Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District, Perunad grama panchayat in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the
world with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year.[1][2] Sabarimala is believed to be the
place where the Hindu GodAyyappan meditated after killing the powerful
demoness, Mahishi. Ayyappan's temple is situated here amidst 18 hills.
The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 468 m (1535 ft)
above mean sea level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. Temples
exist in each of the hills surrounding Sabarimala. While functional and intact
temples exist at many places in the surrounding areas like Nilackal, Kalaketi,
and Karimala, remnants of old temples survive to this day on remaining hills.
Sabarimala
is linked to Hindu pilgrimage, predominantly for men of all ages.You can
identify a Sabarimala pilgrim easily as they wear black or blue dress.They do
not shave till the completion of pilgrimage and smear Vibhuti or Sandal paste on their
forehead.Women between the ages of 10 and 50 are not allowed to enter the
temple, since the story attributed to Ayyappa prohibits the entry of the women
in the menstrual age group. This is because Ayyappan
is a Bramachari (Celibate). The temple is open for worship only
during the days of Mandalapooja (approximately November 15 to December 26),
Makaravilakku (January 14- "Makara Sankranti") and Vishu (April 14),
and the first six days of each Malayalam month.
The pilgrimage
The
devotees are expected to follow a vratham (41-day
penance) prior to the pilgrimage. This begins with wearing of a
special Mala (a garland
made of Rudraksha or Tulasi beads). In general from then they are to
refrain from non-vegetarian food of any kind (except dairy) alcohol, and
tobacco, engaging in sex, using foul language, hair-cuts and shaving. They are
expected to bath twice and visit the local temples regularly and only wear
plain black or blue coloured traditional clothing. Saffron colored dresses are
worn by Sanysis (monks) who have renunciated material life. But, many devotees
still continue to wear saffron colored clothes which becomes a part of vedic
culture which connects the whole Hindus worldwide.
Hundreds
of devotees still follow the traditional mountainous forest path (approximately
52 km) from Erumely, believed to be taken by Ayyappa himself. The part starts from Erumely to Aludha river, then crosses the
Aludha mountain to reach Karivilam thodu. Now comes the sacred Karimala
crossing, from there to Cheriyanavattom, Valliyanavattom and finally Pamba River. Then they have to climb neelimala and we
enter into the ganesh bettam, shreeram betta padam.Aranmula kottaram is one of the halt place of holy journey
'thiruvabharana khosayatra'. But many people use vehicular traffic which can go
till the Holy Pamba River by an alternate road. Thereafter, all
the pilgrims have to follow a mountainous forest trekking path approximately
four kilometers up a steep hill (Neeli Mala) to Sabarimala. This path, now
developed, with shops and medical aid by the sides, used to be a mere trail
through dense jungle
Administration
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), a government
owned body, administers the temple. TDB has insured the Ayyappa's shrine for a
value of Rs 30crore ($7 million) and also introduced a
free-of-cost accident insurance project for pilgrims visiting
the temple. The pilgrims' insurance scheme offered up to Rs 1 lakh to the devotees suffering from injuries or
death at a stretch of about 18 km from Nilakkal to uphill Sannidhanam
where the temple is located. An estimated 5 crore (50 million) pilgrims visits
the temple every year.
Sabarimala
is the main income source of the board, with Rs.50 crore accruing to it from
there during the previous pilgrimage season (Nov.2010-Jan.2011).The monthly income from the rest of
the temples in Kerala was Rs.57 crore.The total income from sabarimala
during the 2012 mandala- makaravilakku pilgrimage season stands at Rs 230
crore, an increase of 12 crore from the previous season
Prasadams
The prasadam at Sabarimala temple is Aravana
payasam and Appam. These are prepared by using rice, ghee,
sugar etc. The rice needed to prepare prasadam at Sabarimala is supplied byChettikulangara Devi Temple, the second largest temple under 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
ensure the quality of Aravana, Appam, and other prasadom preparations at
Sabarimala
Harivarasanam
Harivarasanam is recited before closing the temple
door every night. Harivarasanam song, which is sung at Sabarimala as a lullaby
at night (Urakkupattu) was composed by Sri Kambangudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer.
It is said that Srinivasa Iyer used to recite the composition, after the
Athazha Puja, standing in front
of the shrine of Ayyappa in the main temple. With the efforts
of SwamiVimochanananda, it came to be accepted as
the lullaby by the Thantri and melshanthi. The composition has 352 letters, 108
words in 32 lines (8 stanzas).
Though
there have been many versions of this song sung by many renowned vocalists, the
temple plays the rendition by K. J. Yesudas,
composed by the renowned music director G. Devarajan, which is in the 'Madhyamavathi' raga of
Indian Carnatic music. Harivarasanam is written in Sanskrit
Neyyabhishekam
This
significant ritual involves pouring sacred ghee brought by pilgrims in their
Pallikettu or Irumudi (A two compartment bag made of handwoven cotton cloth
used to bear the offerings for Sabarimala Temple by the devotees and carried on
their heads)on the idol of Lord Ayyappa. It symbolically means the merging
of Jeevatma with the Paramatma.While a Red coloured Irumudi is used by a
pilgrim on his first journey(Kanni Ayyappan) to Sabarimala, others use Navy
Blue till third year and there on saffron coloured Irumudi.
Makara Vilakku
Lord
Sri 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 turned and saw a divine person doing
tapas. He asked Sabari who it was. Sabari said it was Sasta. Rama walked
towards Sasta and the latter stood up and welcomed the Prince of Ayodhya. The
anniversary of this incident is celebrated on Makara Vilakku day. It is
believed that on Makara Vilakku day, Lord Dharmasasta stops his tapas to bless
his devotees.and also it will called makara shankranthi
Aham Brahmasmi and Tattvamasi
The
important message given at the temple is the ultimate knowledge that each
individual is a God unto himself/herself, Tat Tvam Asi in Sanskrit meaning "That is you". Due to this pilgrims call each other Swami.
Tat Tvam Asi, meaning
"That Thou Art" is the message that is given out by theLord. It
means, in short, you are part of the Universal Soul (in Sanskrit
"Paramatma") which is the quintessence ofAdvaita philosophy. It
also means for reaching Paramatma or Universal Soul. this mahavakya suggested
by swami chinnmayananda.
No comments:
Post a Comment