Sabarimala
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Sabarimala (Malayalam :ശബരിമല) [ɕäbəɾimälə] is a pilgrim centre in Kerala in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of India. Lord Ayyappan Temple is situated there (09.29 North 77.06 East) in the midst of 18 hills. The area is in the Sahya hilly regions of Kerala bordering Tamil nadu. The temple(http://www.sabarimala.org/) is situated on a hilltop at an elevation of 1260 Metres/4135 ft above mean sea level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense forest. Temples existed in each of the hills surrounding Sabarimala. While functional (and intact temples) exist at many places in surrounding areas like Nilackal, Kalaketi, and Karimala, remnants of old temples are visible in the remaining hills. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Ayyappan meditated soon after killing the powerful demon, Mahishi.
The pilgrimage to Sabarimala is a singular example of one where pilgrims, without consideration of caste, creed, position or social status, go with one mind and one `mantra' dreaming constantly of the darshan of the presiding deity at the Holy Sannidhanam. Vehicles can go up to Pampa. Thereafter, pilgrims have to follow a path approximately four kilometres up a steep hill. The path, now fully cemented with shops and medical aid by the sides, used to be a mere trail through dense forest.
There is a place near the temple (east of Sannidhanam), dedicated to the Vavar (colloquial version of Babar), a Muslim who was the associate of Ayyappan, called "Vavarunada". The temple is open for worship only during the days of Mandalapooja (November 15 to December 26), Makaravilakku (January 15) and Vishu (April 14), and the beginning of every month in the Malayalam calendar.
[edit] How to reach Sabarimala
From the international airport of Thiruvananthapuram (erstwhile Trivandrum), Sabarimala is located at 010 degrees/115 km. Similarly, from the international airport at Kochi (formerly Cochin) it is located at 118 degrees/106 km.
During respective seasons one can approach the shrine using various modes of transportation via either Chalakayam town or more intensively through the mountain trails commencing from Erumeli Township and climbing over the Karimala Mountains bare foot (close to 50 km).
Nearest railway stations to Sabarimala are Kottayam and Chengannur.
Three important routes to Sabarimala are :
1.Kottayam to Pampa (via) Erumeli and from Pampa to Sabarimala (the latter by foot) - 136 km Kottayam to Pampa (via) Manimala and there to Sabarimala by foot - 116 km.
2.Erumeli to Sabarimala (via) Kalaketty, Azhutha, Inchippara, Karimala, Pampa - 45 km. From Pampa to Sabarimala by foot.
3.Vandiperiyar to Mount Estate by vehicle and there by walking to Sabarimala.
4.Climb down to Sabarimala from Vandiperiyar to Kozhikkanam - 15 km. Kozhikkanam to Uppupura -10 km. Uppupura to Sabarimala - 3.5 km. (Up to Uppupura, vehicles can be used for the travel.)
Vehicular traffic cannot go beyond Pampa, situated on the Pampa river valley and the last five kilometers to the shrine can be best reached by trekking. However, porter carried chairs are also available for aged and handicapped pilgrims.
[edit] When to go
The pilgrimages to Sabarimala begin by November 14 and last up to January 19. This is when the temple is inundated with devotees from all across India, and everything from accommodation to flowers and coconuts is at a premium.
Throughout the year, monthly poojas are held at the temple, usually during the first week of each Malayalam month (approximately around mid English month). The shrine is open only for the first five days of every month and for the pilgrimage season, between mid-November and mid-January.
Millions of Ayyappan disciples visit the famous temple of Lord Ayyappan every year from all around India. The main pilgrimage season is from November to January. The temple is opened for brief periods at the commencement of each Malayalam month and during certain important Malayali festivals. Tourists and foreigners, as well as women between the ages of 10 and 50 (approximately age at puberty and menopause), are not officially allowed entry to the main temple.
Women between the age of 10 and 50 are not allowed to visit the Lord Ayyappan Shrine. A number of feminist organizations have tried to persuade the Travancore Devaswom Board to revoke this age-old tradition, but to no avail. Many reasons are cited by the Board in support of the decree; these include the 41-day penance imposed on pilgrims (which include wearing no footwear, abstaining from sex, non-vegetarian, and rajasic foods, wearing a unique black outfit (shirt and dhoti) with beads around the neck, practicing utmost cleanliness, not uttering any curses, etc.) , the arduous trek up to the shrine, and the fact that the Ayyappan worshipped at Sabarimala is supposed to be a celibate hermit (bachelor).
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has insured the Sabarimala Ayyappa 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 upto 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. The compensation for TDB and government employees on duty at the area would be upto Rs 1.5 lakh. An estimated three crore (30 million) pilgrims had visited the temple last year during the main season from November to January.
[edit] External links
| Hindu Holy Cities in India |  |
|---|---|
| Allahabad • Ayodhya • Badrinath • Dharmasthala • Dwarka • Gaya • Guruvayur • Haridwar • Hrishikesh • Kalahasti • Kanchipuram • Kedarnath • Kollur • Mathura • Mayapur • Nashik • Nathdwara • Puri • Rameswaram • Sabarimala • Somnath • Sringeri • Srirangam • Tirumala - Tirupati • Ujjain • Varanasi • Vrindavan |
