Connectivity:
Sabarimala is located at a distance of 115 km from state capital Trivandrum. The nearest international airport is at Kochi, 105 km away. Kottayam and Chengannur are the closest rail links. The remaining stretch needs to be covered on foot. Three favorite trials followed by the devotees during the festive season are:
The hilly mountainous trial from River Pampa does not allow Vehicular traffic to ply. Hence the last five kilometers to the Sabarimala shrine is covered on foot. However, for the seniors, children and physically disabled travel on chair porter carried chairs are available.
Legend Of the Temple:
Lord Ayappa to whom the temple is dedicated is believed to an incarnation of Dharma Sastha as worshipped by the Dravidians. Legend has it that when Lord Vishnu took the form of the enchantress Mohini to destroy the demon Bhasmasura, Lord Shiva was enamored by this celestial femininity. Their divine union resulted in the birth of Ayappa. The Lord Shiva entrusted the child Ayappa (also called Manikandan because of the bell tied around his throat) to the Pandya King Rajasekara. He benevolent king brought up the divine child as his eldest son, and declared him Crown Prince when he was 12 years old. The Queen however, had evil intents. Wanting her own son to be crowned, she feigned an incurable headache. The queen let Prince Manikandan know that her condition could only be cured if the prince returned with a tigress’ milk. The obedient son let home. Lord Ayappan in the course of his mission is known to have fought and slain demoness Mahishi. The Devas or celestial beings turned into tigers and tigress and accompanied the young prince to show their gratitude. The sight of a twelve year old child riding a tiger and accompanied by an ambush of tigresses shamed the royal couple who sought forgiveness. After blessing his foster parents, the lord prepared to return to his heavenly abode when the king begged him to remain in the Pandya kingdom. Lord Ayappa granted the king’s boon and agreed to reside in the temple built by the king on the Sabari hills. He also conceded to appear in the form of a star (Makara Jyothi) on the Festival of Makara Sankaranthi. It is hence believed that the ancient temple of Sabarimala, with the sacred 18 steps was built under the orders of King Rajasekara.
The Puja Days:
The Sabarimala shrine is open for worship for the first five days of every month in the Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). Besides devotees can visit the shrine from November 15 to December 26 (Mandalapooja) and Makarasankaranthi (January 15) and Vishu (April 14) Festival days.
The Austerities/ Fast:
Women (after puberty and before menopause), foreigners and tourists are not allowed to enter the temple premises. The men who visit the shrine practice severe austerities and hold a 41 day long fast. They wear no footwear, not even on the trek through the hilly forests between Pampa and the main Shrine. They lead a celibate life, sleep on straw mats without pillows, eat only one bland meal a day and desist from eating non-vegetarian or spicy (rajasik) foods. These devotees wear black shirt and dhoti ad wear a rosary around their neck. Like hermits they practice extreme cleanliness and discipline. They cant the Lord’s name many times a day and do not indulge in foul language etc. These faithful followers return in millions year after year and undertake the arduous trek up the forested path with a heavy Irrumudi on their heads. The Irrumudi holds coconuts filled with ghee (clarified butter), rice and legumes. The ghee is used to light the lamps at the shrine.
The Trek and The Darshan:
The devotees who visit the shrine hold the Lord supreme in their hearts. Constant chants of "Swamiye Sharanam Ayappa"(Hail Lord Ayappa) rent the air and the pilgrims make their trip bound by a brotherhood created by devotion to the Lord. The mountain trial, through the jungle is a hazardous trip undertaken in small groups. The devotees forget their caste, creed, social and economic differences and help each other on the way. A meager meal is cooked on open bonfires on the path and they eat together. Their devotion and spiritualism supersedes even the boundaries of the very religion that ties them together as they halt to pay regards to Vavar or "Vavarunada", believed to be a Muslim companion of the Lord Ayappan.
Still in a trance like fervor the devotees walk to the temple and there witness the bringing in of the deity’s jewel box (Thiruabarana Petti). Their penance seems to be rewarded when they ascend the holy 18 steps (Pathinettampadi) to reach the Holy Sannishanam (sanctum sanctorum). After the holy darshan and lighting the ghee lamps, these devotees faithfully wait for the Makara Vilakku, the glow of a star that shines only on the Festival day of Makara Shankaranthi ( Jan 14 or 15). Having caught a glimpse of this testament of the Lord’s presence they return to their families and worldly lives but come November again, the heart answers the call of “the living God”.
