Sabarimala temple one of the famous temples of India. Millions of people come here every day to visit. Let's know about the history and status of this temple.
About Ayyappa Swami?
1.Bhagwan Ayyappa's father is Shiv and mother Mohini. Bhagwan Shiv was fascinated after seeing Vishnu's siren form. They gave birth to a son named Sastava who was called Ayyappa in South India. They are called 'Hariharputra' due to their origin from Shiv and Vishnu. Apart from these, Bhagwan Ayyappa is also known as Ayyappan, Shasta, Manikanta. They have many temples in South India, one of them is the main temple Sabarimala. It is also called the pilgrimage center of the south.
According to religious legend, during the churning of the ocean, Bholenath was fascinated by the saintly form of Bhagwan Vishnu and due to this effect a child was born which he abandoned on the banks of the Pampa River. During this time Raja Rajasekhar raised him for 12 years. Later, Ayyappa, who went to the forest to bring lioness milk for his mother, also killed the demonic Mahishi.
2. There is a legend about Ayyappa that his parents tied a bell around his neck and left him. Rajashekhar, the king of Pandalam, brought up Ayyappa as a son. But Bhagwan Ayyappa did not like all this and when he got disinterest, he left the palace and left. In some Puranas, Ayyappa Swamy is considered an incarnation of Shasta.
Ayyappa Swamy's miraculous temple:
There is a famous temple of Ayyappa Swamy at Shabarmala in the Indian state of Kerala, where people from all over the world come to visit the temple of this son of Shiv. Staying in the dark darkness of Makar Sankranti near this temple, a light is seen here. Crores of pilgrims come from all over the world to visit this flame. Sabarimala is named after Shabari. The same Shabri who fed the fruits of Bhagwan to Bhagwan Ram and Ram preached Navadha-bhakti to him.
It is said that whenever this light is seen, noise is heard along with it. Devotees believe that this god is a light and God burns it. According to the priests of the temple management, Makar Jyoti is a special star seen in the sky on the first day of Makar month. It is said that Ayyappa established unity between Shaiva and Vaishnavas. He had accomplished his goal and attained divine knowledge in Sabarimala.
The temple is situated in the middle of Sahyadri, a series of hills in the Western Valley. Dense forests, high hills and a variety of animals have to be reached here, so there is no stay here for long. There is a special season and time to come here. Those who come here for the purpose of pilgrimage have to follow a difficult journey of forty-one days. In the pilgrimage, pilgrims are provided with oxygen ranging from prepaid coupons to offerings. Actually, the temple is at an altitude of nine hundred and fourteen meters and can be reached only on foot.
18 holy steps
Surrounded by hills on all four sides, this temple is located on the hills 175 km from Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram. To reach this temple one has to cross 18 sacred stairs, which have different meanings. The first five stairs are linked to the five senses of man. The 8 staircase after it is connected with human emotions. The next three stairs are considered human qualities and finally the two stairs are symbol of knowledge and ignorance.
Apart from this, the pilgrims who come here reach by placing the bundle on the head. She is filled with potli naivedya (things offered to God, which the priests offer as priests to take home). Here it is believed that by wearing a garland of Tulsi or Rudraksha, fasting and having naivedya on the head, all the wishes of the person who comes, are fulfilled.
Recently, the Supreme Court has lifted the ban on the entry of women in the Sabarimala temple. In this 800 year old temple, this belief had been going on for a long time that women should not be allowed to enter the temple.
How to reach the temple?
* Pampa of Sabarimala from Thiruvananthapuram can be reached by bus or private vehicle.
* Ayyappa is seen in Sabarimala temple by walking five kilometers on foot from Pampa through the forest, climbing 1535 feet high hills.
* Kottayam or Chengannur railway station is close by for passengers arriving by rail. From here one can travel by trains from Pampa.
* The nearest airport from here is Thiruvananthapuram, which is a few kilometers from Sabarimala.
Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !