About Sabarimala

                   

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 45–50 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.

Sabarimala is linked to pilgrimage predominantly undertaken by Hindus. Sabarimala pilgrims can be identified easily, as they wear black or blue dress. They do not shave until the completion of the pilgrimage, and smear Vibhuti or sandal paste on their forehead.

In 1991, the Kerala High Court restricted entry of women above the age of 10 and below the age of 50 from offering worship at Sabarimala Shrine as they were of the menstruating age. Presently, the Supreme Court of India has taken a petition to review the judgment of High Court and allow entry of women. As of October 2017, the Supreme Court is referring the constitution bench to make a decision on the pertaining ban

The temple is open for worship only during the days of Mandalapooja (approximately 15 November to 26 December),Makaravilakkuor "Makara Sankranti" (14 January) and Maha Vishuva Sankranti (14 April), and the first five days of each Malayalam month.

                                   Administration

Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is an autonomous body constituted under the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act XV of 1950. The TDB is responsible for the administration of 1,248 temples in the state of Kerala. The Travancore Devaswom Board, replacing Travancore Royal Devaswom Commission, is one of the oldest Devaswom Boards in Kerala.

The constitution of the Board was based on the Covenant entered in to by the Maharaja of Travancore in May 1949 and concurred and guaranteed by the Government of India. The Board comprises of President and two Members.

The Hindus from among the Council of Ministers shall nominate one member, and the other member shall be elected by the Hindus from among the Members of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Kerala.

The term of the President and Members is for a period of three years. It has a Secretariat and its headquarters is at Nanthancode, Thiruvananthapuram. 

The Sabarimala temple is one of the largest and the most important temple under the TDB.

Do’s

• Take rest for 5 minutes after a walk of 10 minutes during the climb.Use the traditional path – Marakoottam, Saramkuthy, Nadapanthal – to reach Sannidhanam.
   
• Follow the queue system to reach Pathinettampadi.
   
• Use the Nadapanthal fly over for return journey.
   
• Ascertain the prevailing crowd situation and then only proceed to Sannidhanam  from Pampa.
   
• While using Dolly, make payment only at the Devaswom counter and keep the receipt.
   
• Subject yourself for security check at security check-points.
   
• Approach police for any help.
   
• Inform police about any suspicious characters.
   
• Buy edible items from licensed outlets only.
   
• Keep Pampa, Sannidhanam and the trekking paths clean.
   
• Park vehicles only at the allotted parkig slots.
   
• Deposit waste in the waste boxes only.
   
• Avail the facilities of medical centers and oxygen parlours if needed.
   
• In case of isolation from groups /friends  devotees may report at police aid posts.
   
• Cleanliness- Throw waste only in collection bins. Keep the temple premises and trekking paths clean;
   
• Fire –Keep matchbox & other inflammable materials away from children.
   
• Fire-if lighted should be put out immediately after use;
   
• Remove plugs from sockets after use
   
• Place ‘viri’ only in the designated parking areas
   
• Follow queue system- Do not jump queue segment- do not rush in queue\Approach police for help
   
• Security check- cooperate with staff
   
• Use only toilets for urination/bowel clearance
   
• ID cards with name/address/telephone number to be hung on the necks of children/aged and Malikappurams-report to police when lost in the crowd
   
• Return journey-FROM MALLIKAPPURAM TEMPLE, USE ‘SARANA SETHU’, THE NEW EXIT WAY LEADING TO CHANDRANANDAN ROAD

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dont’s

• Do not use mobile phones at the temple premises.
   
• Do not consume alcohol or drugs.
   
• Do not jump the queue.
   
• Do not rush while in the queue.
   
• Do not carry weapons or other explosives substances.
   
• Do not entertain unauthorized vendors.
   
• Do not urinate outside toilets and clear bowels outside latrines.
   
• Do not make extra payment for any service.
   
• Do not hesitate to approach police for any help.
   
• Do not throw waste anywhere other than the waste bins.
   
• Do not break coconuts on the Pathinetampadi.
   
• Do not break coconuts anywhere other than on designated places on both sides of Pathinettampadi.
   
• Do not kneel at Pathinetampadi while climbing the holy steps.
   
• Do not use any path other than Nadapanthal flyover for return journey.
   
• Do not rest anywhere at Upper Thirumuttam or Thanthrinada.
   
• Do not use pathways for viris at Nadapanthal and lower Thirumuttam.
   
• DO NOT BRING PLASTIC CARRY BAGS BEYOND NILAKKAL
   
• Fire – do not cause forest fire – do not throw burned wood/camphor/incandescent sticks etc. carelessly
   
• Fire – do not carry inflammable liquids, fire crackers.Cooking gas, stoves etc.  are  not be used in Sannidhanam area
   
• Fire – electrical appliances are potential source of fire – do not overload by putting multiple connections
   
• Fire – burnt matches – do not throw carelessly
   
• Fire – do not cook food inside ‘viri’  sheds
   
• Fire – do not light camphor in temporary sheds
   
• Do not carry knives and other sharp weapons
   
• Do not operate electrical equipments with wet hands
   
• Trekking – do not climb hurriedly
   
• Do not smoke in Pampa, Sannidhanam and along the trekking routes
   
• Makara Jyothi Darshan – do not climb trees and on unsafe buildings
   
• Begging – prohibited – do not encourage
   
• Do not rest anywhere at Upper Thirumuttom.

History

Lord Ayyappan who belonged to the Vellalar Kulam, the army chief of the Pandalam royal family. Ayyan was instrumental in the defeat of Udayanan, who attacked Sabarimala and tried to demolish the ancient Sastha temple in the thick forest of present Pathanamthitta district. Meanwhile the Royal family of King Pandya had migrated from Tamilnadu about 800 years back. The King reconstructed the destroyed Sastha temple at Sabarimala. After the demise of Ayyappan, people thought that he was the incarnation of Lord Sastha and began to worship him. Later Ayyappan and Sastha became synonymous.

In Elavarsevampattu, it is clearly mentioned that Ayyan belonged to Vellalar kulam, Near Erumeli, Kottayam, Kerala. There still exists a vellala house called Puthenveedu in Erumely. Even today one can see the ancient sword used by Ayyappan to kill the monstrous power. The place where the “eruma” was killed became Erumakolly and later Erumeli.

The customs of the pilgrims to Sabarimala Ayyappa temple are based on five worshipping methods. At first, there were three sections of devotees – the devotees of Shakti who used meat to worship their deity, the devotees of Vishnu who followed strict penance and continence, and the devotees of Shiva who partly followed these two methods. Another name of Ayyappa is Sastha. All these can be seen merged into the beliefs of pilgrims to Sabarimala.