VISWANATH S: SABARIMALA PILIGRIMAGE YATRA 2011

SABARIMALAI PILIGRIMAGE YATRA 2011

SWAMIYE SHARANAM AYAPPA

Date: 18th Aug 2011 to 23rd Aug 2011

Route: Bangalore-Mysore-Nanjangud-Sultan Bathery-Guruvayoor Temple-
Pampa-Sabarimalai-Kadampuzha-Mysore-Bangalore

54 yatriks left Bangalore by bus on 18th night at 11.30 and reached Nanjangud temple on Mysore Ooty road at 3.30am, had our bath in Kapila river, which was is full flow as it has been raining from a month, finished darshan at 5.45am and back to linganna choultry to have our cup of coffee. we left at 9.30am after having our our tasty breakfast and left towards Guruvayoor temple. on reaching the temple at 6.30pm we had our bath and left for the darshan of lord Krishna. after darshan we returned our Palahara (Breakfast) which was ready, and left by 10.00pm to reach pampa by 3.45am on 20.08.11.

We had a welcome drizzle at pampa, we shifted our all our luggage, utensils, food items and our irumudi by 5.00am carrying for almost 500mts, as our bus was not allowed near the place of our stay, due to heavy tourist.

we had our bath at Pampa river at 7.30am in rain and after pooj back to our barrack for a hot cup of coffee, we were served breakfast at around 9.00am and we were waiting for our another 54 yatriks who were coming by train from Bangalore, who reached Pampa at 7.30 pm in heavy rains, after thier irumudis were kept in a place, we had our evening bath at 8.00pm and after pooja we had our palahaara and went to sleep in an open barrack meant for yatriks.

Pamba River

Pamba River is the third longest river in the South Indian state of Kerala and the longest river in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. Sabarimala temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is located on the banks of the river Pamba.

River Pamba is considered as the Dakshina Ganga (Southern Ganges) due to its association with Kerala's Largest Pilgrim Centre - Sabarimala.

The River Pamba enriches the lands of Pathanamthitta District and the Kuttanand area of Alappuzha District

We were lucky again too as one of our group devotee had given for 1008 kalasa pooja. a small pooja was conducted in the temple premises in the afternoon, followed by Lunch prepared by our cooks. in the evening we had a view of Padi Pooja in rain, and retd to our rooms. on 22.08.11 after taking the Ghee for Abhisheka our Guruswamis returned and segregated all our Irumudis and packed with Ghee and other items which we had carried with Orumudi (One Bag). at 11.30am we had our life luckiest day to see the 1008 kalasa pooja performed by Brahmasri Kantaru Maheswararu Thantri and all 1008 kalas abhisheka on lord Ayyappa. i was so lucky that i had an occasion to view 74 kalasa abhishka sitting in front of the lord. the entire event finished by around 2.00pm and we started to decend to pampa after having our lunch. i was at the pampa ganapathi temple by around 4.15pm and had to wait for the last yatriks and cooks of our group to decend at around 6.30pm.we packed our bag, left for Kadambuza Bhagavathi Temple at 11.00pm to reach at 5.30am on 22.08.11.

it rained continuously throught night. on 21.08.11 all 108 yatriks from bangalore, with 8 Guruswami's left for Sabarimala, carrying our IRUMUDI on our head and reached by around 11.00am, climbing the 18 sacred steps, having darshan of Lord Ayyappa. some of us were lucky to see the Abhisheka of lord with Ghee, Honey, Tender Coconut,Vibhuti.

SABARIMALAI

Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan 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 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.

we settled in our room and our Guruswami's unfolded the IRUMUDI and kept Ghee and other items for Abhisheka for the Lord.

Sabarimala is linked to Hindu pilgrimage, predominantly for men of all ages. 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 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, blue or saffron coloured traditional clothing. The visit to Sabarimala is thought for settling the shani-dosha to make the planet give better life and lifespan. This is according to astrological principles of controlling shani-dosha.

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, Pariyanavattom and finally Pamba River. Then have claim neeleemalam 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 nine 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 forest.

Sri Kadampuzha Temple

The presiding deity here is Sree Parvathy Devi in the form of Kirathi (hunter). The specialty of this temple is there is no deity in the sree kovil but a small area is kept protected. There is a Thidambu, made up of Pancha loha, and Bhagavathy is Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, and Bhadrakali- all in one form as a Kirati. .

The other main offerings are Muttarukkal with breaking coconuts there, which is believed to help you get through your problems, such as dehamuttu, udyogamuttu, vivamuttu, vidhya muttu etc. The other offerings are Pushpanjali, Thrikala puja, choroonu, ganapathy homam, niramala, thulabaram etc.

Kadampuzha Bhagavathy is believed to possesses immense curative and rewarding powers. Hence, people come from all parts of the country to have a darshan of Bhagawathi and get their dream fulfilled.

Devi Temple, Kadampuzha is a Hindu temple and pilgrimage centre in Malappuram District, Kerala, India. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddessDurga, a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess.

The Devi temple, owned by the Malabar Devaswom Board under the Government of Kerala, is administered through a trust consisting of the Variar family and non hereditary co-opted trustees.

The town of Kadampuzha was once in the hands of the "Thekkencheri" Nair family, but in the 1860s most of their land was lost. There is another temple, Madambiyar Kavu temple, situated a short distance away from the Devi temple, which was originally constructed and maintained by the Nair family. The idol of the Madambiyar temple is Lord Shiva in his "Kirata" incarnation

Daily offerings and special eventsThere are two main daily rituals at the temple. The Poomoodal (covering the deity under a heap of freshly picked flowers) is the highest puja done in the temple. The Muttarukkal, another offering, involves breaking coconuts before the deity by the pujari, correctly into two equal halves, and is used for warding away obstacles in the various facets of the life of the devotees. The word itself means 'keeping away obstacles'. If an offered coconut fails to be broken into two exact halves, then fresh coconuts are broken until one is broken 'correctly' - ensuring that the problem has been solved by the divine interference of the deity.

Karthikai day in the month Vrishchikam (November–December), is considered a special day and is celebrated in a grand manner at this temple.

The deity is considered more powerful on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Legends surrounding the templeA story regarding the Devi says that the Pandava Prince, Arjuna, fought with Lord Shiva during his Kirata incarnation (he was accompanied by Devi Parvathy during her Vanadurga incarnation).

A demon named Mukasura took the form of a wild boar and started destroying the trees and shrubs around Arjuna. Arjuna was in deep meditation at the time, in order to get the Pasupathasthra (a divine arrow named "Pasupatham") from Lord Paramasiva.

Both Arjuna and Shiva shot at the wild boar and both claimed that his arrow had killed the animal. They argued, and finally agreed to fight a battle with bow and arrow. The victor of the battle would also get the honour of being the killer of the wild boar. The ensuing battle was fierce and Arjuna was defeated. Despondent over the defeat, Arjuna placed a big stone in front of him and started praying to the mother of the universe Parasakthi while showering flowers over the stone. He was amazed to see that the flowers fell at the feet of the Kirata and Kirati. He realised that those people were actually Lord Paramasiva and Devi Parvathy. The Lord and Devi Parvathy were pleased with Arjuna and gifted him with the Pasupathastra arrow.

Another legend says that Adi Sankaracharya, during his travels, once happened to pass through Kadampuzha, which was then a grassland. At one place he could not pass further, as he seemed to strike an invisible wall. He understood it to be the meeting point of the Goddess Parasakthi in her Devi Parvathy incarnation and Lord Parameswara in his "Kirata" incarnation. Adi Sankaracharya prayed to the Devi and she appeared before him. After blessing him, the goddess disappeared into a small hole in the ground. He did the first poojas to the devi there on that day in Vrishchikam (November–December) and the sanctum of the temple is said to have been built around that hole. There is no idol in the temple.

Currently, the temple is under renovation/modification/beautification and hence the devotees are requested to make a note of the revised timings till the construction is completed.

a)The MUTTARUKKAL offering is being done only in the morning i.e. between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. No MUTTARUKKAL will be conducted in the evening.

b)The POOMOODAL offering is being done between 9 & 11 a.m. after which the temple will be closed after morning pujas by 11 a.m.

c)The temple will be opened for the evening darshan at 6 p.m. and will be closed at 7 p.m.