The Pilgrimage Regulations

Sabarimala pilgrims have to observe several austerities and regulations to undertake the pilgrimage.

• The vritham can be undertaken only after getting permission from one's parents and Guru. It should be undertaken in such a manner as to cause no inconvenience to one's family.
  
• The day before the vritham begins one has to offer prayers to ones' family deity and present a yellow cloth with coins within to the family deity.
  
• The devotee must shave, clip his nails, trim his hair and bathe before the vritham.
  
• The holy garland should be cleaned and smeared with sandal paste and placed before the portrait of Lord Ayyappa.
  
• The devotee should also buy a new pair of coloured dhoti and towel or shawl.
  
• On the day of the vritham the devotee rises early, bathes, prays to the family deity and performs a pooja to the holy mala. He will be accompanied to the temple by his Guru and recieve his mala from him.
  
• Wearing the mala denotes that the devotee becomes Lord Ayyappa and must thus lead a pious life.
  
• The devotee must keep away from all social activities and spend his time praying and singing bhajans and in worthy causes like visiting temples, cleaning temples, feeding the poor, helping the poor and sick and attending religious discourses.
  
• He must eat only vegetarian food and abstain from meat, physical or verbal violence, alcohol and tobacco and intoxicants in any form.
  
• The devotee must sleep on the floor, use a wooden block for a pillow and walk barefeet.
  
• The devotee is obligated to treat all co-devotees as Lord Ayyappan and serve them in every way.
  
• He must be humble despite the respect and privileges accorded to him as a Sabarimala pilgrim.
  
• The devotee must treat all women like his mother and strictly follow celibacy.
  
• He must not oil his body or his hair and must always carry a tulsi leaf with him to keep away evil thoughts.
  
  
  
  Pujas
  

  After having taken bath and worshipping the house diety, the devotee shall make all arrangements for the pooja. The photo or idol of swami Ayyapa has to be placed on a raised platform with 18 steps decorated with flowers.   The pooja procedure is as below 1. Ganapathy Pooja      (Offer workship to Ganesh's Photo / Idol / Deepam) 2. Sri Ayyappan Pooja     Ayyappan Mala Mantram-(Mantram to wear the mala)     Ayyappan Astottaram     Ayyappan Saranam- (108 saranams)     Ayyappan Moola Mantram     Ayyappan Gayathri     Ayyappan Namaskaram     Harivarasanam Mantram for taking off mala- (This has to be recited after coming home from Sabarimala and before removing the Sacred Mala). Mandala Pooja/ Makaravilakku Pilgrimage to Sabarimala begins from the 1st of Vrichikam, a Malayalam month coming in the middle of November (probably between 14 and 17). The most important day for Ayyappan is Makarasankranti Day, which is the 1st of Makara (a month of the Malayalam calendar). This day will fall between January 14 and 16. On Makarasankranti every year without fail, miraculous events occur. Firstly as the jewels (Thiruvaabaranam) of the Lord are transported from the Old Pandalam Palace to Sabarimala, a Krishnaparanth (holy Garuda - an eagle - the vehicle of Lord Vishnu), circles above the precious jewels (in fact guarding them), like a protector. This rare eagle is rarely seen in the midst of people for a long period of time, yet the auspicious bird follows the Thiruvaabaranam procession, finally circling above Sannidhanam at Sabarimala nine times as it pays its respects to Lord Ayyappan. During this time, there is not a single star in the sky except for a special Nakshatram. As the beautiful jewels are placed on the golden body of the Lord within the temple, the several hundred thousand devotees outside, crammed into any available free space, chant "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa". When the jewels are finally all adorned on the Lord, the Nakshatram in the sky miraculously disappears. Within moments after the Lord being adorned with the Thiruvabaranam, an effulgence (Divya Jyoti) appears in the opposite hills of Shabarimala, shining 3 times. This hill is called Ponnambalamedu. Devotees can view the Divya Jyothi from 9 places in and around Sannidhanam. They are Sannidhanam, Pandithavalam, Pulmedu, Saramkuthi, Neelimala, Marakootam, Hilltop, Chalakayam, and Attathodu.

  Guru
  
  The guru has a significant role to play in the Ayyappa cult. The Guruswamy is usually an elderly person who has undertaken pilgrimage to Sabarimala not less than seven consecutive years in the traditional long route and had darshan of Makara Jothi. The devotees treat the Guruswamy as Ayyappan himself. It is important that pilgrims gain knowledge from the Guru on all the aspects of the Pilgrimage. One should serve the Guru physically, mentally and verbally.
  The pilgrims should give the due respect and reverence that the Guru deserves. All instructions of the Guru should be carried out without fail. The Guru will enlighten the Shisyas about the austerities to be followed. He will teach them the slokas and way to perform pooja and bhajans. He shall prepare them for the pilgrimage mentally and physically. He will lead the pilgrims safely and comfortably to Sabarimala.
  
  
  108 Sharana Ghosham
  Say 'Saranam Ayyappa' after saying each line.
  1. Swamiyae
  2. Harihara sutane
  3. Kannimoola ganapati bhagavaanae
  4. Shakti vadivelan sodaranae
  5. Maalikappurattu manjammadevi lokamathavae
  6. Vaavar Swamiyae
  7. Karuppanna Swamiyae
  8. Periya kadutta Swamiyae
  9. Siriya kadutta Swamiyae
  10. Vanadevata maarae
  11. Durga bhagavati maarae
  12. Achchan kovil arasae
  13. Anaatha rakshakanae
  14. Anna dhana prabhuvae
  15. Achcham tavirpavanae
  16. Ambalathu arasanae
  17. Abhaya daayakanae
  18. Ahandai azhippavanae
  19. Ashtasiddhi daayakanae
  20. Andinorai aadarikkum deivamae
  21. Azhutayil vaasanae
  22. Aaryangaavu Ayyaavae
  23. Aapad baandhavanae
  24. Ananda jyotiyae
  25. Aatma swaroopiyae
  26. Aanaimukhan thambiyae
  27. lrumudi priyanae
  28. lnnalai teerppavanae
  29. ega para suka daayakanae
  30. idaya kamala vaasanae
  31. Eedillaa inbam alippavanae
  32. Umaiyaval baalakanae
  33. Oomaikku arul purindavanae
  34. Oozhvinai akatruvonae
  35. Ookkam alippavanae
  36. Engum niraindoenae
  37. Enillaa roopanae
  38. En kula deivamae
  39. En guru naathanae
  40. Erumeli vaazhum kraada -shaastaavae
  41. Engum nirainda naada brahmamae
  42. Ellorkkum arul puribavanae
  43. Aetrumaanoorappan maganae
  44. Aekaantha vaasiyae
  45. Aezhaikkarul puriyum eesanae
  46. Aindumalai vaasanae
  47. Aiyyangal teerppavanae
  48. Opillaa maanikkamae
  49. Omkaara parabramamae
  50. Kaliyuga varadanae
  51. Kan.kanda deivamae
  52. Kambankudiku udaiya naathanae
  53. Karunaa samudramae
  54. Karpoora jyotiyae
  55. Sabari giri vaasanae
  56. Shatru samhaara moortiyae
  57. Sharanaagata rakshakanae
  58. Sharana ghosha priyanae
  59. Shabarikku arul purindavanae
  60. Shambhukumaaranae
  61. Satya swaroopanae
  62. Sankatam teerppavanae
  63. Sanchalam azhippavanae
  64. Shanmukha sodaranae
  65. Dhanvantari moortiyae
  66. Nambinorai kaakkum deivamae
  67. Narttana priyanae
  68. Pantala raajakumaaranae
  69. Pambai baalakanae
  70. Parasuraama poojithanae
  71. Bhakta jana rakshakanae
  72. Bhakta vatsalanae
  73. Paramashivan puthiranae
  74. Pambaa vaasanae
  75. Parama dayaalanae
  76. Manikanda porulae
  77. Makara jyotiyae
  78. Vaikkathu appan makanae
  79. Kaanaka vaasanae
  80. Kulattu puzhai baalakanae
  81. Guruvaayoorappan makanae
  82. Kaivalya pada daayakanae
  83. Jaati mata bhedam illathavanae
  84. Shivashakti Aikya svaroopanae
  85. Sevippavarku aananda moorthiyae
  86. Dushtar bhayam neekkubavanae
  87. Devaadi devanae
  88. Devargal tuyaram teerppavanae
  89. Devendra poojitanae
  90. Naaraayananmynthanae
  91. Neiabhisheka priyanae
  92. Pranava svaroopanae
  93. Paapa samhaara moortiyae
  94. Paayaasanna priyanae
  95. Vanpuli vaagananae
  96. Varapradaayaganae
  97. Bhaagavatottamanae
  98. Ponambala vaasanae
  99. Mohini sutane
  100. Mohana roopanae
  101. Villan villaali veeranae
  102. Veeramani kantanae
  103. Sadguru nathanae
  104. Sarva rokanivaarakanae
  105. Sachithananda sorupiyae
  106. Sarvaabheestha thayakanae
  107. Saasvatapadam alippavanae
  108. Patinettaam padikkutaiyanaadhane
  Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa
  Om Adiyen terindum teriyaamalum seida
  sakala Kutrangalaiyum poruttu kaattu rakshittu
  arula vendum, Shree satyamaana ponnu
  patinettaam padimel vaazhum om Shree
  Harihara sutan kaliyugavaradan aananda
  chittan ayyan Ayyappa Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa
  
  Sacred Irumudi
  

  lrumudi is the only travelling kit which a pilgrim carries on his head during the pilgrimage. Only those who observe fasting for 41 days are allowed to carry it. Without the Irumudi one is not allowed to step onto the holy 18 steps at the Sannidhanam. This bag is in two compartments - the Munmudi (the front part) and the Pinmudi (the back part) & the opening at centre. The front portion is reserved for keeping all the puja articles and offerings to the deity. The rear part is meant to hold the pilgrims' personal requirements for the journey. Front portion contains Mudra bags, consisting of 2 - 3 in numbers - one for the GheeCoconut and the other two for the remaining offerings(Vazhipadu) at the Sannidhanam are as under: :.  Coconut filled with ghee for Abhishekam (bathing the idol of the Lord)+ :. Coconut (vidalai thengai) 2 to 4 nos. * :. Beetel leaves, Beetel Nut, coins for offering :. Jaggery (achuvellam), Cashew, Raisins, Dry ginger, Poha (thin & thick variety), Cardamoms, Dates, Honey, Avil(beaten rice), Kadhi Chakkar # :. Dried turmeric tubers, Turmeric powder, Blouse piece, Kumkum, Vibhooti, Sandal paste, Sambarani, Camphor, Agarbathi (Incense stick), Rosewater, Lemon, Rice and Dal for offering.       + Coconut for ghee Abhishekam : Well before the Kettunira time, select a medium size coconut. Clean and polish the outer shell using a polishing paper. With a pointed instrument, open one eye of the coconut and empty the coconut water. Close it with a cork of correct size. The coconut is now ready for the Kettunira.       * Coconut (Vidalai Thengai) one each to be broken at Erumeli, Sharam Kutti and two for Padinettampadi (the sacred 18 steps - once while climbing up for Shasta Darshan with the Irumudi and 2nd while returning after the worship       # Part of the jaggery, cashew, raisin, cardamom, honey and dates can be used to make Panchamrutam for the Neivedya; part of the jaggery, dry ginger and cardamom can be used for preparing 'Panagam' as Neivedya Back Portion contains Items for use of the pilgrim from the day of commencement of the journey after Kettunira till his return and is kept in the back compartment(Pin Mudi), which are as under : Some snacks which one may require now and then during the trip and other raw materials for food items to be prepared during the journey. And pulses and rice needed for cooking can be included in Pinmudi.

  
  
   18 Holy Steps
  Pathinettapadi (18 divine steps) to the sanctum sanctorium is divine in all aspects. The first three steps depict "Bhoomi, Agni, Vayoo & Akash", 6 to 9 steps for Karmendriya, 10 to 15 for Jhanandriya, 16th for mind 17th Intelligence and 18th Jeevathma Bhava. Those who cross all these steps are believed to achieve "Punyadarshan". The steep steps are so important and holy that no one can climb them without fasting for 41 days and carrying the holy irrumudi on ones' head.There are many mythological stories associated with the holy Patinettampadi. Some believe the eighteen steps denote the 18 puranas. Some say that 18 weapons with which Lord Ayyappa destroyed the evil denotes the 18 steps. Others are of the belief that the first five steps denotes the indriyas (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin). The next eight steps signifies the ragas (tatwa, kama, krodha, moha, lobha, madha, matsraya, and ahamkara. The next three steps signifies the gunas (satwa, rajas and thamas). The seventeenth and the eighteenth denotes vidhya and ignorance.
  The Patinettampadi can be used only twice - once for ascending the temple and once for descending below leaving the hill. Before ascending or descending the steps, pilgrims break coconut as an offering to the steps. One needs to have the sacre Irumudi on head while going up or down the 18 steps. While descending the steps the devotees climb down backwards facing the sanctum sanctorum.
  One who climbs the Patinettampadi for 18 times shall plant a sapling of coconut in Sabarimala.
  Built on a plateau about 40 feet high, the Ayyappan temple commands a lofty view of the mountains and valleys all around. The ancient temple has been rebuilt after a fire in 1950. Within the confines of the sanctum sanctorium with a copper-plated roof and four golden finials at the top, two mandapams, the belikalpura which houses the altar, the flag-staff replacing the earlier stone image of the deity, sits a beautiful idol of Ayyappa in panchaloha, an alloy of five metals, about one and a half feet tall.