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Sabarimala - Swamiye Saranam
Ayyappa
The shrine of Sabrimala
dedicated to Lord Ayyappa who is believed to have been born from the union of
Lord Vishnu, the Preserver, and Lord Siva, the Destroyer. is one of the most
remote shrines in southern India and draws three to four million pilgrims each
year. Before beginning the multi-day walk through the mountain jungles to get to
Sabrimala, the pilgrims prepare themselves with 41 days of rigorous fasting,
celibacy, meditation and prayer. Finally arriving at the shrine, the pilgrims
will wait in line for hours, even days, to have one or two seconds in front of
the image of Ayappa. Millions of devotees, irrespective of caste, creed and
colour, from all over the country, climb the 18 sacred steps to the sanctum
sanctorum for a glimpse of Lord Ayyappa. After seeing the deity, large numbers
of pilgrims are so effected that they fall into mysterious trances which cause
them to bodily roll around the main shrine for some minutes. The shrine is only
opened a few times each year: the Mandalam festival covering 41 days from
November 15 to December 26; the Makaravilakku from January 1-14; on Vishu, the
day of the vernal equinox in April; and during smaller festivals in May/June and
August/September. The shrine, unlike many in southern India is open to persons
of all religious callings, and there are no caste restrictions during the
pilgrimage. However, women - unless they are younger than six or older than
sixty - are not allowed to come to Sabrimala.
Inaccessible by road or rail,
one has to trek a distance of 4 km to reach the shrine. Transportation is
available only upto Pamba, which is 66 km from Pathanamthitta.
Nearest railway station: Chengannur, about 28 km from Pathanamthitta
Nearest airports: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 119
km from Pathanamthitta; Cochin International Airport, about 133 km from
Pathanamthitta
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