PLIGRIMAGE TO SABARIMALA

Part of the group with Guruswami

It was an unique and rare experience for me the Sabarimala trip.we a group of four- Self, Venkat, Bala mama and mami started from Bangalore Cant in Kanaya kumari express at 8.30 p.m to Kerala -Kottayam station.We reached there by 10.00a.m. The previous day itself we had taken the Irumudi at Tipusandra Ayyappa temple. We were suppose to sport it constantly.A Irumudi weighs about  to 3 to 4 kg, consisting of three coconuts, rice and some money, rice offerings, tambulam etc. One of the coconuts gets pierced on its third eye where the ghee is filled and sealed, symbolically it denotes body and soul- body the outer part while the ghee the soul. The other two coconuts with rice is supposed to be used for the way as the devotee goes through thick jungles.They are positioned in such a way the single coconut is in the front while the rest two sit at the back and the whole thing further covered by a bed sheet which is to be used for the journey.
FIRST DAY
Reaching Kottayam at about 10.00 a.m, we took a cab and started moving towards Pampa via Erumeli, a  distance of about 49kms.. We reached Erumeli by 12.00 noon.
 

Enroute from Kottayam to Erumeli, halted at Annapoorna for food.

       At Erumeli the devotees first enter the portals of Sabarimalai. The name `Erumeli derived from the word `Eruma kolli - where Lord Ayyappa killed the Mahisha the sister of Mahishasura on way to collect the Leopards milk. The tribals hence danced with joy as the evil `Mahisha was killed. Hence the devotees here do `pettathullal with all the colors in a free style replicating the adivasis.

There are two main temples at Erumeli.

Vavar Masjid

Moola Ayyappan temple

One the Moola ayyappan temple called Cheriya ambalam, and another the Vavar Masjid. Vavar is told as a good friend of Ayyappan , intially they fought with one another only to reslove it and became thick friends. Hence it is mandatory to visit the Masjit after the temple.

With `Saram -ambu , first symbol of kanni swamy

Pettathullal by our group at Erumeli

After Erumeli we moved to Pamba about another 50kms and reached the same by 2.00 p.m.
 At Pamba is beautiful mountain river named as Pamba, a longest river in these parts considered to be holy and called `Dakshina ganga, which is supposed to be medicinal, a dip in the waters freshens up the pligrim for further journey along the Neeli malai, also for long trekking pligrims coming from the long route Pampa is the resting place and freshening in the cool and medicinal water flowing down the mountains of western ghats.
We met our group members who had arrived there after doing the long 45 kms trek along Kalikatti and Azudha.

Pampa river in full flow after the rains.

Pligrims taking bath

After bath at the cool pampa we started our trek along the Neelimalai with our Irumudis. It was a stiff 2 to 2/12 km climb. We started the climb only by 7.00 p.m after the formalites of getting our identiy stamped and collecting token tickets etc for dharshan.
 

Vinod & Venkat

With Irumudis climbing the Neeli malai

We reached the mountain top with 3 hrs of rigorous climb. There the darshan ques were serpentine.Finally we climbed the glorious `pathinettam padi by 11.30 p.m jostling through a heavy crowd and could get Darshan of Lord Ayyappa by 11.45 p.m.

The three brothers.

Deposited our luggage in the room allotted to us by Devasthana board.Happy to get a roof over our head which was self contained with a bath and a toilet. The rest didn't matter at all to lay in the mat at the floor or 10 of us occupying a room. In fact it was the spirit of all are `ayyappas was truly felt then. At 12.00 noon we went scouting for food which had eluded us for several hrs plus the climb and jostling with the crowd. The time did not matter. We had doasa . puris in the late hr and retired to bed blissful that we made it and had the darshan of Lord Ayappa.

SECOND DAY

It was the day to explore the Sabari hills and see the other deities in the holy portal. Morning saw us fresh absolved of the strain of the previous day. We got ready and for breakfast there were number of annadhana counters run freely by rich devotees as well `pungalaarisi kanji offered by `devastana board. Having located these food centres close to our staying place we could choose the fares. Sabarimala is a great leveller,the caste creed association is non extinct and now having food with the commoners, the austerites observed month long gets you stripped of your built up egos and you come to accept all are same in the eyes of divinity.

We had the darshan of the deity without irumudi this time where we dont have to go through the 18teen steps. We also took the senior citzen line and were able to cut across ques to some extent.      

Sannidhanam

`The padinettu padi leading to Sannidahanam

The other temples of importance there are `malika purathu amma. She is the one waiting eternally to get married to the Bachelor `Ayyappan. However the vow was only if no `kanni swami comes to the shrine ayappa had consented to marry the lady.But over the yrs such a thing has not happened. and the lady remains single.  

View from the terrace where we stayed
THE TEMPLE & THE PONNAMBALA MEDU WHERE JYOTI IS SEEN 

She is considered as `adiparashakthi and offered `manjal podi, kumkum, sarkara, redcloth etc.  

Mallikapurthama

Around the temple there are also sooth Sayer's  seeped in old tradition. with drums they tell in a sing song fashion the warding of evil from our life in old tradition of Lord Shiva as hunter. And another sooth saying from `nagaraj. We tried out them and perhaps the evils have left and good tidings have come.

In the evening we participated in an elaborate `Bhagavathy seva by the holy `nambudiri. Inspite of the rush around we could get a prime place to participate in the puja in a small room were it was arranged and it was very satisfying to recite the Lalita shahasranamam in front of the Bhagavathy.

THIRD DAY It was the day of climb down. We were tempted to see the Lord once again. So we four seniors, self, Venkat, mama and mami once again attempted the darshan route. This time we were not put in senior citizen que but had to be in the genral que. But we had a good darshan and also got prasadams from the Sannidanam. After this we had hot kanji in the devasthanam counter of `punugalarisi and payru very tasty and started the walk down. Walking down the neelimali also had its perils as at places it was winding and steep. I had the constant escort of the youngster mani who took special care I dont slip and maintain my steps. 

IN FRONT OF THE AYYAPA TEMPLE BEFORE THE CLIMB DOWN

We all reached the base camp by 12.00n noon . Took a bus to reach Nilackel 22 kms down the hills. From Nilackel it was a different journey by the van to the important temples of Kerala. Before embarking on the journey we went to KALAKETTI and saw thee AYZUDHA river enroute which are part of the long trails to Sabarimala..

At kaliketti Shivan kovil

Kalai Katti is the temple of Lord Shiva. It comes after 10.K.M travel through the forest. Here Lord Shiva tied his carrier, Ox and witnessed the Victory of Ayyappa over Mahishi.
Azudha river 

The Azudha river comes after kaliketti where Pilgrims take a refreshing bath.

The major places enroute from Erumeli to Pampa:Erumeli - Kalaketti - Azhutha - Kallidankunnu - Mukkuzhy - Puthussery - Kariyilathodu - Adivaram - Karimala - Valiyanavattom - Cheriyanavattom - Pampa.

A TRIP TO SABARIMALA DOES WONDERS TO YOUR SPIRIT AND HEALTH. NO WONDER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED  IT TEND TO REPEAT AND THERE IS ALWAYS CONTINUES INCREASE OF PILGRIMS.