Sree
Dharma Sastha Temple, Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa,
is the most famous and prominent among all the sastha
temples in Kerala. The temple situated on a hilltop
named Sabarimala in the Pathanamthitta district. This
temple is unique in many respects. One is that the temple
is open to all irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
There is a place near the temple, east to Sannidhanam,
dedicated to the Vavar ( a sufi and friend of Lord Ayyappa)
is called 'Vavarunada'.This is an epitome of religious
harmony. Another fact is that it is not open throughout
the year. It is open for worship, only during the days
of Mandalapooja, Makaravilakku and Chitra Vishu. The
pilgrims have to follow fasting for many days and the
journey to the temple is to be taken through difficult
paths in the forest as the vehicles can go only up to
Pampa.
This is one
of the most ancient temples in kerala. It is believed
that the diety of the temple was consecrated by lord
parasurama at the foot of sabari hills for which reference
has been made even in Ramayana. The temple attracts
pilgrims not only from the southern states of Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, Karnatakaand Andhra Pradesh but also from
other parts of country and abroad.
There is
a Vavar Thara very close to . The diety is Vavar, the
friend of Ayyappa and a sufi n honour of Muslim saint
at the close proximity to the main temple . Ayyapa cult
gifts much importance for secularism amd communal harmony
and has turned out to be a model for the whole world.
another significant as[pects ogf the pilgirmage is that
all the pilgrims whether rich or poor, literate or illiterate
her all equal before lord ayyapa and whole address each
other as ayyappa. or swamy.
It is believed
to be the place where Lord Ayyapa meditated soon after
killing the powerful demon, Mahishi. Another methology
says 'Parasurama Maharshi' who uplifted kerala from
the sea by throwig his axe, instal the idol of Ayyappa
at Sabarimala.
To enter
the Sabarimala temple, the pilgrim has to pass Pathinettampadi
(holy eighteen steps). The holly eighteen steps that
lead to the shrine, have been figuratevily called Ponnu
Pathinettampadi, 'Ponnu' being an epithet to denote
the holy touch of lord's feet. But now 'Ponnu' has become
literally true because the steps have been covered with
Panchaloham. Only those who observe 41 day's penance
can carry erumudi and can climb these steps.
Erumeli
Sastha Temple
Erumeli
sastha temple, an important meeting place in the pilgrimage
sabarimala is very famous. There is also a most very
near to the sastha temple. Ayyappas goes to sabarimala
after worship in at these to places which seems of a
symbol of hindu muslim unity. The pilgrims go to sabarimala
after pettathullal at erumeli. pilgrimage to sabarimala
without pettah thullal and worship at above mentioned
temples are not traditional. Erumeli temple rests about
38 kiliometers south from kottayam. near Railway Station
is kottayam.
Pandalam
Valiyakoyickal Temple
According
to legent, the King of Pandalamfound a baby lying in
the banks of river pamba. As the King had no heir to
succeed, the child was considered as a god-given gift
and named Ayyappa. So the baby was brought up as a prince.
So Sree Dharma Sastha of Pandalam Valiyakoyickal temple
is Dharma Deva to the king of panthalam. One of the
major events associated with the Makaravilakku festival
is the procession of the TYhiruvabharam (holy ornaments)
of Lord Ayyappa from this temple.
The
nearest town and railway station is chengannur (12 km).
Other
famous sastha temples related to mandalakalam are kulathupuzha
sastha temple, achankoil sastha temple and aryan kavu
sastha temple.
Mandalam-
Makaravilakku Festival 2008-2009
Mandalam- Makaravilakku festival starts at Sabarimala
Ayyappa temple on 16 November 2008 (Sunday), first day
in the Malayalam month of ‘Vrischikom’.
Mandalakalam starts from November 16 to December 26,
2008. For that the sanctum sanctorum opens at 5.30 p.m.
on 15 November, 2008 (Saturday).
The sanctum sanctorum is opened by new Melsanthis at
5 a.m. on Sunday. The rituals for Mandalam- Makaravilakku
start with ‘Ashta Dravya Ganapathi Homom’
at 5 a.m. followed by ‘Neyyabhishekom’ at
5.15 a.m. The ‘Mandalapuja’ and ‘Uchapuja’
are performed at the Ayyappa temple on December 26 and
then ‘Mandalam’ festival ends with ‘Athazhapuja’
in the afternoon.
The temple will reopen on December 30 for the ‘Makaravilakku’
festival and will end with 20 January 2009. The procession
of carrying the Thiruvabharanam (Royal Ornaments)to
Sabarimala Ayyappa temple will start from Pandalam Valiyakoickal
Sastha Temple on January 12. The Makara Jyoti, star
shows up on the Makaravilakku day, will be seen on January
14. The ending of Makaravilakku festival is marked by
the Darshan of the representative of the Pandalam Royal
Family.
Administration
The
administration of Sabarimala Devaswom is controlled
by the executive oficer on the cadre of the devaswom
commissioner. During the non festival period office
of the executive officer is at nanthancode,Thiruvananhtapuram
695003.
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