Sabarimala pilgrims rituals
The Sabarimala pilgrims start the observation of the rituals
to be observed by them for proper effect of the darsan of the lord according t
their convenience and circumstances. But the main season to visit the temple is
from the 1st day of the Malayalam month of Vrischikam (normally
falls around 15th November) to 16th January. Normally a
person is expected to observe the vratha for a minimum of a mandala (41 days
period) from Vrischikam 1st. But now it is changed to suit the
circumstances of the devotees. However the vratha starts the moment the mudra
mala (garland made of the beads of Tulsi stems or Rudraksh with a locket of
Lord Ayyappan is worn by the pilgrim and continues till the darsan of the
Sabarimala Lord is done. Some of the observations are the total avoidance of
all sensual pleasures, keep the mind and body pure, wearing black, blue or
saffron dress, no hair cut or shaving during the period, non vegetarian and
stimulating food and drinks to be avoided, as far as possible no foot wear
among the 41 such items to be observed or avoided. Once they start the vratha till the darsan is
over and returns every devotee is Swamy, Swamy Ayyappan and Ayyappan
irrespective of the religion, caste r community or the age of the devotees.
Petta Thullal (a form of dance)
There are mainly two routes taken to reach the Sannidhanam
(place in front of the sanctum sanctum from where the devotees have the
darsan of the Lord. One is via Erumeli and the other via Vandiperiyar. Erumeli
might have been ‘eruma kolli’ (eruma = buffalo, kolli = killed) place where the
Mahishi (female demon sister of demon Mahisha killed by devas in the form of buffalo).
She was a demon with terrible ego, animosity, excessive pride, uncontrolled
animal instincts etc and was a terror to all living things. Hence she was defeated
in a combat by Manikantan (who later after penance became the Lord Ayyappan an
incarnation of the Sri Dharma Sastha) and she surrendered to him leaving her
all negative aspects of the personality. When the pilgrims reach Erumeli they
dance and walk for some distance. This ritual is known as the ‘Petta Thullal’.
With this the devotees are purged of the ego and other animal instincts and
become identical to the Lord. The lord and the devotee become similar. The change of Mahishi happened on the bank of
river Azhutha. It is believed that after the combat and surrender Mahishi
repented for the cruelty she indulged and the untold miseries heaped on the
living beings. She wept on her criminal past and the tears of her started
flowing as the river. Because of the tears of weeping (wept translated to
Malayalam and Tamil is Azhutha – Azhuka) formed the river it is called Azhutha
nadi (river).
Depositing of stones in the Kalinda kunnu (hill where
stones re to be put)
Next item of the journey is the going to the Kallidamkunnu
and throwing a stone on the hill. This symbolizes the last vestige of the
throwing off of the ego (if still left out) from the devotee. After this ritual the pilgrim goes to the
Kariyila (dry leaf) thodu (rivulet) where he picks up a dry leaf and puts in
the flowing water so that the dry leaf flows with the water. This is to symbolize
the flowing away of the sins of the devotee and he becomes a pure person.
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