Origin of Sabarimala Temple
It was in the 12th century that Manikandan, a prince of Pandalam dynasty that held sway in the region, meditated at Sabarimala. He became one with the Lord and was believed to be an avatar of Ayyappan. This is one of the five main temples dedicated to Ayyappan, which hare regarded special for different reasons. At Sabarimala, he is said to be depicted as Vanaprastha, or the ‘one who renounces’ everything. No wonder, the annual pilgrimage taken by men to the temple, follows the same tenor of renunciation – but only for a period of 40 days.
Sabarimala Temple
The temple is located on a 4000 feet plus high hill in the middle of the forest. The journey here is arduous and not everyone has the grit to make it here on foot. But when they do, a 40 feet high platform welcomes them, with the temple propped on top in all its glory. Early 50s saw a raging fire in which much damage was done to the temple. The rebuilt structure emerged as a beautiful one, with a copper plated sanctum roof and gold finials on top. Many other parts like a flagstaff, and other elements were added to the temple in the following years.
The main idol of Ayyappan, housed in the sanctum, is one and a half feet tall and is made of a panchaloha, or an alloy of five metals. There are 18 scared steps that lead to the sanctum. One can get a brief glimpse as the ushers nudge everyone to move fast, to accommodate the snaking lines each day.
Even though the temple is basic in structure, it emanates a soothing vibe that draws thousands of devotees. There are several additional shrines dedicated to different Gods like Kannimoola Ganapathi Prathishta, Nagarajav, Malikappurath Amma, Pampa Ganapathi, Nilakal Mahadeva and Palliyara Bhagavathi can be seen in the complex. These are also considered auspicious to visit.
The devotees of Sabarimala take this annual pilgrimage with a Vratham or 41 days of austerity. They wear black clothing, do not shave and follow abstinence from all things that are materialistic or offer worldly pleasures.
Sabarimala Temple Timings
The entry to the temple is restricted only for a short period in the year. The temple is open for worship only during Mandalapooja (15 November to 26 December), Makaravilakku (14 January) and Maha Vishuva Sankranti (14 April) and the first five days of each Malayalam month. The Sabarimala Temple opens at 5am and the doors close in the evenings only at 10pm. This gives the devotees ample time to spend in the temple. During the Makaravilakku festival, the temple opens only for 2 hours in the morning, between 5am and 7am.
Other experiences in Sabarimala
While the main temple and the Ayyappan idol is the largest draw for spiritual travellers, there are some specific elements that one can see for an enriching trip.
Harivarasanam: The namesake spiritual song is recited each day in front of the temple when it is about to be closed. The composition is made up of 352 letters, 108 words in 32 lines in 8 stanzas
Neyyabhishekam: This ritual involves pouring ghee brought by the devotees on top of the idol.
Makara Vilakku: The 14th of January is time of a big celebration at the temple. It commemorates the day when Sabari, tribal devotee, welcomed Lord Rama as Prince of Ayodhya.
How to reach Sabarimala
The nearest airports Sabarimala are Trivandrum and Cochin, both over 150km from the point where one needs to start walking to the shrine. There is a closer helipad in Perunad, that is 40km from the base. There is ample connectivity by buses and trains to nearby towns.
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