Sabarimala is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site in Kerala, India located in the Western Ghat mountains. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world, with over 100 million devotees visiting every year to worship at the Ayyappan temple. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 1260 meters above sea level and is surrounded by dense forests. The shrine at Sabarimala is an ancient temple dedicated to Ayyappan, an avatar of the Hindu god Dharma Shasta.

1. Sabarimala is one of the most famous pilgrimage
tourist centre in Kerala. Lord Ayyappa is the idol of this
temple.

2. Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage centre located at the Periyar Tiger
Reserve in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta
District, Perunad grama panchayat in Kerala. It is one of the largest
annual pilgrimages in the world, with an estimated over 100 million
devotees visiting every year Ayyappan's temple is situated amidst 18
hills. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 1260 m (4,133
ft) above mean sea level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense
forests. The dense forest, (Periyar Tiger Reserve), around the temple is
known as poongavanam. Temples exist in each of the hills surrounding
Sabarimala. While functional and intact temples exist at many places
in the surrounding areas like Nilakkal Kalaketty, and Karimala
remnants of old temples survive to this day on remaining hills.
The shrine at Sabarimala is an ancient temple of Ayyappan also known
as sasta and Dharmasasta. In the 12th century, Manikandan, a prince
of Pandalam dynasty, meditated at Sabarimala temple and became
one with the divine. Manikandan was an avatar of Ayyappan.
About Temple

3. The worship of Sastha forms part of the very ancient history of south India. At
Sabarimala, the deity is worshiped as Ayyappan and as Dharmasasta. The shrine of
Sabarimala is an ancient temple. The prince of Pandalam dynasty, an avatar of
Ayyappan, meditated at Sabarimala temple and became one with the divine. The place
where the prince meditated is the Manimandapam.
After the installation of the temple, it was mostly unreachable for about three
centuries. In the 12th century, a Tamil king called Rajasekhara Pandiyan (a prince of
Pandalam Dynasty), called Manikandan, rediscovered the original path to reach
Sabarimala. He had many followers with him, including the descendants of the Vavar
(a Muslim warrior whom Manikandan defeated) family. This Prince is considered an
Avatar of Ayyappa, and is believed to have led a pack of Tigers to his Palace with Vavar
and then later disappeared to the Sabarimala temple.
In 1821 AD, the kingdom of Pandalam was added to Travancore. 48 major temples
including the Sabarimala temple were also added to Travancore.
History of temple

4. The annual festival celebrated on 14 january (Makar Sankranti) at the shrine of
Sabarimala.
“Makara Jyothi“ means the light of capricorn in Indian languages, Makara is the
name of a Zodiac sign. In Sanskrit it is known as “Makar” and in English as
“Capricorn”, “Jyothi” means light in Sanskrit. Every year the sun appears to move
from one Zodiac constellation to another because of the revolution of earth around
it; in Sanskrit it is called “Makara Sankranti”. It usually happens on 14 January every
year and various Hindu Festivals are celebrated in connection with this. One of the
Temples where a large number of devotees come to worship on 14 January is
Sabarimala, a shrine located in thick rain forest in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala on
“Makar Sankranti” pilgrims gathers at the Sabarimala Temple precincts to worship
this divine star. It is believed that Lord Ayyappa shows His presence in the form of
this celestial lighting and blesses his devotees.
“Makara Vilakku” is a flame appears thrice on the Ponnambalamedu, whereas”
Makara Jyothi” a celestial star appears on the sky . The huge crowd of pilgrims that
witnesses the “Makara Jyothi” has been on the rise every year.
Makaravilakku

5. Pathinettapadi (18 divine steps) to the
sanctum sanctorium is divine in all
aspects. Every Ayyappa devotee, before
he sees the Sanctum Sanctorum, has to
lay his footsteps over eighteen sacred
steps. Initially the 18 steps were made of
granite. It was later covered with
Panchaloha (a special composition of
gold, silver, copper, iron and tin), in the
year 1985 to prevent it from
deterioration. Pilgrims initiate their
ascent up the Pathinettam Padi by
placing their right foot on the first step.
As per the tradition, only those who
undertake the penance for 41 days and
those who carry the irumudi on their
head are allowed to use the steps.
Pethinettam padi
PATHINETTAM PADI

6. The Ayyappa devotees after reaching the Sacred Sanctorum and having
darshan, the first ritual they undertake is making preparations for
Neyyabhishekam. Neyyu or ghee abhisheka is the most important
offering to Lord Ayyappa at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Devotees
bring ghee to the temple by filling it inside a coconut. This coconut is
known as Neythenga or the coconut filled with ghee. This coconut is
carried from home in the Irumudi kettu. The ritual involves pouring of
sacred ghee brought by the devotees in their Irumudi on the Lord
Ayyappa idol.
The God is believed to be spread like the butter in the milk. We could
see symbolisms like this in spiritual science. It is believed the Bhagavan
sleeps over the ocean of milk or in other words Kshirasagara. Every
human body can be imagined as a Kshirasagara since we think that the
power of god exists in every human.
Neyyabhishekam

7. The layout of the Ayyappa temple is believed to have originated from the specific
instructions of the Lord himself, who wanted Malikappurathamma, on his left a
few yards from Sannidhanam, and his trusted lieutenants Vavur and Kadutha to
be positioned as his guards at the foot of the holy 18 steps. The pilgrims worship
in this place also. This exemplifies the unique feature of the temple. The temple
is open to all faiths. The divine qualities like equality, fraternity, tolerance,
humanity etc.. are shining well in the pilgrims.
Ayyappa cult gives much importance for the secularism and communal harmony
and has turned out to be a model for the whole world. Another significant aspect
of the pilgrimage is that all the pilgrims whether rich or poor, learned or illiterate
holding position or not master or servant are all equal before LORD AYYAPPA and
all address each other as AYYAPPA.
Sannidhanam

8. Vavar also known as Vavaraswami. There is a
shrine dedicated to Vavaraswami at
Sabarimala, as well as Varaswamis mosque at
Erumely next to an Ayyappa temple. The
devotion of Vavaraswami to Ayyappan and
the key role that the Islamic Masjid has in the
Ayyappa Pilgrimage, highlights the
communal harmony in Kerala. The devotion
of Vavaraswami also highlights the relevance
of Ayyappa devotion for members of all
faiths, and the equality shown to all, whether
they are Muslims, Hindus or Christians.
Vavaraswami