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Template:Infobox Indian jurisdiction Sabarimala (Malayalam: ശബരിമല, Tamil: சபரிமலை) is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Ayyappan meditated after killing the powerful demoness, Mahishi. Lord Ayyappan's temple is situated here amidst 18 hills. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 468 m above mean sea level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. Temples exist in each of the hills surrounding Sabarimala. While functional and intact temples exist at many places in the surrounding areas like Nilackal, Kalaketi, and Karimala, remnants of old temples survive to this day on remaining hills.

Sabarimala is likned to Hindu pilgrimage; Ayyappan Devotees must go at least once in their lifetime and it is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Women between the ages of 10 and 50 are not allowed to enter the temple, since the story attributed to Lord Ayyappa prohibits the entry of the women in the menstrual age group. This is because Ayyappan is a Bramachari (Celibate). The temple is open for worship only during the days of Mandalapooja (approximately November 15 to December 26), Makaravilakku (January 14- "Makara Sankranti") and Vishu (April 14), and the first five days of each Malayalam month.

The pilgrimage

A sign-board that indicates the direction to Sabarimala. The multilingual board is written in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and English (in that order, from top to bottom)

The devotees are expected to follow a vratham (41-day penance) prior to the pilgrimage. This begins with wearing of a special Mala (a garland made of Rudraksha or Tulasi beads). In general from then they are to refrain from meat, fish, alcohol, tobacco, sex, using foul words, hair-cuts and shaving. They are expected to bath twice and visit the local temples regularly and only wear plain black, blue or saffron colored traditional clothing.

Hundreds of devotees still follow the traditional mountainous forest path (approximately 45 km) from Erumely, believed to be taken by Lord Ayyappa himself. The part starts from Erumely to Azhutha river, then crosses the Azhutha mountain to reach Kariyilam thodu. Now comes the sacred Karimala crossing, from there to Cheriyanavattom, Valiyanavattom and finally Pamba River. Aranmula kottaram is one of the halt place of holy journey 'thiruvabharana khosayatra'. But many people use vehicular traffic which can go till the Holy Pamba River by an alternate road. Thereafter, all the pilgrims have to follow a mountainous forest trekking path approximately four kilometers up a steep hill(Neeli Mala) to Sabarimala. This path, now developed, with shops and medical aid by the sides, used to be a mere trail through dense forest.

Travancore Devaswom Board

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has insured the Ayyappa's 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 up to 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. An estimated 5 crore (50 million) pilgrims visits the temple every year. During the main season from November to January it is estimated that Sabarimala contributes at least 10,000 crore rupees to the economy of Kerala.

Prasadams

The prasadam at Sabarimala temple is Aravana payasam and Appam. These are prepared by using rice, ghee, sugar etc. The rice needed to prepare prasadam at Sabarimala is supplied by Chettikulangara Devi Temple, the second largest temple under Travancore devaswom board situated at Mavelikkara.

Harivarasanam

Harivarasanam^[1] is recited before closing the temple door at night. Harivarasanam song, which is sung today at Sabarimala as the Lullaby at night (Urakkupattu) was composed by Sri Kambakkudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer. It is said that Srinivasa Iyer used to recite the composition, after the Athazha Puja, standing in front of Lord Ayyappa at the main temple. With the efforts of Swami Vimochanananda, it came to be accepted as the lullaby by the Thantri and melshanthi. The composition has 352 letters, 108 words in 32 lines (8 stanzas).^[2]

Though there have been many versions of this song sung by many renowned vocalists, the temple plays the rendition by K. J. Yesudas, which is in the 'Madhyamavati' raga of Indian Karnatic music.

Neyyabhishekam

This significant ritual involves pouring sacred ghee brought by pilgrims in their Pallikettu or Irumudi (A two compartment bag made of handwoven cotton cloth used to bear the offerings for Sabarimala Temple by the devotees and carried on their heads)on the idol of Lord Ayyappa. It symbolically means the merging of Jeevatma with the Paramatma.While a Saffron coloured Irumudi is used by a pilgrim on his first journey(Kanni Ayyappan) to Sabarimala, others use black or Navy Blue coloured Irumudi.

Aham Brahmasmi and Tattvamasi

The important message given at the temple is the ultimate knowledge that you are God, Tat Tvam Asi in Sanskrit meaning "That is you". Due to this pilgrims call each other Swami. Kantararu Maheshwararu of Thazhamon family is the Thantri (Head Priest) of Sabarimala.

Tat Tvam Asi, meaning "That Thou Art" is the message that is given out by the Lord. It means, in short, you are part of the Universal Soul (in Sanskrit "Paramatma") which is the quintessence of Advaita (Mayavada) philosophy. It also means for reaching The Paramatma or Universal Soul.

Illumination and Power

In this remote hill shrine the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is shouldering the task of providing sufficient illumination in base camps, trekking paths and the Sannidhanam, the shrine spot. KSEB installs and maintains around 15000 electric lamps of various types here. Power is brought here through Kochu Pmpa and Thriveni Substations. Through uninterrupted supply and well maintained lights KSEB could maintain good reputation in the recent years.

Other famous temples near Sabarimala

Lord Murugan Temple, Erumpoonnikara, Erumely, Kottayam
Nilakkal Temple, Pathanamthitta
Malayalappuzha Temple, Pathanamthitta
Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple
Rektha Kanda Swamy Temple, Omallur, Pathanamthitta
Shri Dharma Sastha Temple, Sasthamcotta, Kollam
Mahadeva Temple, Chengannur
Srevallabha Temple, Thiruvalla
Kaviyoor Anjaneya Temple, Thiruvalla
Chettikulangara Devi Temple, Mavelikkara
Mannarasala Temple, Harippad
Subramanya Temple, Harippad
Chakkulathukavu Temple, Thiruvalla
Kandiyoor Mahashiva Temple, Mavelikkara
Chunakkara Mahadeva Temple, Mavelikkara
Padanilam Parabrahma Temple, Padanilam
Thrikuratti Maha Deva Temple, Mannar
Perumpetty Sree Mahadevar Temple, Perumpetty

KSRTC Services from Pamba

Bus Timings from Pampa (Daily Services)

Time To Via

7.00 Thiruvananthapuram Pathanamthitta, Adoor
9.00 Kottayam Erumeli
10.00 Chengannur Pathanamthitta
11.45 Ernakulam Pathanamthitta, Kottayam
12.30 Thiruvananthapuram Pathanamthitta, Kottarakkara
14.15 Thiruvananthapuram Pathanamthitta, Punalur
14.40 Erumely Kanamala
17.45 Pathanamthitta
18.30 Erumeli

Important Bus Timgs From Pampa (Masapooja Special)

Time To Via

8.00 Kottayam Thiruvalla
8.00 Kumily Erumeli, Mundakkayam
8.15 Kaliyikkavila Pathanamthitta
9.00 Thiruvananthapuram Pathanamthitta, Adoor
9.00 Eranakulam Pathanamthitta
9.00 Ochira Mavelikkara
9.30 Guruvayoor Pathanamthitta
10.30 Pathanamthitta
11.00 Kottayam
14.30 Pandalam
15.30 Chengannur

Bus services from Chengannoor, Kottayam and Ernakulam railway stations have started to help pilgrimage to pamba.Advance seat reservation facility is also available including group reservation prior to 10 days. The KSRTC will provide bus to Pampa from any place within 10 km from special service centre for a group of 40 pilgrims. The timing of bus from KSRTC is not specifically scheduled since bus will always available as and when required. That is, one bus will always be there at the bus station and will starts the trip just after filling the seating capacity. The Kerala Govt: transport agency known as Kerala.State.Road.Transport.Corporation operates buses from Kottayam,Chengannur ,Tiruvalla railway stations .The buses will operate till Pamba. Following are a few routes that could be adopted by devotees:

1. FROM PATHANAMTHITTA: Mannarakulanji, Vadasserikkara, Perunadu, Plappally, Nilakkal, Chalakkayam, Pamba. Distance: 69 km.
2. FROM THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There are two routes:

a. Ayoor,Punalur, Pthanmathitta and Pamba. Distance: 184 km. b. Kottarakkara, Adoor, Pathanmthitta. Distance: 179 km.

3. FROM Chenganoor: There are two routes to reach Pamaba from Chenganoor, the nearest railway station to Sabarimala:

a.Chenganoor-Aranmula-thekkemala-Pathanamthitta-Pamba. Distance: 93 km. b.Chenganoor-Aranmula-Ranni Blockupadi-Vadasserikkara-Pamba. Distance: 88km.

4. FROM KOTTAYAM: There are several routes to Pamba from Kottayam, one of the main transit points in the pilgrimage. The important five routes are the

following: a.Kottayam-Changanassery-Thiruvalla-Kozhenchery-Ranny Blockupadi-Vadasserikkara-Pamba. Distance: 119 km. b.Kottayam-Kodungoor-Chamampathal-Manimala-PLachery-Chethonkara-Athikkayam- Perunadu-Pamba. Distance: 105 km. c.Kottayam-Kangazha-Pathanadu-Manimala-PLachery-Chethonkara-Athikkayam-Peru nadu-Pamba. Distance: 104 km. d.Kottayam-Karukachal-Manimala-Mukkada-Edamon-Athikkayam-Perunadu-Pamba. Distance: 100 km. e.Kottayam-Ponkunnam-Erumely-Mukkuttuthara-Pambavalley-PLappally-Pamba. Distance: 90 km. This is one of the easiest routes to reach Pamba.

5. FROM ERUMELY: There are four routes to Pamba from Erumely.

a.ERumely-Karinkallum Moozhy-Thulappally-PLappally-Pamba. Distance: 56 km. Resort to this route only if you are coming by a light vehicle as the road is narrow and there are several steep climbs. b.Erumely-Mukkada-Athikkayam-Perunadu-Pamba. Distance: 64km. c.Erumely-Vechuchira-Athikkayam-Perunadu-Pamba. Distance: 57 km. d.Erumely-Plachery-Chethonkara-Athikkayam-Perunadu-Pamba. Distance: 69km.

6. FROM PANDALAM: There are two routes to reach Pamba from Pandalam, the seat of royal family who adopted Lord Ayyappa. The devotee can see the thiruvabharanam, the set of ornaments of the lord, exhibited at the Pandalam palace.

a.Pandalam-Kaipattur-Omallur-Pathanmathitta-Vadasserikkara-Pamba. Distance: 84 km. b.Pandalam-Kulanada-Ambalakkadavu-Muripara-Pathanthitta-Pamba. Distance: 84 km.

7. FROM Padanilam:There is one main route for pilgrims from Padanilam Temple to Pamba.The route is:

Padanilam Parabrahma Temple-Pandalam-Kaippattur-Omallur Temple-Pathanamthitta-Vadasserikkara-Laha-Nilackal-Chalakkayam - Pamba.

8. FROM NORTH KERALA: Devotees from northern part of KErala can reach Pamba without touching Kottayam. the main routes are:

a.Angamaly-Ettumanur-Pala-Ponkunnam-Erumely-Chethonkara-Athikkayam- Perunadu-Pamba. Distance: 146 km. b.Through the same route one can also reach Ranny and then Vadasserikkara-Pamba. Distance: 153 km. c.Ernakulam-Alappuzha-Chaganassery-Thiruvalla-Pathanamthitta-Pamba. Distance: 170 km.

9. FROM TAMIL NADU: The two main routes are:

a. Chengottai-Punalur-Pathanthitta-Pamba. Distance: 170 km. b. Kumily-Vandiperiyar-Erumely-Plappally-Pamba. Distance: 180 km.

References

^ Harivarasanam History and meaning of harivarasanam.
^ Harivarasanam by K.J Yesudas.

External links

Official Website Of Sabarimala

Template:Famous Hindu temples in Kerala

[1] Harivarasanam History and meaning of harivarasanam.

[2] Harivarasanam by K.J Yesudas.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 *[[Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple]]
 *[[Rektha Kanda Swamy Temple]], [[Omallur]],  [[Pathanamthitta]]
+*[[Shri Dharma Sastha Temple]], [[Sasthamcotta]],  [[Kollam]]
 *Mahadeva Temple, [[Chengannur]]
 *Srevallabha Temple, [[Thiruvalla]]

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