOUT SLEEP

•  we should always sleep on floor.
• This has scientific approach as earth is big magnet thanks to magnetic lines forces and planetary motion it gives physical ailments like body pains, spondylitis etc. relief. We shouldn't sleep within the Afternoon.
• Deeksha is to form us be on top of things of senses and convert the ego in realising the supreme Reality (Tat Twam Asi). to realize this, one should follow the sattvic path, sleeping in other times like afternoon may be a tamasic path, and can disturb the body composition and routine of a swamy.

9. ABOUT HAIR CUT

• We shouldn't Shave,No Hair Cut,no Cutting of Nails
• This is again in synchronisation with what swamy had given word to shani deva that swamy's will have minimum comforts during their deeksha period. Also swamy's should convert their ego and will be ready to accept everyone because the sort of swamy.

 10.A.BOUT FOOTWEAR

• We shouldn't wear Foot Wear.
• This features a scientific approach , this provides acupuncture to the body which controls vital sign . Also when swamy's attend sabarimala, it's a completely hill area and forest area. One cannot travel in those areas with footwear, and accordingly it's needed to travel barefoot. So these 41 days swamy's train their body and feet to face up to all the environment of Capitol Hill areas and therefore the forest regions.

  11.A.BOUT CLOTHS

• Swamy's shouldn't wear the other coloured clothes except black
• (Even Guru swamis they ought to wear black clothes coz, Ayyappa gave his words to Lord Sani i,e.Sanieshwar, " who ever takes my(Ayyappa) deeksha u shouldn't trouble them and will excuse them(We) for this they(We) will wear only Black colour dress as your(Sani's) Favorite colour is black " , this is often having one scientific approach as black coloured objects absorbs more heat which provides necessary heat to face up to the temperature around during the season of karthik and margasira)

13.HOW  TO REACH

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  By rail :Pilgrims reach kottayam or chengannur by he rail and from there to road journey to -pampa
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  By air:pilgrims can reach thiruvananthapuram or cochin air port and from there by road to pamba
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  ByRoad:- KSRTC has started bus services to Coimbatore, Palani and Thenkasi from Pampa for the convenience of Sabarimala pilgrims. Besides, the Government of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have been given the permission to operate buses to Pampa. A chain service exists between Pampa and Nilackal base camps.given the permission to operate buses to Pampa. A chain service exists between Pampa and Nilackal base camps.
• need any information contact admwondersindia@gmail.com
• up dates

Sabarimala: The famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa here will open for mandala pilgrimage on November 15 and devotees will be allowed entry from the next day, with strict compliance to the Covid-19 safety protocol.

The installation of the newly appointed chief priests (melsanthi) will also take place on November 15, but this ceremony is out of bounds for devotees.

The new priest appointees are V K Jayaraj Potti of Kodungallur Varikaat Madom in Thrissur and M N Ravi Kumar of Mylakodath Mana of Kidangoor, Angamaly. The latter will be the chief priest of the Malikapuram sub-shrine.

Ayyappa: Lord of the hills

The ceremonial procession in which the ornaments (thanka anki) worn by Lord Ayyappa for the Mandala Pooja is brought will reach the temple complex, Sanidhanam, on the evening of December 25. Thereafter, the gold ornaments will be placed on the idol followed by the homage with lighted lamps (deeparadhana).

Mandala pooja will take place on December 26 noon. The temple will be closed on the same night with the rendition of Harivarasanam Keerthaanam, the famed lullaby for Lord Ayyappa.

Makaravilakku and closure

The temple will open for Makaravilakku pilgrimage on December 30 at 5 pm. Makarivailakku is on January 14. After the completion of Makaravilakku rituals, the temple will close on January 20 at 7 am.

Only those pilgrims, who have booked through the virtual queue system, will be allowed to have darshan at the temple this time.

Though the temple will be opened for Chithira Atta Thirunal ritual on Wednesday, entry is barred for pilgrims. Chief priest K S Sudheer Namboodiri will open the temple at 5 pm and light the lamps in the sanctum sanctorum. The special (visheshal) pujas will be performed on November 13. Source of manorama