Sabarimala : The World famous Sastha Temple

Sabarimala - The World famous Sastha temple at Sabarimala located on the slope of the Western Ghats. The pilgrimage begins in the month of Vruchikam (November) and ends in Makaram-Makara Samkranthi(January).

Sabarimala is the most famous pilgrim centre in Kerala. This temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. It is believed to be the place where Lord Ayyapa meditated soon after killing the powerful demon, Mahishi. It is situated on a hilltop and is surrounded by mountains and dense forest. This temple is unique in many respects. One is that the temple is open to all irrespective of caste, creed or religion. There is a place near the temple (east to Sannidhanam) dedicated to the Vavar called "Vavarunada".This is an epitome of religious harmony. Another fact is that it is not open throughout the year. It is open for worship, only during the days of Mandalapooja, Makaravilakku and Chitra Vishu. The pilgrims have to follow fasting for many days and the journey to the temple is to be taken through difficult paths in the forest as the vehicles can go only up to Pampa.

Nearest Railway stations to Sabarimala are Kottayam and Chengannur.

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS  (PAMBA STD CODE : 04735)

DISTANCE TO PAMBA FROM VARIOUS CENTRES

For Advance booking for accomodation in Devaswom guest houses contact:

Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board, Nanthancode,

Thiruvananthapuram. Phone: 0471-2315156, 2316963, 2317983

For Booking from Sabarimala Contact:

Accomodation Office at Sannidhanam Phone:04735-202049

Pilgrims can book rooms in advance in the guest house of Forest Department and Kerala State Electricity Board:

Sannidhanam Forest IB Phone: 202074 / 202075

6 Room Rs.300 per day Contact:

Field Director, Project Tiger Kottayam, Kerala Phone:0481-2565940

Sannidhanam KSEB IB Phone: 202024

3 Rooms Rs.20/- per person. 1 Hall: Rs.10/- Per person

Contact: Board Secretary, Vaidyuthi Bhavan

Thiruvananthapuram, Phone:0471-2448989

Forest Department has also an IB Dormitary at Pamba. IB has 3

Rooms (Rs.300 per day). Accomodation is available in the Dormitary for Rs.50 per person.

Note: Booking Facility available for udayasthamaya pooja, Sahasra kalasam, Kalabhabhishekam, Laksharchana, Uthsavbali, Pushpabhishekam.

For Booking: -

The Executive Officer, Sabarimala Devaswom,

Travancore,

Devaswom Board Office,

Nanthancode,
Thiruvananthapuram-3
 

www.fly2kerala.com

Great Information Agni. It will be very helpful to all those who go to sabarimala.

Swami Saranam.

Sabarimala (Kerala), Dec.7: Drawing millions of devotees from different parts of the country and abroad, the world famous Sabarimala Temple in Kerala has also been promoting communal harmony for a long time.

While visiting the Sabarimala temple, the devotees also pay their respects to a Muslim deity 'Vavar' as a lieutenant of Lord Ayyappa.

After worshiping at the main sanctum santorum, the devotees go to worship the Muslim deity of Vavar that is located in proximity of a few metres to the main temple.

A carved stone slab symbolises the deity of Vavarswami. There is no distinguishable idol here. Covered with a green silk cloth on the three sides of a wall while the fourth side is open, the Vavarswami (the Vavar) is offered pepper as main offering.

A Muslim priest performs the rituals even today. Belonging to Vavar's family, the pries distributes the sacred ash as "Prasadam" (Gods' offering) to the pilgrims in front of the Temple.

Devotees, having climbed the 18 sacred steps, are expected to loudly chant "Swamiya Saranam Ayyapa".

Legend has it that Lord Ayyappa was born in to annihilate demon princess Mahishi, who caused destruction of the pious. For this, Ayyappa had to take a mortal form and live as an earthly being.

After annihilating Mahishi and the successful completion of divine work, the Lord preferred to reside at the land of "Sabarimala" in Kerala, where the great Tapaswani (or, the ascetic) "Sabari" was given holy glimpse by Lord Rama and salvation by Lord Ayyappa.

About five million people visit the Sabarimala Temple annually.

Lord Ayyappan is a symbol of religious unity and communal harmony. Being born out of Mohini (the female incarnation of Lord Vishnu) and Lord Shiva, he is also known as Bhuthanatha, Dharmasastha, Hariharan, Ayyanar and Manikanta.

Situated atop the Sabarimala Hill in the Western Ghats of Kerala, the renowned temple devoted to Lord Ayyappa is a pilgrimage centre since ancient time. It lies in the thick forests of Kerala's Pattanamthitta District.

Sabarimala temple is open to all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, social status or nationality.

The temple is open only to males and menopaused females (beyond 50 years of age) and little girls below 10 years of age. This is because the Sabrimala Lord is a chaste yogi.