AYYAPPA SWAMI

Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Ayyappan meditated after killing the powerful demoness,Mahishi. Lord Ayyappan's temple is situated here amidst 18 hills. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 914 m 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 the largest annual pilgrimage in the world with an estimated 45–50 million devotees coming every year. Females between the ages of 10 and 50 are not allowed to enter the temple, since the story attributed to Lord 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 five days of each Malayalam month.

The devotees are expected to follow a vratham (41-day 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 meat, fish, alcohol, tobacco, sex, using foul words, hair cutting and shaving. They should visit the local temples regularly and only wear plain black, blue or saffron colored traditional clothing.

Hundreds of devotees still follow the traditional mountainous forest path (approximately 45 km) from Erumely, believed to be taken by Lord Ayyappa himself. The part starts from Erumely to Azhutha river, then crosses the Azhutha mountain to reach Kariyilam thodu. Now comes the sacred Karimala crossing, from there to Cheriyanavattom, Valiyanavattom and finally Pamba River. Aranmula kottaramis 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 kilometres 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.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has insured the Ayyappa's shrine for a value of Rs 30 crore ($7 million) and also introduced a free-of-cost accident insurance project for pilgrims visiting the holy place. The pilgrims' insurance scheme offered up to Rs 1 lakh to the devotees suffering injuries or death at a stretch of about 18 km from Nilakkal to uphill Sannidhanam where the temple is located. An estimated 5 crore (50 million) pilgrims visits the temple every year. During the main season from November to January it is estimated that Sabarimala provides 10,000 crore rupees to the Kerala economy.

Prasadams

The prasadam at Sabarimala temple is Aravana payasam and Appam. These are prepared by using rice, ghee, sugar etc. The rice needed to prepare prasadam at Sabarimala is supplied by Chettikulangara Devi Temple, the second largest temple under Travancore devaswom board situated at Mavelikkara.

Harivarasanam

Harivarasanam is recited before closing the temple door at night. Harivarasanam song, which is sung today at Sabarimala as the Lullaby at night (Urakkupattu) was composed by Sri Kambakkudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer. It is said that Srinivasa Iyer used to recite the composition, after the Athazha Puja, standing in front of Lord Ayyappa at 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.

Neyyabhishekam

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.

Aham Brahmasmi and Tattvamasi

The important message given at the temple is the ultimate knowledge that you are God, Tat Tvam Asi in Sanskrit meaning "That is you". Due to this pilgrims call each other Swami. Kantararu Maheshwararu of Thazhamon family is the Thantri (Head Priest) of Sabarimala.

Tat Tvam Asi, meaning "Thou Art That" 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 The Paramatma or Universal Soul.

Other famous temples near Sabarimala

• Lord Murugan Temple, Erumpoonnikara, Erumely, Kottayam
• Nilakkal Temple, Pathanamthitta
• Malayalappuzha Temple, Pathanamthitta
• Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple
• Rektha Kanda Swamy Temple, Omallur, Pathanamthitta
• Mahadeva Temple, Chengannur
• Srevallabha Temple, Thiruvalla
• Kaviyoor Anjaneya Temple, Thiruvalla
• Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Mavelikkara
• Mannarasala Temple, Harippad
• Subramanya Temple, Harippad
• Chakkulathukavu Temple, Thiruvalla
• Kandiyoor Mahashiva Temple, Mavelikkara
• Chunakkara Mahadeva Temple, Mavelikkara
• Padanilam Parabrahma Temple, Nooranadu
• Thrikuratti Maha Deva Temple, Mannar
• Perumpetty Sree Mahadevar Temple, Perumpetty

• Makarajyoti is a celestial star which is worshipped by the pilgrims^{[citation needed]}. The main worshipping rituals are performed at the day of Makara Sankaranthi (every 14 January) day. It draws the second largest number of pilgrims in the country. The devotees believe that witnessing the light brings them good luck and divine blessings.

  The Makara Jyothi marks the climax of the Makaravilakku season of Sabarimala pilgrimage lasting 41 days.

  The huge crowd who witness the favourable event has been on the rise every year. In 2008, it is believed that one million devotees witnessed Makarajyoti light. Compare with previous year, the revenue collection during the Makaravilakku period is also higher. In 2008, the total donations was Rs 72.52 croreagainst previous year’s Rs. 72.35 crore. During December 2008, 85-year-old V S Achuthanandan, a member of the CPM politburo, the party’s highest decision-making body, became the first communist chief minister to visit the temple. People always see an eagle flying over Sabarimala during Makara Vilakku time.

  Rahul Easwar, grandson of traditional supreme priest of the Sabarimala temple, Tantri Kantaru Maheswararu mentioned to The Hindu that, the Makaravilakku was a fire lit by human hand on the hill neighbouring Sabarimala while the Makarajyothi was a star that appeared in the evening sky on the day marking the culmination of the annual festival.

  “It is the star that is worshipped as a celestial light. The Makaravilakku is merely a ritual involving the lighting of a fire as a symbolic act,” he said.

  "There is a practice of litting fire on the top of mountains known as Beacon Mountains which work similar like light house for ships, Beacon Mountains guide the trekkers.Also some believe as a ritual practised as celestial signature of mankind to alien world" Anthropologist Biju F Kallukkaran.

  Raja of Pandalam admitted Ayyappa to a famous Kalari (gymnasium where traditional martial arts of Kalaripayattu is taught) atCheerappanchira, a famous family for Kalaripayattu training, in Cherthala in Alappuzha district. During this time he mastered all martial arts from various Kalaries. The young daughter, Leela, of Kalari Panicker fall in love with Ayyappa. She requested to accept her as wife. But Ayyappan turned down her request as being a Brahmachari. She was offered a seat at Sabarimala known as Maalikappurathamma. Ayyappan promised her if thereis no Kanni Ayyappans (First time pilgrims with iru-mudi) to come to Sabarimala then he would marry her. It is a custom that every Kanni Ayyappan should deposit Saram (arrow of soft wood) at Saramkuthy as a mark of their arrival.

  Sabari Mala 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 young daughter, Leela, ofKalari Panicker at Cheerappanchira fall in love with Ayyappa. She requested to accept her as wife. But Ayyappan turned down her request as being a Brahmachari. 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 isRthumathikanji (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.