Layman Lessons From My Sabarimala Visit
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My self in Deeksha Attire. This is on the day I started the Journey for Sabarimala - with Irumudi |
In India , especially in Andhra - we have tradition of "Mokku" or "Religious Vow" wherein we promise to God that if we achieve something or we overcome a difficulty, we will visit his temple , do free offering, do particular ritual, do Pooja etc. It was my class 10th and my mother took a Vow for me , that if I successfully clear my 10th class examination , I will take Ayyappa Deeksha or Vrutham. It was in 1999. Ayyappa Deeksha is for 41 days generally. Given my general laid back attitude and tendency to avoid any discomfort , I hadn't fulfilled the Vow for long. So after a long time in 2023 December, I finally took the Piligrimage to Lord Ayyapa at Sabarimala. I excused my self and instead of 41 days , I took the diksha for a shorter time.
As my First book, Layman Lessons From Simple Tales and Fables is now published for almost an year - now I see Layman Lessons in all . So this article is about the Layman Lessons from My Sabarimala Piligrimage.
Sabarimala Ayyappa is one of the most revered Hindu deities in South India. He is also known as Dharmasasta, Hariharaputra, and Hariharasuthan. Ayyappa is the son of Lord Vishnu as Mohini, and Lord Shiva. He is worshiped as the guardian of the forests and mountains.
The exact origin of Ayyappa origin is not clear (atleasy to me). His name doesn't find mention in earlier puranas. However, Sabarimala Ayyappa is believed to have been born in the 8th century AD according to some legends. Some believe he is still much older. He is said to have lived in the forests of Sabarimala in Kerala. Ayyappa is a celibate deity and is worshipped by people of all castes and creeds. Lord Ayyapa is considered as an incarnation of Dharma Shasta. Given the remote location ,
The Sabarimala temple is located in the Pattanamitta hills in Kerala. The temple is open only for 41 days during the Mandalam season, which starts in November and ends in January. During this time, millions of devotees from all over India and the world visit the temple to worship Ayyappa.
Sabarimala Ayyappa is a symbol of strength, courage, and devotion. He is a protector of the weak and the oppressed. He is also a symbol of unity and harmony. Many begin preparations 41 days in advance by leading a simple life, doing yoga, abstaining from sex, eating a vegetarian diet or partially fasting, wearing black or blue or sadhu-style dress for forty one days, then trekking as a group to the shrine.
These 41 days of rituals are termed as Vrutham and before beginning the vrutham, one must have to wear a tulsimala or rudrakshamala.The group does not recognize any form of social or economic discrimination such as caste, and all devotees form a fraternity welcoming each other as equals.The pilgrims call each other by the same name during the trek: swami. In Andhra Pradesh, we wear Black clothes for all the deeksha days. After completing the deeksha, we go to Guruswami (the head or person who had taken the deeksha more than six or ten times) in a temple and take Irumudi means two bags tied together. The Irumudi has Coconut filled with Ghee in one bag and Rice in the another bag. My colleague who was with me told that the Cocounut signifies Lord Shiva (three eyes ) and Ghee represents Lord Vishnu. As Ayyappa is both Shiva and Vishnu Tatvas combined the coconut filled with Ghee signifies Lord Ayyappa. Devotees consider the Irumudi as Lord Ayyappa and shall be given due reverence. Some of the devotees will keep the irumudi on their head all along the trekking.
After their long walk covering about 40 kms, they bathe in the Pamba river, then they climb 18 steps at the Sabarimala shrine, each representing a dharmic value (ethics, or interiorized gods). The shrine priests and devotees bring flowers from all over the Western Ghats and scatter them near the shrine, all the while chanting shlokas. Now a days the trek route is short from Pamba river - may be 6 to 7 kms.
My Journey
I went to the temple as a group of 4. All our team mates were working under me earlier and the feeling of
bossism was full in me till the start of trip. Our team members arranged stay , travel plan etc. for me without any effort from my side. I was under
the opinion that I am a special devotee and Lord Ayyapa sent them to help me (A sort of arrogance 
). There is a reason for such thinking
also. One of my colleagues came to me for some office work. During discussions he told that he is proceeding to Sabarimala 20 days later. I also told
that I am also planning to go Sabarimala from years. Immediately he had offered al the help. As the day arrived, we got down at Chengannur
Railway station, Stayed at a Guest house for one hour to get freshened up.
That was 11th December, 2023. There were News all around that there is huge crowd at sabarimala. It is taking more than 16 hours for darshan. As it was my first visit to Sabarimala , I have all reasons to get upset. I started praying inside that God will take care of my visit as I am someone special. Nevertheless ,we took State Transport bus. The bus travelled well for a good part of the Journey. However there was a huge traffic Jam as we neared the Pamba river. For a distance of 80 kms , it took almost 5 to 6 hours. I then thought that Lord Ayyappa is with me.
As around 2pm in the afternoon , we reached the Pamba river. We took a quick bath to start our journey. The journey is by bare foot on a steep slope. We started our ascent. Initial Kms were fine but as we are moving further, body started giving up. As we dragged our bodies, I felt like feeling weak. But as i can see small kids and old ladies easily climbing the hill, I have no reasone except to drag on. I see it more of testing of Endurance and fitness.
I understood that I have got habituated to comfort and any slight effort throws the mind in jeopardy.
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Gathering the Strength to Move On |
Typical Crowd at Sabarimala Temple during Peak season (Wiki) |
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Sea of Devotess Standing in the Queue |
Our Group |
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Tatvam Asi on Sabarimala Temple |
As we kept moving, we have to stop at many places at barricades so as to manage the crowd. Then during journey something stuck to me. All are equal. This may be just testifying - Tat Tvam Asi which is written on the Sabrimala Temple. Which I feel Means - "This is That" or "I am That". Tat Tvam Asi unites the macrocosmic ideas of God and universal consciousness with the microcosmic individual expression of the Self. Understanding this, individuals recognize one another as part of the same whole.
I am as equal devotee as any one else of thousands moving with me. I am no one special. If I am special , others are also special.
There is no system of VIP queue or special darshan queue and most of Devotees have to follow the same path. Atleast it erradicates the sense of superiority to some extent.
The trek is moderately difficult for an average individual. Some of the devotees may be taking the piligrimage for fulfilling their mokku, may be asking God for some favour or may be just to visit the Lord Ayyappa out of Devotion. There are Kids and Old Ladies in good numbers. There are people who have Restricted motion, but still taking the Journey.
The small trek made me to reliaze the importance of General fitness and endurance.
I found walking bare foot as more comfortable during the deeksha time. However the slightly sharp gravel on the return road is difficult to walk upon.
The Climbing of 18 steps in front of the Main Sanctum sanctorum is considered as the culmination of the pilgrimage. Passage through these 18 steps take time. We could reach to the 18 steps by night 11 PM. But at 11 PM, the Sanctum Sanctorum gets closed. So we were able to climb the steps but couldn't had the darshan.
So we left for staying in the Temple rooms which we had booked. We took rest for few hours and visited the Lord Ayyappa in the morning.
By 08:00 AM we had good drashan. Completing the darshan was like an achievement. But it is only me everday almost 60k to 1 lakh devotees are completing the task. So it again proved me that I am no special. One of our collegues visited for Ghee Abhishekam of the Lord.
After having breaskfast we had started our return journey. As we reached Pamba , we can see huge crowd , more than what we had seen day before. All seems to be clueless how to handle. The crowd was so immense that it can result in stampade. Many Piligrims were even being sent back.
There is a need for proper co-ordinated approach by different wings of State Government and Temple Board. There is a need to use more digital information boards, better announcement system, queue complexes etc.
We could get a State Bus to our Station Chengannur for return Journey.
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With My Family Members |
It is not just the Pilgirmage that is enlighting , even the days of deeksha were also. All the family members treat you as a representation of Swami Ayyapa. My wife also followed the same practices as me - Walking bare foot, sleeping on floor, abstenance, eating fewer meals, doing pooja twice a day etc. It is spiritually enriching.
It makes you to re-evaluate life.
It makes you to reliaze that life is not about sense gratification but for a bigger purpose.
It gives you a pause to take a back seat and see your life up closer.
Performing daily pooja gives you, your family and your home positive vibes.
You inculcate an habit of discipline.
You can get confidence of controlling your senses.
It provides harmony.
It makes you to understand the world around.