Ayyappa Devotees visiting the Sabarimala Temple
carry the Irumudi – a specially designed bag with two compartments.
This ceremony is referred as Kettunira or Palli Kettu. The front portion
of the bag is meant for keeping the puja articles and other offerings
to the deities at Sabarimala. The other compartment is meant for holding
the personal belongings.
But
nowadays both the compartments are filled with puja items. Earlier, the
journey used to be of two to three days and therefore people used to
carry provisions in the second compartment.
Puja Items Needed
A coconut filled with Ghee
Two coconuts
Arecanut (Supari)
Betel leaf
Coins
Turmeric Powder
Sandal
Vibhuthi (Sacred Ash)
Rose Water
Rice
Avil (Beaten rice)
Malar (Puffed rice)
Jaggery or Small banana
Kalkandam (Sugar Candy)
Agarbathis
Camphor
Pepper (For Vavar)
Small bottle of honey (optional)
Dry grape (optional)
Towels (for personal use)
While buying the bag, make sure that it has enough space and can hold the puja items.
The ‘kettunira’ ceremony is done on the day of the pilgrimage. It is conducted usually in one’s own home or at a nearby temple.
How to prepare the ghee-filled coconut?
Take
a small or medium sized ripe coconut. Polish the shell. Pierce a hole
through anyone of the eye of the coconut. Drain the water and leave it
to dry. (This should be done a few hours before the kettunira ceremony)
After
praying to Lord Ganesha and to Ayyappa, it is time to fill the ‘mudra’
coconut with ghee. This ghee-filled coconut is the main offering to Lord
Ayyappa.
This
should be done by the devotee visiting the shrine by chanting ‘Swami
Sharanam.’ After completely filling the coconut with fresh ghee, the
opening of the coconut is corked and sealed using wax or other seals.
Filling the Front portion of the Bag
- Rice
is taken with both hands and is dropped into the front compartment of
the Irumudi. This is done three times. Some devotees put the first rice
along with a betel leaf. Family members can also fill rice in the front
portion.
- The ghee-filled coconut is then placed on top of the rice in the front compartment.
- Coins, money, betel leaves and arecanut are also placed on top of the rice.
- Other
puja articles are separately wrapped and placed in the compartment this
include – camphor, incense sticks, rose water, jaggery, sandal paste,
vibhuthi.
Filling the Rear portion of the Bag
- Two
coconuts – one for breaking at the time of climbing the sacred 18 steps
and another for breaking while coming out of the shrine.
- Malar, avil, turmeric powder, and kumkum are separately packed and kept for Malikappurathamma in the rear portion.
- Pepper is taken in this compartment of Vavar Swami.
If
you want to fill the rear portion of the bag with personal items then
these above mentioned puja items too can be filled in the front portion.
Once
the Irumudi is filled, it symbolically represents the deity and it is
held reverentially and is not kept on the ground. Usually it is placed
on a sheet or wollen rug. If the journey is for more than one day, Pujas
are done in the morning and evening on the Irumudi. While walking, the
Irumudi is balanced on the head.
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