Narayan Ravi - Mumbai

Ayyappa

Rituals & offerings at Sabarimala.

The Sabarimala temple is open for worship only during the following times of the year:

2) Makara Vilakku (Makar Sankranti - from Dec 30 to Jan 20)

3) Vishu/Malayalam New Year (April 10- April 14/15)

4) First 5 days of each Malayalam month. Each Malayalam month begins on the 15th-17th of a Gregorian month and ends around the same dates of the next Gregorian month.

5) 2 days in the month of May in connection with the Idol installation ceremonies

6) 2 days prior to the beginning of Mandalam (during Diwali - the days of the Chitra & Hastham stars).

7) The annual temple utsavam (festival) - from 23/24 March to 2/3 April, culminating on Panguni Uthram - the birthday of Lord Ayyappa. His birthday falls on the day of the Uthra Phalguni star in the Malayalam month of Panguni (early April).

8) 5 days for Onam (late August/early September).

The temple usually opens at 4 am & closes at 1 pm, reopening at 4 pm & closing at 11 pm.During the Mandalam & Makara Vilakku seasons it opens at 3 am & closes at 11:45 pm to accommodate the large number of devotees. On regular days, Neyyabhishekam (abhishekam with ghee) is done from 4:30 am to 11:30 pm. On peak festive days, the schedule is as follows:

1) 3 am - Nirmalya Darshan (darshan with decorations of the previous night)

2) 3:15 am- Mahaganapati Homam

3) 3:15 to 11:45 am- Neyyabhishekam

4) 7:30 am - Usha(morning) pooja

5) 12:30 pm - Uccha (afternoon) pooja6) 1 pm - Temple closes7) 3 pm - Temple reopens

8) 6:30 pm - Deeparadhana

9) 7 pm - Pushpa Abhishekam (with flowers)

10) 11 pm - Athazha (night) pooja

11) 11:30 pm - Harivarasanam

12) 11:45 pm - Temple closes.

The high priest or Thanthri of the temple hails from the Thazhamon Matham family of Chengannur in Kerala. According to tradition, they are a family of Brahmin priests brought from Andhra Pradesh by Lord Parasurama. The post of the Thanthri is hereditary, while the Melsanthi or chief priest is elected every year. The Thanthri has the highest authority & discretionary powers regarding the rites & rituals performed in the temple. The afternoon Pooja, morning Abhishekas, Padi Pooja, Udayastamana Pooja (a series of special poojas from sunrise to sunset) & all other special rituals are performed by the Thanthri while the morning & night Poojas are performed by the Melsanthi.

The annual Sabarimala Utsavam in late March-early April begins with the hoisting of the temple flag & ends with the bathing of the Lord's processional (utsava) deity in the Pampa & flag-lowering on the Lord's birthday. Utsava Bali, a very important ritual in which the hill gods in & around Sabarimala are worshipped is held from the 2nd-9th day & so is the Sri Bhutabali, or offerings to the Lord's bhutas or attendants.

Appam(round cakes made of rice,jaggery,banana & coconut & fried in ghee) & Aravana Payasam(a rich pudding made of rice,jaggery & ghee) are the main offerings here. The rice for these is supplied by the Chettikulangara Bhagavathi Temple at Mavelikkara in Alleppey district.

May Panthala Veera - the hero of Panthalam, bless one and all.

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa