Sabarimala Pilgrimmage

Sabarimala Pilgrimage

The pilgrim season is going on full swing. Makarajyoti is due on January 15th, 2012. The Aravana payasam is the prasad. A 250 ml pack comes at Rs 60. Appam is also sold widely as prasad. Woman in the age group of 10 to 50 is not permitted in Sabarimala.

Thiruabharanam Yatra (3.36 kg gold ornament)

http://youtu.be/EHFMORLM7nM

As on 26.12.11, the hill temple received offerings worth Rs. 118 Crore.

The number of pilgrims has decreased compared to last year due to Mullaperiyar dam inter state water sharing issue with Tamil Nadu. A number of Malayalis were attacked in Tamil Nadu. Rare incident of attack of Tamilians were reported. Still Kerala is safe for Tamils to visit and to do business.

KSRTC is cancelling Nilackal - Pamba buses due to shortage of pilgrims (Tamils).

Secret of Makara jyoti / Manmade or divine fire

On 2011 January 14, 102 devotees were killed and more injured at Pululmedu, a place where the Jyoti can be viewed apart from Sannidhanam. Devaswom has agreed that it is fake and lighted by Adivasis in court.

http://youtu.be/L4zZvaff31I

Elaborate arrangements for Makaravilakku (Jan 15, 2012)

The Sabarimala shrine is witnessing heavy rush of pilgrims in the last two days since the temple was opened for the Makaravilakku season. Arrangements to serve medicated drinking water and biscuits to the pilgrims waiting in the queue inside the barricades along the Marakkoottom-Sannidhanam stretch of the traditional path as they have to wait in the long-winding queue even upto 15 hours during the rush days.

KSRTC to deploy 1000 buses in Pampa - Nilackal route during the Makaravilakku festival. Only KSRTC buses will be allowed in this route from 12 to 15 Jan 2012.

Ayyappa devotees on 1,800 km trek : The team comprised only 9 members at their starting point in Andheri on November 22, but when it reached Uduppi in Karnataka the numbers rose to 25. On a gruelling 52-day journey, these devotees clad in their black dress and carrying an 'irumudi', traverses nearly 40 km every day. Their target is to reach Sabarimala on 2012 January 12.

Route : Mumbai, Pune, Kohlapur, Belgaum via Khanapur reached Yellapur jungle route. From there to Kumta-Kollur Mookambika temple, Kundapura, Uduppi and Managlore, Kasargod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Guruvayur.

The head priest of Sabarimala temple today informed the Kerala High Court that he does not propose to pursue his plea to depute his grandson to assist him inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Thantri Kandararu Maheswararu had complained to the court that the Travancore Devaswom board officials had not permitted his grandson Rahul Eashwar inside the sanctum sanctum to assist him in rituals.

A police probe has found that two woman constables trekking Sabarimala as escort to the family members of a state minister violated the age-old custom of the shrine that restricts the entry of women in the 10-50 age group.

Sabarimala pilgrim season begins on 16 Nov 2012. Thanka Anki Ratha yatra starts on December 23 from Pandalam. The main day of the 41 day long festival is the Makarasamkranti/Makaravilakku on January 15th.

The temple opens at 0300 h and closes at 13.00 h and then opens again at 15.00 h and closes at 23.45 h during festival season. Daily Pooja : Nirmalyam (3 am), Neyyabhishekam (3.20 am to 11.30 am), Usha Puja (7.30 am), Ucha puja (12 noon), Deeparadhana (6.45 pm), Athazha pooja (11 pm), Harivarasanam (11.45 pm).

During Ucha puja, the 18 holy golden steps (Pathinettampadi) are washed.

Distance chart

Ernakulam to Pampa via Erumeli : 200 km
Thiruvananthapuram to Pampa : 180 km
Kottayam to Pampa via Thiruvalla : 123 km
Pathanamthitta to Pampa : 65 km

Telephone numbers

Kottayam Railway station : 0481-2563535 / 139 (Enquiry)
Pampa police : 04735 203386
Karimala Forest Control room (on traditional forest trekking route) : 04735 203492

Route to Sabarimala sannidhanam

1. The main route is via Pamba. From here devotees trek 5 km to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

2. Travel to Vandiperiyar from Kottayam/Tamil Nadu. KSRTC Bus & private jeeps are available up to Upputhara (20 km). Trek to Sannidhanam via pullumedu.

Sabrimala Food Price list 2012 - 2013

Food Price list

Sabarimala prasad

This year the temple has a stock of 35 lakh tins of unni Appam and aravana payasam.

Devaswom Board has arranged free food (annadan) to devotees at Malikappuram/Sannidhanam.

Pampa and Sannidhanam (Ayyappa temple) has SBT ATMs working round the clock.

Kerala High Court has directed restriction on taking photography and videography at Sannidhanam.

Temple has got security cover of NSG trained Commandos of Kerala Police, armed with AK 47s.

15 Ambulances are stationed at Pampa and Nilackal, providing 24 h service. Those who have heart ailments, Blood pressure can avail the Oxygen parlour service (10 in number) located at Pampa, Neelimala, Appachimedu, Sannidhanam. Take rest for 5 minutes after a walk of 10 minutes during the climb. Dolly service is preferable for those who have heart ailments.

Tractors are plying over concrete road to carry goods to Sannidhanam. This year Sannidhanam is free of donkeys, so more clean.

Keep Pampa, Sabarimala Sannidhanam and the trekking paths clean & Green. Avoid disturbing wild life. Fire if lighted should be put out immediately after use.
Use toilets and latrines for urination and bowel clearance.

The revenue earnings at Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple during the pilgrimage season stood at Rs 230 crore (Hundi collection + Aravana/appam sales). The pilgrim season ends on 20 Jan 2013.

Next Sabarimala Makaravilakku festival will be on 14 Jan 2014.

Sabarimala (468 m) is a major Hindu pilgrim centre in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. Pampa is 100 km away from Kottayam/ Chengannur railway station. A dip at the holy river Pampa starts the pilgrimage. A 5 km steep climb takes one to Sabarimala temple on top of the hill. The Makaravilakku festival is held on 14 Jan 2015. During the 41 day Sabarimala festival season in 2014-15, Rs 203 Crore was the Revenue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyObaVMvucI

Sabarimala pilgrims wear black dress and are known as ayyappas. Irumudi is a two compartment cloth bag carried by pilgrims on their head. Devotees perform 41 day penance of no drinks, no meat & no sex before climbing the holy hill. Devout climb the hill bare footed chanting 'swamiye saranam ayyappa'. The 18 gold plated steps called 'pathinettampadi' leads to the temple. Women at the age 10 to 50 are not permitted in Sabarimala. Aravana payasam and Appam are the main Prasadams in Sabarimala. At 11 pm, the temple closes with Harivarasanam song (recorded) sung by Dr. KJ Yesudas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGhzREvfJ5s

Dr. Vijay Mallya gold plated the roof of Sabarimala Swami Ayyappa shrine (with 1900 kg of copper and plated with 32 kg of gold) at a cost of Rs 18 Crore in 2011.

Pullumedu route from Vandiperiyar is a traditional forest route of the Sabarimala pilgrims. This is preferred by pilgrims from Tamil Nadu due to it's easy access. From Vandiperiyar, jeep is available up to Sathram during the pilgrim season. From there pilgrims have to make a 5 km plain walk to reach Pullumedu. Then proceed to the wireless station and climb down the hill to reach Sabarimala.

From Sabarimala, climb the hill through dense forest infested with wild elephants to Pullumedu (3 hour). A further 2 hour walk takes one to Sathram from where Jeep is available to Vandiperiyar (on Mundakayam - Kumily highway).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE8x2bBqXcc