There is no clear evidence as to when the pilgrimage to Sabarimala began. After the installation of the temple, it was mostly unreachable for about three centuries. One of the kings in a later generation rediscovered the original path to reach Sabarimala.
He had many followers with him, including the descendants of the Vavar family. They refreshed their resources at Erumely and this marked the beginning of the famous Petta Thullal at Erumely. They laid down their arms at the place today known as Saramkuthy.
Those who are on their maiden visits to Sabarimala thrust arrows at this place. The temple was then renovated. In 1821 AD, the kingdom of Pandalam was added to Travancore. 48 major temples including the Sabarimala temple were also added to Travancore. The idol was erected in 1910.
The prasadam at Sabarimala temple is Aravana payasam and Appam. These are prepared by using rice, ghee, sugar, jaggery etc. The rice needed to prepare the prasadam at Sabarimala temple is supplied by Chettikulangara Devi Temple, the second largest temple under Travancore devaswom board situated at Mavelikkara.
The Chief Commissioner, Travancore Devaswom Board said that the board has appointed Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore as a consultant for providing technical guidance to ensure the quality of Aravana, Appam, and other prasadam preparations at Sabarimala temple.
Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan meditated after killing the powerful demoness, Mahishi. Ayyappan's temple is situated here amidst 18 hills. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 468 m (1535 ft) above mean sea level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests.
Temples exist in each of the hills surrounding Sabarimala. While functional and intact temples exist at many places in the surrounding areas like Nilackal, Kalaketi, and Karimala, remnants of old temples survive to this day on remaining hills.
Sabarimala is linked to Hindu pilgrimage, predominantly for men of all ages.You can identify a Sabarimala pilgrim easily as they wear black or blue dress.They do not shave till the completion of pilgrimage and smear Vibhuti or Sandal paste on their forehead.
Women between the ages of 10 and 50 are not allowed to enter the temple, since the story attributed to Ayyappa prohibits the entry of the women in the menstrual age group. This is because Ayyappan is a Bramhachari (celibate).
The temple is open for worship only during the days of Mandalapooja (approximately 15 November to 26 December), Makaravilakku (14 January- "Makar Sankranti ") and Maha Vishuva Sankranti (14 April), and the first five days of each Malayalam month.
The customs of the pilgrims to Sabarimala are based on five worshipping methods; those of Shaivites, Shaktists and Vaishnavites. At first, there were three sections of devotees ? the devotees of Shakti who used meat to worship their deity, the devotees of Vishnu who followed strict penance and continence, and the devotees of Shiva who partly followed these two methods.
Another name of Ayyappa is Sastha. All these can be seen merged into the beliefs of pilgrims to Sabarimala. The chain the pilgrims wear comes from the Rudraksha chain of the Shaivites.
The strict fasting, penance and continence is taken out of the beliefs of the Vaishnavites. The offering of tobacco to Kaduthaswamy can be considered to be taken from the Shaktists.
Procedure to be followed while Taking Ayyappan Vratham:
1.Those who want to observe Lord ayyappa vratha and want to visit sabarimala Temple should wear ayyappa mala and should observe fasting for 41 days. The best day for wearing ayyappa mala is karthigai 1st or before Karthigai 19th. If you wear this ayyappa mala, you must follow 41 days ayyapan vratham.
2. Lord Ayyappa mala will be either thulasi mala or rudraksha mala. devotees wear this mala by guruswamy or temple Priest after Performing Puja. If it not Possible wear from their Parents also.
4. Wear black clothes only. You can wear dark blue or orange once you complete few years of diksha and travel to sabarimala. The reason being that Ayappa having offered that his devotees will pay due respects to him and as well as to Sani Bhagawan during the diksha so that he would not trouble them.
5. Start and end the day by taking bath twice with head shower with cold water. Initially this would be difficult but being clean is next to godliness. Using fragrances is avoided and using home made products is recommended.
6. Eating self cooked or clean cooked food in separate utensils have to be practiced. Food have to be vegetarian and full meal only during lunch. Evening prasadam should be a light meal and fruits.
7. Sleeping on the floor is a must and you can use bed sheet or blankets as needed.
8. Following bachelor or brahmacharya life through out this varatham. This would keep the devotees focused on the rituals and on god.
9. Tell saranugosha or Ayyapa saranam everyday morning and evening. People going together in the Sabarimala piligrimage keep telling this loudly during travel to make things easy, keep energy up and also to keep the fear of animals and darkness away. ????? ??????? ???? (??????) ??????? (there is no bigger weapon than the saranam Chanting)
10. Don't indulging in arguments, vulgar talks or watching movies. Keep practicing devotional songs and attend ayyapa bajans as much as possible keep the varatham in tact
11. Follow meditation to keep you calm and follow all the rituals with full devotion.
12. Conduct Ayyapa puja at home at least once and give annadhanam to poor during this pooja. Having a guruswamy do this at home is a blessing and making panchamrutham without even smelling the ingredients before offering to god is important. Annadhanam is a important ritual and if not possible at home, you can distribute food to poor near the temples as well
13. Practice diksha during the full mandalam of 41 days. Lot of people these days due to their convenience do this for few days which is not right, This will not give full benefits and it is important that giving time cleaning the mind and body during the puja days is very important.
14. First time travelers to sabarimala are called Kanniswamies and they follow that they are driving by the saranum Chant and not with the help of stick as they climb the forest hills to sabarimala. Stop at Erumely and play pettatuli (carnival dance) before proceeding to sabarimala. The first arrow from erumely to be placed in Saramkuthi alayam. There is a story that the year when there is no saramkuti from the first time traveler to sabarimala, that is when Lord Ayyapa will get married ?..and the waiting continues but devotees don't stop coming to Sabarimala.
15. Do not indulge in any wrong doings, accepting bribes, indulging in violence or talking foul language. Do not drink or smoke.
16. Keeping modest way of life is the way to perform this puja. Don't indulge in showing wealth during bhajans or puja at home. In the eyes of god, everyone is equal
17. Have all ingredients required for Irumudi and attend the irumudhi function with poise. As the family puts behind rice in your bag as you start to sabarimala, it means that you are actually leaving behind all your entanglements of life, including relationships and materialistic well being and surrendering yourself to god.
18. Keeping away from attending death ceremonies, funerals and women during this time is required. In this vratham, one is far above all that is free from any kind of emotional entanglements and it is only to indicate that no one is above destiny and their own karma.
19. Visiting any local temple during the puja once in a days is recommended. In India, every corner of the street have ganesha temples that can be visited.
20. Following all puja norms for mala removing after the pilgrimage is also recommended, It is not right to remove the mala once visit is completed before the 41 days is completed. And it has to be done with the help of guruswamy only or in the ayyapa temple when the vratham is completed.
21. Avoid attending marriages, new born ceremonies, death etc. You must be following a sanyasi's life and have to move away from worldly ceremonies. If you have to attend a death of your relatives, you need to remove the mala, leave it to lord Iyappan in your pooja room. When you are back, you need to take bath and have your mother or your guruswamy to wear the mala back.
22. Wearing footwear is also avoided and washing feet before entering house or any place is required.
23. Speak less as much as possible. Do not get in to any argument. Do not hurt anyone with word, thoughts or deed.
24. You cannot shave or have a hair cut during the fasting period. If your profession seems you to be tidy, you can have a shave. Do not feel bad about it. You cannot also cut your finger nails during your fasting period. Make sure you keep your nails clean always.
Dos and Don't s while Visiting Sabarimala Temple:
Do Contact Temple Devasthanam information center for enquiry, temple information and for pooja details etc.
Do bath at Pamba river and wear clean Black clothes before you enter the temple
Do concentrate on God Ayyappa inside the temple.
Do maintain silence and recite your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only
Do not come to Temple for any Purpose other than worshiping of Ayyappa
Do not approach mediators for quick Dharshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
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