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Sabarimala Makaravilakku: Padi Pooja, Darshan & Neyyabhishekam Updates

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The sacred Padi Pooja , one of the most important rituals of the Sabarimala Makaravilakku pilgrimage season , began on January 16 . The ritual is performed at the holy Pathinettam Padi (18 sacred steps) , which devotees ascend after observing strict vratham and penance to have darshan of Lord Ayyappa . Significance of Padi Pooja Padi Pooja is a deeply spiritual ritual that symbolizes purity, devotion, and surrender. During the ceremony, offerings such as flowers, silk garments, and lamps are placed at the sacred steps. The puja begins at 6.45 pm after Deeparadhana and lasts for nearly one hour. During this time, devotees are not allowed inside the temple. The ritual is performed by Thantri Kantarar Mahesh Mohan and Melshanthi E.D. Prasad Namboothiri . Neyyabhishekam Only Till January 18 As part of the Makaravilakku season rituals, Neyyabhishekam will be conducted only until January 18 . Devotees planning darshan are advised to complete their pilgrimage before this date. ...
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Eighteen steps of the sabarimala temple

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The 18 steps of sabarimala is believed to be the symbolic representation of the life,spirit and environment.It is believed to be based on following facts • It represent 18 purna and 18 upa purna of Hindu epics • It represent 18 chapters of Bhagavad geeta • It represent 18 thatuvam of human body and jivatma • It represent 18 glands of the body.As per the yoga sastra,Kundalini power reaches parabrahma after passing through all 18 glands • It represent 18 hills in the poonkavanam of Lord Ayyappa • It represents the 18 maladevatas • It represent 18  weapons of Lord Ayyappa The padi pooja,which is one of the most sacred rites of Sabarimala performed at all the steps.Piligrims with Erumudikettu are allowed to step in to thirumuttam through the 18 steps.
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How to do Irumudi kettu for Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple?

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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...
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Sabarimala 2014 – 2015 Opening and Closing dates and Temple Timings

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The Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala is open for darshan only during certain specific periods in a year. Below are the dates on which the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple will remain open during 2014 – 2015. The temple is open for monthly pujas for five days from the first of Malayalam month on all months in year. Other days when the temple is open are for Sabarimala Shrine festival, Vishu, Ayyappa Idol installation anniversary puja, Onam puja, Sri Chitira Attam Thirunnal, two months during the Mandalam Pooja season (November – December) and finally during the Makaravilakku Puja (January) season. Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Calendar 2014 – 2015 Sabariamala 2014 January 2014 at Sabarimala January 14, 2014  – Makaravilakku Puja Temple open on all days in January till January 20, 2014 Temple closes at night on January 20, 2014. February 2014 at Sabarimala February 12, 2014 to February 17, 2014  – Kumbha Masa Puja – Monthly Pu...
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Sabarimala Devaswom Board

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TDB was constituted under Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act of 1950, as the governing body of the temples in the Travancore region. It is an autonomous body comprising the President and two Members. As per an amendment of the Act in 2007, one of the members shall be a woman and the other belonging to a Scheduled Caste or Tribe. The woman member and the Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe member shall be nominated by the Hindus among the Council of Ministers and the other member shall be elected by the Hindus among the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Kerala. The term of the President as well as the members of the Board is two years Chief Commissioner: K. Jayakumar, IAS Members: TDB has a Secretariat with its headquarters at Nanthencode,Thiruvananthapuram. The major departments of the Board are : Devaswom Department. Devaswom Commissioner is the Chief Executive and Head of the Department Works Department, ...
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OPENING AND CLOSING DAYS OF SABARIMALA TEMPLE 2013

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SWAMY SARANAM     Opening 5.30pm Clossing 10.00pm 1 Mandalapooja Maholsavam(1188) 15/11/2012 26/12/2012 2 Makaravilakku Festival 30/12/2012 20/01/2013 7.00am 3 Makaravilakku day 14/01/2013   4 Monthly Pooja (Kumbham) 12/02/2013 17/02/2013 5 Monthly  Pooja (Meenam) 14/03/2013 19/03/2013 6 Ulsavam 17/03/2013 27/03/2013 7 Kodiyettu 18/03/2013   8 Painkuni Uthram & Arattu 27/03/2013   9 Medavishu Festival 09/04/2013 17/04/2013 10 Medavishu 14/04/2013   11 Monthly Pooja (Edavam) 14/05/2013 19/05/2013 12 Idol Installation Day 20/05/2013 21/05/2013 13 Monthly Pooja (Midhunam) 14/06/2013 19/06/2013 14 Monthly Pooja (Karkkidakam) 16/07/2013 21/07/2013 15 Monthly Pooja (Chingam) 16/08/2013 21/08/2013 16 Onam 14/09/2013 18/09/2013 17 Monthly Pooja (Kanni) 16/09/2013 21/09/2013 18 Monthly Pooja (Thulam) 16/10/2013 21/10/2013 19 Sree Chith...
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History of Makaravilakku-Makarajyothi

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There are different stories associated with makaravilakku-makarajyothi. One popular legend is that Ayyappa, after defeating the devil mahishasura, merged with the dharma shastha murti at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple on the Makarajyothi day. This makarajyothi is considered as the star that appears on the sky during puja but makaravilakku is a jyothi that appears at ponnambalameddu 3 times on makar sankranthi day usually after the evening puja.
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Makara Vilakku

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The most important festival at the Ayyapppa temple on Sabarimala is Makara Vilakku. It is a seven-day festival, beginning on the day of Makara Sankranthi, the day when the sun is in summer solstice. According to legend, the idol of Dharma Shastha was enshrined in the temple on this day. The annual festivities of Makara Vilakku commemorate this sacred event. The jewellery to adorn the idol during the celebrations is brought from Pandalam Palace in a ceremonial procession that starts from Valiya Koyikkal Sastha Temple at Pandalam, three days prior to Makara Sankranthi. The boxes containing the sacred jewels are borne by an oracle; the procession reaches Sabaripeettam in the evening on Makara Sankranthi and is led to the Sannidhanam to the accompaniment of lights and music. Incidentally, a kite appears in the sky at this very moment and hovers around the boxes, as if to safeguard the precious cache comprising a diamond diadem, gold bracelets and necklaces embedded with p...
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