Sabarimala temple

It was a casual call to my friend Yashaswi from Mandya and I got to know about their plan for Sabarimala darshan of Lord Ayyappa on 18th/19th May! I casually confirmed Jaikeerthi that I will be joining with them. At that point, I really didn’t have any idea what I was up to 🙂

The Sabarimala temple legend, mythology stories, centers around Lord Ayyappa, believed to be born from the union of Shiva and Vishnu. Ayyappa defeats the demoness Mahishi in a fierce battle, but to maintain celibacy, he takes up residence in the Sabarimala hills, where devotees can visit him for spiritual purification.

As planned, I joined Jaikeerthi and his family from Bengaluru on the 17th evening after having a hectic day of office work which was about to disrupt the whole plan! On the 18th of May early morning, we got ready and reached the Srirangapatna Ayyappa Swami temple by 6:30 AM. From priest to puja items, from breakfast to vehicles, everything was well arranged in advance by our captain friend Nagaraj!

After taking a bath at river Kaveri, we joined the puja rituals at the Srirangapatna Sri Ayyappa Swamy Temple. The usual journey looks as below for all (note: we did not perform vows for 41 days):

Getting Ready for the Journey:

• Taking the Vow: This is like a superhero origin story but for Hinduism! It’s a 41-day period to get yourself mentally and physically prepared. You gotta eat healthy foods, avoid anything crazy like partying, and wear simple clothes. Think of it as training for a spiritual marathon.
• Getting the Mala: This is like your special pilgrimage membership card. It’s a holy necklace you wear that marks you as someone dedicated to Lord Ayyappa and referred to as Swamye
• Packing the Irumudi: This is your special pilgrim package. It’s a bag with two compartments, one for holy ghee (clarified butter) and another for rice, sugar, and leaves. You carry this on your head throughout the journey (usually from the base of the tracking at Pamba after bathing till Darshan)

The Epic Trek:

• The Forest Path: The pilgrimage involves a hike through the wilderness of Kerala. It’s a chance to disconnect(no mobile network) from the everyday world and connect with nature’s beauty (and maybe some monkeys!).
• The Cleansing Dip: Before reaching the temple, pilgrims take a purifying bath in the Pamba River. Think of it as washing away your worries and getting a fresh start.
• Climbing the Steps: This is where the real challenge begins! You gotta climb 18 sacred steps to reach the temple, chanting a special mantra with every step. It’s a test of your devotion and a chance to focus your mind, have calmness, be slow, and have a lot of patience!

Darshan of the Divine:

• The Big Moment: After the climb, you finally get to see Lord Ayyappa! This is called darshan, and it’s the most important part of the pilgrimage. People wait in line for hours for this glimpse of the divine.
• The Ghee Offering: Here comes the Irumudi! You pour the ghee over the idol, symbolizing the surrender of your ego and your connection with the higher power.
• Unpacking the Blessings: After the darshan, you break open your Irumudi and offer the contents for abhishaka. It’s like the final act of your pilgrimage play.

The Journey Home:

• Descending the Steps: You make your way back down from the temple, hopefully feeling lighter and more connected to the divine. It’s also a very tough one which requires a lot of concentration while stepping down.
• Farewell Reflection: Back at Pampa, you get a special chance to see Lord Ayyappa reflected in a mirror, like a symbolic goodbye.
• Wrapping it Up: Once you’re home, you perform a final puja to mark the end of your incredible journey. You might also thank your fellow pilgrims and any spiritual guides who helped you along the way.

As now you understand, darshan to Ayyappa swami at Sabarimala is not like our usual temple hopping. The whole Sabarimala pilgrimage is a life-changing experience for devotees. It’s tough and requires a lot of patience, but it’s believed to transform you, making you a better person!

I have never been into so much ritualistic world. I have always been a spiritual person, was not much into rituals! But that all changed with this one darshan plan! As described, this darshan starts and ends with specific rituals that we must follow with utmost respect and it all comes so naturally! Thanks to Nagaraj, as he arranged everything so well, and thanks to Naveen, (who visited Sabarimala 10 times earlier) who made sure we had a caring guide on our onward spiritual journey to the darshan of Sabarimala Ayyappa Swamiye. His advice to us on temple visits is that even though sometimes we get delayed in queue for darshan, we should not be disheartened or frustrated, because spending more time in a spiritual place is divine!!

There is so much to learn from everyone and specifically from the kids, who were so energetic, casual, self-reliant and they had almost zero complaints! Though we were short of 3 seats in our minibus, people in the journey adjusted to the need and it had never become an issue at all. Special thanks to Naveen & Yashaswi. Everyone on the journey was so friendly and accommodating, I never felt like I met most of them for the very first time! Thanks to Jaikeerrthi & family for introducing me to such amazing people and inducting me into the journey! Hopefully, with the divine blessing of lord Ayyappa Swamiye, I will grow as a better person! Swamiye Saranamayyappa!!!