Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa - Sabarimala Pilgrimage Wishes News Wallpaper


Swamy Ayyappan, അയ്യപ്പന്‍, Sastavu or Sasta is a Hindu deity worshiped in a number of shrines across India. Ayyappan is believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Sasta, who is the offspring of Shiva and Vishnu (as Mohini, is the only female avatar of the God Vishnu ) and is generally depicted in a yogic posture, wearing a bell around his neck, hence named Manikantan. Ayyappan may bear a historical relationship to the tutelary deity Aiyanar in Tamil Nadu.


Swamy Ayyappan's annual festival is a time of pilgrimage for ever-growing numbers of men from throughout South India. The most prominent and famous Ayyappan shrine is the one at Sabarimala, in the hills of Pathanamthitta in Kerala, with over 30 million devotees visiting it every year,making it one of the largest pilgrimage sites in the world.

Ayyappa is known as "Hariharasuta" because he is the son of Hari (Vishnu), the saviour and Hara (Shiva), the destroyer. His most common name is "Manikanta" because when the king Rajasekara Pandiya of Pandalam found little Ayyappan in a forest, there was a "mani" (bell) tied around his neck. As Dharma Sastha, many of them consider him to be born out of the union between Mohini (an avatar of Vishnu) and Shiva.

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 world 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 (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 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 the Lord. It means, in short, you are part of the Universal Soul (in Sanskrit "Paramatma") which is the quintessence of Advaita philosophy. It also means for reaching Paramatma or Universal Soul. this mahavakya suggested by swami chinnmayananda(1916–1993) in end of 70's

The devotees are expected to follow a vratham of 41 days 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 are against vedic scriptures due to ignorance.


Thousands 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 have claim neeleemala 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 forest.

ശബരിമല ധർമ്മശാസ്താക്ഷേത്രം, Sabarimala, சபரிமலை, सबरिमलय, శబరిమల, ಶಬರಿಮಲೈ, ഇന്ത്യയിലെ പ്രശസ്തമായ തീർത്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളിൽ ഒന്നാണ്‌ ശാസ്താവാണ് പ്രധാന മൂർത്തി. കേരളത്തിൽ പത്തനംതിട്ട ജില്ലയിൽ പശ്ചിമഘട്ടത്തിന്റെ ഭാഗമായ ശബരിമലയിൽ ആണ് ക്ഷേത്രം സ്ഥിതി ചെയ്യുന്നത്. ദക്ഷിണേന്ത്യയിൽ വച്ച് തീർത്ഥാടക സന്ദർശനത്തിൽ രണ്ടാം സ്ഥാനം ശബരിമലക്കുണ്ട്. മറ്റു ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളിലെപ്പോലെ വർഷത്തിൽ എല്ലാദിവസവും ഇവിടെ പൂജയോ തീർത്ഥാടനമോ നടക്കുന്നില്ല. നവംബർ - ഡിസംബർ മാസങ്ങളിൽ മണ്ഡലക്കാലം എന്നറിയപ്പെടുന്ന 41 ദിവസങ്ങളാണ് ശബരിമലയിലെ പ്രധാന തീർത്ഥാടനകാലയളവ്. ഇതിനുപുറമേ എല്ലാ മലയാളമാസങ്ങളിലേയും ആദ്യത്തെ അഞ്ചുദിവസങ്ങളിലും സന്ദർശനമനുവദിക്കുന്നു.

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