As devotees rush to see Lord Ayyappa on the hills of Sabarimala, let understand the history and significance of the temple
| Important Temples of South India – Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple | |
| Name of the Temple | Sabarimala Ayyappa Sannidhanam or Sree Dharma Sastha Temple |
| Location | Western Ghat mountain ranges of, On a hilltop about 3000 feet above sea level, in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala |
| Rulers/builders and Time Period | According to historians and archaeologists, the Lord Ayyappa Temple of Sabarimala is believed to be around 4000 to 4250 years old. Another belief is that the temple is around 4800 to 5000 years old. Reference to the temple can be seen in old scriptures such as Ramayana. In ancient times, the temple was known in two different names such as Madanga Mala (the place where Sage Madanga lived) and Potalaka (the place of light). The Royal family of King Pandya had migrated from Tamilnadu about 800 years back. The King reconstructed the destroyed Sastha temple at Sabarimala with the help of Ayyan, Vavar, a Muslim youth from Kanjirappally, Kadutha, a Nair youth from Muzhukeer, Chenganoor, Alapuzha dist. |
| Deities’ – Goddess | Lord Ayyappa Swamy |
| Architecture Style | The idol of Lord Ayyappa Swamy is made of Panchaloha or Five Metals. There is a shrine dedicated to Lord Ganapathi – known as Kannimula Ganapati, to the south-west of the main temple. The shrine of Malika Purathamma or Malikappurathamma is located nearby and houses the shrines of Goddess and Kaduthaswamy. The temples of Nagaraja and Nagayakshi are situated on the left of this temple. Bhasma Kulam is located on the way to Malikapurathamma Temple. Devotees can take a holy bath at the tank to get rid of their sins. The temples of Kaduthaswamy and Karuppaswamy can be seen at the foot of the Patinettampadi (18 Holy Steps). The shrine of Muslim Vavurswami (an intimate friend of Lord Ayyappa) can be seen near the Patinettam Padi. |
| Later Renovation | However, we do not know as to when the Sabarimala pilgrimage had started. After the installation of the temple, it remained unreachable for about three centuries. It was a king of a later generation who rediscovered the traditional paths to reach Sabarimala. He had many followers with him, including the descendants of the Vavar family. The family members found their resources at Erumely and this marked the beginning of the famous Petta Thullal there. The Temple was then renovated. In 1821 Ad, the kingdom of Pandalam was added to Travancore. 48 major temples including the Sabarimala temple were also added to Travancore. The idol was erected in 1910. In 1971, the temple underwent a major revamp |
| Spl. Ref. to Fine Arts | Harivarasanamis recited before closing the temple door every night. Harivarasanam song, which is sung at Sabarimala as a lullaby at night (Urakkupattu) was composed by Sri Kambangudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer. It is said that Srinivasa Iyer used to recite the composition, after the Athazha Puja, standing in front of the shrine of Ayyappa in the main temple. With the efforts of Swami Vimochanananda, it came to be accepted as the lullaby by the Thantri and melshanthi. The composition has 352 letters, 108 words in 32 lines (8 stanzas). Though there have been many versions of this song sung by many renowned vocalists, the temple plays the rendition by K. J. Yesudas, composed by the renowned music director G. Devarajan, which is in the ‘Madhyamavathi’ raga of Indian Karnatic music. Harivarasanam is written in Malayalam |
| Composer | 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 |
| Other Spl. Features | 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. The pilgrimage begins in the month of November and ends in January. This significant ritual involves pouring sacred ghee brought by pilgrims in their Pallikettu or Irumudi (A two compartment bag made of handwoven cotton cloth used to bear the offerings for Sabarimala Temple by the devotees and carried on their heads)on the idol of Lord Ayyappa. It symbolically means the merging of Jeevatma with the Paramatma. While a Saffron coloured Irumudi is used by a pilgrim on his first journey(Kanni Ayyappan) to Sabarimala, others use black or Navy Blue coloured Irumudi. Mandala pooja (December12,2011) and Makaravilakku(Jan.15th,2012) 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). Certain customs are to be strictly observed if one has to undertake a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. A pilgrim attending the Mandalapooja should observe austerities for 41 days. During this period, the pilgrim should abstain himself from non vegetarian food and carnal pleasures. Pilgrims set out in groups under a leader, and each carry a cloth bundle called Irumudi kettu containing traditional offerings. Unlike certain Hindu temples, Sabarimala temple has no restrictions of caste or creed. The temple is open to males of all age groups and to women who have either passed their fertility age and those before reaching the stage of puberty. |
| Any Other/Remarks | According to legend, Lord Ayyappa was a descendant of the Pandya dynasty which lived in various place like Valliyur, Tenkasi, Shengottah, Achankovil and Sivagiri and in parts of Travancore, where the Pandavas were the ruling dynasty belonging to Chempazhanattu Kovil, lived in Sivagiri and were given the right to rule the country of Pandalam by the King of Travancore eight hundred year ago. King Rajasekhara was the direct descendant of third dynasty. He was a very talented, courageous and just ruler and his subjects were happy and prosperous. However, the king had no children and no heir to inherit his kingdom. His prayers to Lord Shiva for heir were answered when the Lord ordered Dharmasastha to take the avatar of Ayyappa. Thus Ayyappa was born. The King found the baby near the Pampa River when he went hunting and took the child home, where he was brought up as his son |