To transcend earthly limitations, change for better, Periodic fasts or vrithams observed in Hinduism intend to purify the human mind and body.

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Sabarimala
Pilgrimage
to transcend earthly
limitations,
change for better
Periodic fasts or vrithams observed in Hinduism intend
to purify the human mind and body. The adherence to
austere way of life and observance of tapas in body, mind
and speech, makes it easy to transcend earthly limitations
and get a better change, according to the Bhagavad Gita.
Sabarimala Pilgrimage is one of the pious pilgrimages
where a devotee has to be pure physically and mentally
to get the darshan of Lord Ayyappan. He is expected
to observe fast or vritham for a 41-day period, usually
when Malayalam month of Vrischikam begins in mid
November. A pilgrim on maiden trip to Sabarimala is
called as Kanni Ayyapppan.

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The fast that longs for 41
days throws light on the
significance of abstinence
and austerity in lives of
devotees seeking a complete
merger with the Ultimate. If
the devotee wants to mount
the pathinettu padikal and
enter Sabarimala temple,
he has to follow several
regulations and dictates. He
can only embark on the 41-
day vritham with permission
from his parents and Guru.
On an auspicious day, the
vritham can be commenced
with poojas to the family deity
and making a holy knot with
yellow cloth, which contains
1.25 currency units. This is
presented to the family deity,
which means the devotee
gains his or her approval to
commence the deeksha.
The Sacred Mala beaded
mala/garland with tulsi or
rudraksham highlights his
renunciation of material
temptations. Most devotes
begin to wear mala from the
very first day of Vrishchikam. It
is auspicious to wear mala on
the day of asterism of Uthram
or on a Saturday or a prior to
the first day of Vrishchikam.
The devotee receives mala
from a Guruswami, one who
visited Sabarimala many
times. The ritual is conducted
usually in the precincts of a
temple or any holy place. The
pilgrim swears all commitment
to Lord Ayyappan as he wears
mala. All his thoughts words
and deeds are surrendered
to the powerful deity and
begin to lead the austere life
of an ascetic.
The 41-day
Vritham
If the devotee
wants to mount
the pathinettu
padikal
and enter
Sabarimala
temple, he has to
follow several
regulations and
dictates.
“
“
The pilgrim awakes early
on the first day of the fast,
bathes and prays to family
deity, the holy mala, and
navagrahas (the nine
planets). Along with his
guru, he then proceeds to
the temple to receive mala
amid chanting of saranams.
The devotee should shun
all social activities like the
renunciant, Lord Ayyappan,
and immerse in bajans,
prayers, poojas, temple visits,
feeding the poor, cleaning
temples, to spiritual lectures
and attending to the poor/
sick. Only satvic food has
to be consumed. Having
meat, intoxicants like drugs,
alcoholic beverages, betel
leaves, and smoking are all
strictly restricted.
The Ayyappa swami (one
who wears mala) takes
bath in the pre-dawn
hours, applies vibhooti and
sandalwood paste regularly.
He meditates and sings about
Lord Ayyappan all 41 days.
He does not shave, refrains
from hurting anybody, do not
cause any inconvenience
to family, identifies other
Ayyappa devotees as lord
himself. The swamy do not
oil hair or body and carries a
tulsi leaf always to ward off
evil and temptations. He does
not sleep on the bed nor wear
footwear to protect his feet.
First day

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The Aazhi pooja is an
important event of the
pilgrimage, and is a
celebration of attaining
a renunciant’s frame of
mind. It is performed on an
auspicious day before the
beginning of the holy trek.
The ritual is even called
Daham Veppu, Vellamkudi or
Padukka.
A special pandal is erected
and fuels for aazhi (fire
blaze) are stored in front of
the pandal in stacks. The fire
is started using camphor.
‘Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa’,
is chanted while the fumes
go higher. Parched rice, rice
flakes, and coconut pieces
are regularly thrown in into
the raging fire. After the
poojas, camphor is burnt.
Aazhi pooja / Vellamkudi
The preparation of the
travel kit is termed irumudi
kettu. Only who observe the
41-day vritham can carry
it and a devotee cannot
climb up the pathinettaam
padi at the Sannidhanam
without the irumudi. The
bag is reminiscent of Lord
Ayyappan’s trip to the forest
for tigress’ milk; it has two
pockets, the Munmudi is the
front portion and the Pinmudi
is the rear pouch. This has an
opening in the middle. While
the offerings and pooja articles
are placed in the front bag, the
rear pouch contains pilgrim’s
personal belongings.
The worshipper is bound
with the worshipped, with
Irumudi. Munmudi comprises
2 or 3 Mudra bags, holding
items for vazhipadu (offering)
at the Sannidhanam like:
Beetel leaves, Coconut filled
with ghee for Abhishekam
(Neithenga), beetel nut,
coins (kanikkappanam), 2 to
4 coconuts (vidalai thengai),
cashewnuts, dry ginger,
Jaggery (achuvellam),
poha (thin & thick variety)
Cardamoms, raisins, avil (
beaten rice), Dried turmeric,
dates, honey, kadhi chakkar,
turmeric powder, vibhooti,
blouse piece, kumkum,
sandal paste Sambarani,
agarbathi, camphor
rosewater, lemon, rice & dal
TTT.
A medium sized coconut is
selected to prepare the ghee
coconut for abhishekam.
Outer shell is cleaned and
polished. Hole made in one
of the coconut’s eye using
pointed instrument and water
inside is emptied. A cork is
used to close the opening.
Later, it is filled with ghee
during kettunira.
At regular intervals, vidalai
thenga are broken during
the actual pilgrimage i.e.
one each at Erumeli and
Sharam Kutti and two
upon pathinettam padi
(the sacred 18 steps at
Sabarimala). Pilgrim’s
personal articles are kept in
the pinmudi, which include
items useful from the day of
commencement of journey
after Kettunira till return.
Some snacks and other food
ingredients will be placed in
the second bagHole made .
Guruswami prepares the
irumudikettu and places on
the head of the devotee.
The journey is conducted
in groups to the Ayyappa
temple on Sabarimala.
The Ayyappa swami who
ascends the Patinettampadi
18 times plants a coconut
sapling on Sabarimala.
Kettunira
The
worshipper is
bound with the
worshipped,
with Irumudi.
Munmudi
comprises 2 or
3 Mudra bags,
holding items
for vazhipadu
(offering) at the
Sannidhanam
like
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