SABARIMALA

Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple

It is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha Temples.

Story - It is believed that "Parasurama Maharshi" who retrieved Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe, installed the idol of Ayyappa at Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa. Lord Ayyappa or Dharma Sasta is said to be the sone of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Once lord Vishnu assumed the form of an enchanting woman Mohini, to deal with the asuras when they stole the "Amrit" on completion of the churning of the ocean of milk. But after Mohini successfully brought back the "Amrit", Lord Shiva fell in love with her and Lord Ayyappa was born. After this celestial drama, the divine child Ayyappa came down to the terrestrial plane and was found abandoned by a king in the thick forest that formed part of a principality he ruled, called Pandalam. Since the Lord was seen with both Tulsi and Rudraksha malas around his neck, he is also called Manikanthan. The child grew up in the king's care and became a mighty warrior. He went back to the forest to fight marauding tribes, befriended a Muslim warrior, Vavar and vanquished enemies. In a display of divine power, he appeared before the people riding on a leopard and revealed himself to them. In the final act of this divine drame, the Lord returned to the forest and, with the power of yoga, merged his physical form with the idol of Dharma Shasta, a Vedic diety, in the temple of Sabarimala.

Vratam - Those desiring to go to Sabarimala, should wear the mala of Tulsi and Rudraksha (which represent Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, since Lord Ayyappa is considered as their son) (the mala should have 53 beads of tulsi and 1 bead of rudraksha) from the hands of a Guruswami, or in a nearby temple or from the hands of their parents, on the first day of the month of Karthik. Such devotees are considered as representing Lord Ayyappa and are called Swami or Ayyappa. After wearing the mala, the devotees are expected to strictly adhere to Brahmacharya for the next 60 days (some say 41 days). They should eat simple vegetarian food, wear simple clothes, abstain from sex, have complete control over their anger, desires, etc and must lead a life of austerity during the period. The bag carried by these devotees on their heads is called Irumudi. Of the two, the front portion represents our Good deeds and the back portion our evil deeds. When returning after the darshan of Lord Ayyppa, the devotees leave behind their evil deeds and carry home the good ones as prasadam. The Irumudi is filled with Coconut and ghee.

Timings - The pilgrimage begins in the month of November and ends in January. Mandalapooja and Makaravilakku are the two main events of the pilgrim season. The temple stays closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam month and during Vishu (April).

Temple - The eighteen steps leading to the sanctum of Lord Ayyppa represent the eighteen chapters of the holy Bhagavadgita. At the end of these 18 steps Lord Ayyppa is seated. It is believed that the devotees who go to Sabarimala for 18 years after crossing the 18 steps leading to the temple, become rid from the cycle of birth and death and will attain Moksham after their death.