Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage centre located in 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 over 100 million devotees visiting every year.
Shrine’s History
AYYAPPAN know as AYYAN who belonged to the Vellalar Kulam, was the army chief of the Pandalam royal family. He lived with his uncle Perisseri Pillai of Erumeli, Kottayam Dist, Kerala. This was about ten generations ago. 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 with the help of Ayyan, Vavar, a Muslim youth from Kanjirappally, Kadutha, a Nair youth from Muzhukeer, Chenganoor, Alappuzha dist. During a clash, Ayyappan got killed.
His uncle,Perissery Pillai, constructed the KOCHAMPALAM – an old small Sastha temple – at Erumeli, opposite the VAVRA PALLY , constructed by Muslims in memory of Vavar swamy. After the demise of Ayyappan people thought that he was the avathar of Lord Sastha and began to worship him. Later Ayyappan and Sastha became synonymous. Some say that Ayyappan was the son of a Brahmin but Nalankal Krishna Pillai in his book “Mahashekthrangalkkumunpil” states that Brahmins never had the name AYYAPPAN or AYYAN. In the age old “Elavarsevampattu” it was clearly mentioned that Ayyan belonged to “Vellalar kulam, Near Erumeli, Kottayam, Kerala.
There still exists a vellala house called Puthenveedu in Erumely. In the same compound there is a 300-year-old, thatched, depleted, mud house, the house of Perissery Pillai, Ayyappan’s uncle and the Vellal Chieftain of Erumeli. There even today one can see the ancient sword used by Ayyappan to kill the monstrous ERUMA- mahisham. The place where the “eruma” was killed became Erumakolly and later Erumeli.
Sabarimala pilgrims ,Ayyappans, conduct the Erumeli PETTAITHULLAL This is to commemorate the killing of mahisham by Ayyan and is celebrated during the month of December-January every year. “Ayyan / Ayyappan” Pillai is a very common name among vellalas of Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Ernakulam districts of Kerala. A number of Ayyappan kovils were constructed by Vellalas who migrated from Tamilnadu to Kerala e.g. Erumeli, Kanam etc. Lakhs and lakhs of Tamilian Ayyappan devotees called the “Ayyappans” – come to Sabarimala every year to worship Tamil origin “VELLALAR KULA JHATHAN AYYAN AYYAPPAN”.
Architectural Relevance of This Shrine
The temple was rebuilt after a fire in 1950, and the earlier stone image of the deity was replaced by an panchaloha idol, about 1 and a half feet, made from an alloy from five metals. The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum with a copper-plated roof and four golden finials at the top, two mandapams, the belikalpura which houses the altar. In 1969, the flag staff was installed. The shrine of Kannimoola Ganapathi prathishta is south-west to The Sreekovil of the Sannidhanam. Devotees offer part of the broken coconut to Sri Ganapathi in the fireplace .
Ganapathi homam is the main offering. The shrine of the Lord of snakes, Nagarajan is placed adjacent to the sreekovil. Pilgrims after the Darsan of Lord Ayyappa and Kannimoola Ganapathi,make their darsan and give offerings to Nagarajav. The Pathinettu thripadikal or the 18 sacred steps are the main stairway to the temple. As per the custom followed, no pilgrim without “Irumudikkettu” can ascend the 18 sacred steps. In 1985, the 18 steps were covered by panchaloha and later covered with gold. The stairway in the northern gate is open for those who do not carry an “Irumudikkettu”.
The temples of Lord Ayyappan’s trusted lieutenants Vavur Swami and Kadutha Swami are positioned as his guards at the foot of the holy 18 sacred steps. Malikapuram has importance almost on par with Sri Ayyappa. The temple of Malikappurath Amma, whose importance is almost on par with Lord Ayyappa, is located few yards from Sannidhanam. It is believed that the Lord Ayyapan had specific instructions that he wanted Malikappurathamma, on his left side. Prior to the fire disaster, there was only a Peeda Prathishta at Malikappuram. The idol of Malikappurathamma was installed by Brahmasree Kandararu Maheswararu Thanthri. The Devi at Malikappuram holds a Sankh, Chakram and Varada Abhya Mudras. Now the idol is covered with a gold Golaka.
The temple also was reconstructed in the last decade and now the conical roof and sopanam are covered with gold. Manimandapam, located nearby is where Ayyappa meditated before he became one with the divine. The Sabarimala temple complex includes Pampa Ganapathi temple, Nilakal Mahadeva temple and Palliyara Bhagavathi temple. The Nilakal Mahadeva temple and Palliyara Bhagavathi temple is as old as the Sastha temple and the gods are worshipped as the parents of Lord Ayyappa. Ganapathi temple at Pampa has Pampa Maha Ganapathi and Athi Ganapathi, sreekovil where the idol from the first Ganapathy temple is worshipped. Sabari peedam blessed with the footprint of Srirama has a temple of Sri Rama and Hanuman also.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
KSRTC has started operating buses to Coimbatore, Palani and Thenkashi from Pampa for the convenience of the Sabarimala pilgrims. Besides, the Government of Tamil Nadu & Karnataka has been given the permission to operate buses to Pampa. A chain service exists between Pampa and Nilackal base camp.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is Kottayam & Chengannur
By Air
The pilgrims can reach Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi & Nedumbassery by Air and from there reach Pampa by bus/car.
Extra Information About this Shrine
Women in large numbers did not visit the temple, due to the hardship in reaching the temple. Prior to 1991, women of all ages were allowed entry into the temple when it opens for monthly rituals. Women pilgrims below the age group of 50 would visit the temple to conduct the first rice feeding ceremony of their children in the temple premises.On May 13, 1940, even the Maharani of Travancore had visited the temple. In 1991,
Justice K Paripoornan and Justice K Balanarayana Marar of the Kerala High Court in their ruling against the Travancore Devaswom Board, banned entry of women between ages above the age of 10 and below the age of 50 from offering worship at Sabarimala Shrine during any period of the year stating that such restriction was in accordance with the usage prevalent from time immemorial. In addition, the Justices of the High court directed the Government of Kerala, to use police force to ensure the order to ban entry of women to the temple was implemented and complied with.