Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in India:
Open for all
Ayyappan Ayyappan, is a much revered South Indian deity. Lord
Ayyappan is worshipped in a number of shrines across India: at
Kulathupuzha, in Kerala, he is worshipped as a child; at Achenkovil in
conjunction with his consorts, Pushkala and Poorna; and at Sabarimala as
an ascetic, a celibate meditating in solitude for the benefit of all
mankind. The word Ayyappa is derived from two words Ayya - meaning
Vishnu and Appa - meaning Shiva.
The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple preaches the principle of Tat Tvam Asi.
The temple is unique in all India, in that there is no distinction of
caste or religion in determining who can enter it. Non-Hindus are
equally welcome.
It might be more instructive to talk about the mythic origins of
Ayyapan first, before we explore the history, as the mythic story always
has a deeper resonance as well as more significant spiritual truth in
India.
Every year according to the government statistics, at least fifty
million devotees come to visit Ayyappan in Sabarimala and it provides
ten thousand crores of rupees to the state.
Background
The asura princess Mahishi was burning up with anger at the dirty
trick the gods had pulled on her brother, the asura king Mahishasura. As
Mahishasura was blessed with invulnerability to all men, the gods had
sent goddess Durga, to fight and kill him. Thus, Mahishi began
performing a fearsome set of austerities, and pleased the creator god
Brahma.
He granted her the boon of ruling the universe and being invulnerable
except to a being that had the combined strength of both Shiva and
Vishnu. Since such a person did not exist, she thought she was safe and
began conquered and plundered the world.
The gods implored Shiva and Vishnu to save them from this
catastrophe. Vishnu found a possible solution to the problem.
When Vishnu had taken on the Kurma Avatar, he also had to manifest
himself as Mohini, the enchantress, to save the nectar of immortality
from the demons who were not willing to share it with the gods.
If he became Mohini again, then the female Mohini and the male Shiva
could have the divine child who would combine their powers and beat
Mahishi.
Early Childhood Manikantan entered the forest to fulfil his divine
duty, to rid the world of demoness Mahishi. Manikantan killed her and
released a beautiful woman who had been cursed to become Mahishi. The
young woman asked Ayyappan for his hand in marriage, but he declined,
being a celibate.
However he promised that she would be visited by pilgrims and would
be housed next to his temple, and if the number of new pilgrims visiting
him stopped, then he would marry her. Hence she is now worshipped as
Maalikapurathamma. There is also another version of this story. It is
believed that Maalikapurathamma was a young girl in Cheerappanchira
family where Ayyappan was trained for Kalari (martial arts).
On the death of Mahishi, Indra - the king of the gods, who was
displaced and banished by Mahishi, led several tigers for the disposal
of Ayyappan.
Days later Manikantan entered the palace precincts riding a fierce
tigress and followed by a pack of her cubs. The schemers were frightened
into confessing their plot. They were convinced of his divine origins,
and prayed to him to be with them for their own salvation and for the
safety of the kingdom. Immediately Manikantan disappeared. The king
would not eat anything if Manikantan did not come back. Then Manikantan
gave a vision (Darshan) to the king.
Filled with emotions of happiness, grief, fear, wonder and ‘Bhakti’
(devotion to God) and self-surrender, the king stood praying for the
mercy and blessings of Manikantan. He repented he could not fully
visualize the truth of the divine powers of the Lord and repeatedly
requested Him to forgive him for behaving as if He were his son only.
The Lord lovingly embraced the King who prayed to bless him by
freeing from ego and the worldly life of birth and rebirth and grant
Moksha (salvation). He told the King that he was destined to return. The
king implored Lord Manikantan to allow him to build a temple and
dedicate it him and the Lord assented.
Manikantan then enlightened the King on the path of attainment of
Moksha. The Lord shot an arrow that fell at the top of Sbrimala and told
the King that he could construct a temple at Sabarimala, north of the
holy river Pampa and install His deity there. Ayyappan also explained
how the Sabarimala pilgrimage shall be undertaken, emphasizing the
importance of Penance vratham and what the devotees can attain by His ‘darshan.’
But before the departure of the Lord, the King secured a promise from
the Lord that on His birthday on January 14, every year, (celebrated as
‘Makara Jyothy’ all his personal jewellery (usually kept at the Palace)
will be adorned on His image at Sabarimala.
Hence on the 12th of January every year, the Jewellery will be taken
on foot from the Palace by a special emissary of the kingdom, after the
puja with all pomp, devotion and reverence. Immediately when the Arti is
over, Royal Garuda (Eagle) flies over the Palace, (which seems to be
quite automatic).
The Royal Garuda flies ahead, and appears guide the pilgrims
throughout their journey. Since there was no modern means of
communication like Telephone or Mobile, to the hundreds of thousands of
Devotees desirous of worshipping Lord Manikantan’s Jewels enroute to His
Abode, this Garuda was the sole and absolute signal of advance
information even to the Temple authorities at Sabarimala to get ready
for the adorning of the Jewels.
This journey on the 12th and 13th of January finally reaches
Sabarimala on January 14th. Immediately after the jewellery is adorned
on the Deity, there is an Aarti (offering by burning Camphor). The
miracle is that just after the Arti, without loss a second, the Jyothy
appears on the east side of the Temple up above the Hills (details are
given hereunder).
But then the Lord further consoled the King saying that the devotees
who held him and his descendants in ‘Bhakti’ shall happen to be devoted
to Him as well. Manikantan then blessed the King and all others
assembled there, and vanished. The King duly constructed the temple at
Sabarimala, dedicated to him. The deity for installation was prepared by
Parasurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and was installed by himself.
Prasadam
A strong liking for sweets is a common factor of all Hindu Gods and
Ayyappa is no exception. Appam and Aravana (Payasam made of rice, ghee
and jaggery) are the prasadams of the Lord. There is an interesting
story behind these prasadams also. The Raja of Pandalam admitted Ayyappa
to a famous Kalari (gymnasium where traditional martial arts of
Kalaripayattu is taught) at Cheerappanchira in Cherthala in Alappuzha
district.
The young daughter, Leela, of Kalari Panicker fell in love with
Ayyappa. But Ayyappa was so involved in his studies that he didn’t
notice the girl’s infatuation. It’s also believed that she later became
Maalikapurathamma who was dejected when Lord Ayyappa refused her
marriage proposal, after offering her a seat in Saram kuthi near
Sabarimala Devasthanam.
Soon the girl started bringing him food to capture his attention.
Time passed by and the girl reached her puberty. And her family,
following the Hindu tradition, prepared special cuisines to celebrate
the occasion.
One mandatory item on the menu is Rthumathikanji (porridge made using
rice and five times the quantity of jaggery). On that day she took this
porridge to Ayyappa, who was practising payattu in the Kalari. He liked
it very much and requested the girl to bring only the porridge everyday.
It is believed that the practice of offering Aravana as prasadam to the
God was born from this incident.
There are various lores connected with Lord Ayyappan. These relate to
discovery of the child at Pampa, Manikantan’s youthful days in the
Pandalam palace, bestowing the power of hearing and speaking upon the
deaf and dumb son of His teacher as Guru-dakshina, His friendship with
Vavar (a Muslim), bringing the tiger’s milk, accomplishing His divinely
destined mission of annihilation of the demoness Mahishi, eliminating
the forest-thug Udayanan, bestowing immortality on Sabari and blessing
His foster-father with immortality.
Manikantan was the incarnation of Lord Dharmasastha. Raja Rajasekhara
was in his previous birth a rich and pious ‘Brahmin’ by name Vijayan who
was a very strong believer and devotee of Lord Dharmasastha. Such was
Vijayan’s ‘bhakti’ towards the Lord that He blessed the Brahmin by
granting his wish to be born as his son in his next birth when the Lord
would offer him ‘moksha’.
Pilgrimage
The Pandala Raja constructed a small temple, 18 steps above the
ground as instructed by the lord himself.
Each of these eighteen holy steps represents a desire one must
conquer in life. The 18 steps and the temple have in recent times been
coated in gold. The vigraham (idol) is also coated in gold, and was
inaugurated by Parashurama (incarnation of Vinshnu).
The common cry heard during the pilgrimages to his shrine is “Swamiye
Sharanam Ayyappa!” (Oh Swami, we take refuge in you”).
In Makarasankranti, every year without fail, miraculous events occur.
Firstly at the jewels (Thiruvaabaranam) of the Lord are transported from
the Old Pandalam Palace to Sabarimala, a Krishnaparanth (holy Garud
circle above the precious jewels (in fact guarding them), like a
protector.
This rare eagle is rarely seen in the midst of people for a long
period of time, yet the auspicious bird follows the Thiruvaabaranam
procession, finally circling above Sanithanam at Sabarimala nine times
as it pays its respects to Lord Ayyappan. During this time, there is not
a single star in the sky except for a special Nakshatram. As the
beautiful jewels are placed on the golden body of the Lord within the
temple, the several hundred thousand devotees outside, crammed into any
available free space, chant “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.”
When the jewels are finally all adorned on the Lord, the Nakshatram
in the sky miraculously disappears, as all the Devas and Celestial
beings leave the sky to get a glimpse of the Lord in all his splendour.
Within moments of the Lord being adorned with the Thiruvaabaranam, an
effulgence (Divya Jyoti) appears in the opposite hills of Shabarimala,
appearing 3 times.
This hill is called Ponnambalamedu. It is believed that the Lord
himself appears in the form of that Divya Jyoti. It is firmly believed
that Lord Indra himself lights the divine effulgence.
The entire hillside reverberates with the chant “Swamiye Sharanam
Ayyappa” as the devotees witness this auspicious Darshan, as the Devas
and celestial Rishis arrive at Sabarimala to participate in birthday
celebrations of Ayyappan effulgence.
These auspicious sights are different forms of the Lord Himself
appearing. The devotees then climb the 18 holy gold steps to arrive at
the sanidhanam where they finally get a glimpse of the Lord as Himself,
in all beauty, Manikanta Shri Dharmasastha, adorned with jewels. It is
believed that if one witnesses these events after having undertaken 41
days of severe austerities (Vratham), one can attaub Moksha.
During the period of vrutham, Devotees are expected to undergo
practices of simple living, and absolute cleanliness. The mind and body
are to be kept impeccably pure and absolute celibacy is practised. The
devotee is expected to behave in an austere and sober fashion during his
vrutham. Total abstinence from all vices like alcohol, tobacco and
non-vegetarian food is stipulated. Personal adornments, hair cutting,
shaving, etc. are also taboo.
The devotee is expected wear black/blue/saffron clothes. The devotee
is expected to pray daily in the mornings and evenings after bathing.
The prayer ritual may be performed by going to any temple or in one’s
own pooja room. Those devotees who are desirous of worshipping Lord
Ayyappa on ‘Makara Vilakku’ day, January 14th, (this year, 2008, it is
on January 15th), may continue their vrutham till that day. The vrutham
continues till the pilgrim returns from his pilgrimage to Sabarimala and
removes his ‘mala’ after breaking a coconut and offering prayers.
The Guru (called as Guruswamy or Periyaswamy) it is said that
chanting the name of the Guru is equivalent to chanting the name of Lord
Shiva, Guru’s abode is Kashi Kshetram and water used to wash Guru’s feet
it Ganga.
The role of the Guru is significant in the Ayyappa cult. The
Guruswamy is usually an elderly person who has undertaken pilgrimage to
Sabarimala not less than eighteen times and has travelled by the
traditional long route and had darshan of Makara Jothi. The devotees
treat the Guruswamy as Ayyappan himself. .
Compiled by Aruna Ponnambalan |