Date : 20,21,22 December 2012
Venue : Sabari Malai
Venue : Sabari Malai
It's the second time I am putting the Maalai, but going to Sabari Malai for the first time. Yes, first time, I couldn't make it due to some unavoidable circumstances.
This time, my Sabari Malai journey started on 8th December 2012, the day I have put the maalai. Since we have planned to leave for Sabari Malai on 20th December 2012, I thought of wearing maalai at least for 12 days. The same day Pratheep and Dinesh came from Chennai. And we have been tripping here and there for two days. Then my routine life wearing maalai continues. To be frank, I didn't follow strict diet and practices during this period. I was taking bath twice a day and going to temple daily. Last one week, I was skipping the night dinner as well.
Finally, the day has come for my first SabariMala trip. December 20th, my brother had IBM interview, so I went to leave him in the interview venue in the morning. It's a busy morning. By the time, I came back Bala and Sakthi were there in my home. And we have booked to tie the Irumudi by 10:30AM. So packed things soon and started our journey.
First we purchased the necessary things for the pooja and a bag for the travel. We approached the counter for Irumudi and we were taken to the place where Irumudi will be done. Since it was 10:30 already, there is no crowd at all and we were the only 3 to tie Irumudi at that time. The Namboodari got all the items for Irumudi, done the rituals and kept the Irumudi on our heads. That was really a wonderful experience. That far, I have seen only other swami's chanting the divine ayyappa slogans, and that's the moment I did for the first time in my life. Our Irumudi rituals are done. We are not supposed to leave any other place other than Sabarimala after tieing Irumudi. So we stayed in the temple itself, since our train was only in the evening. We have been talking, sort of playing, fighting in the temple itself. Fortunately, there was a elephant in the temple that day. It became our time pass till we leave. I really wondered on that Mamooth, because it was eating continuously right from the time we see it to the time we leave the temple.Then we took the afternoon Meal in annadanam itself in the temple and waited for some more time before we start our journey. And finally the time arrived.
It was around 4:00PM, we left the temple. We took a bus to City junction, but as it happens normally we were getting late due to Bangalore traffic. So we decided to get down in Malleshwaram and get an auto to Cantonment. Finally, we reached Cantonment station much before the train was there. It was a different experience of walking bare foot in the city places, tieing a dhoti around my waist. That's as different experience. At last, the train had arrived and we started our journey towards Swamy Ayyappa..
Fortunately, the train we were travelling goes via my hometown Erode. And since, that was my first Sabarimala experience, my parents are also bit excited. They wished to see me atleast in the Erode station. The train reached Erode station around 11:00PM. I remember the moment, my Mom and Dad came running on the platform to see me before the train leaves. I am lucky enough to receive their blessings as well on my journey. The train reached Ernakulam Station around 4:30PM. From there we need to go Kottayam (only from there we get direct buses to Erimeli and Sabarimala). So we got another train from Ernakulam and reached Kottayam around 7AM. Just outside the station, we got a direct bus to Erimeli and our Journey continued..
On the way, we had some breakfast and reached Erimeli at around 10AM. There is a ritual to go to "Pettai Sastha" temple and a "Vaavar Sanithi"(Ayyapa's friends) in Erimeli before going to Sabari Malai. Another interesting thing in Erimeli is, you need to perform the ritual in a tribal gesture. There are shops who will get you to the tribal form and the band sets will be available for you to dance. This ritual is called "Pettai Thullal". Pettai Thullal ends in "Pettai Sastha" temple and that completes the rituals in Erumeli. Then we started our journey to Sabarimala..
It took around 2 hours to reach Pampa from Erumeli. It's around 2PM we reached Pampa, we had a quick bath in Pampa, the sacred river (Panthala Raja found Ayyappa as a baby in the banks of this river only). Then we started our journey towards Ayyapa. It took around 2 hours to climb the hill. And really, that was an wonderful experience though it was not a easy journey. All the way, we were hearing chants of Ayyappa devottees.. We reached the hill top around 5PM. Since, we had the virtual Q passes, we din't wait much.. We are directly allowed to the queue before the Padinettu Padi (18 golden steps). We waited there for 10 mins and I felt the real rush there for that 10 mins.. Sakthi was asking me to go in the centre of the steps, so that I can touch all the steps.. Otherwise, the temple staffs will pull us off in a hurry.. I followed sakthi and able to touch all the divine steps.. And now we are in "Sastha Temple", our destination.
Luckily, we don't had any rush at that time inside the temple.. We just encircled the path around the temple, and finally had a full and divine view of Swamy Ayyapa.. It was a small dark place, with Ayyappa's idol in the centre and lit by the lamps.. That view was extremely beautiful and really refreshing.. We didn't felt the tiredness of climbing the mountain at all. And then we came beside the temple.. As I am going for the first time, I need to tie a bell (which we bring from Erumeli) in the temple.. I felt a kind of frustration at that moment.. Seems it is good to have a bell tied by the first time goers in home.. So I was about to tie the bell, a big crowd surrounded and trying to snatch the bell from me.. I was saying them, that I will tie it first and then they can take it.. But they didn't let me at all.. Finally I didn't tie the bell at all.. I just left it to them.. I don't know what that brings to them grabbing it from me in such a harsh manner..Then we completed visiting the "Manja maatha" temple beneath the sannidanam and visited other small temples around..
We left to a place known to Bala for staying that night.. Finally we managed to get a place.. We went there, rested for some time and unpacked our Irumudi and took the ghee for abhishekam (we need to give it).. Bala gave it to somebody to get that done.. After 7PM, we had the "Annadanam" in that place itself and came out for a walk.. We visited the shops and hotels around for some time.. And it was around 8PM, we thought of going to sannidanam again.. We went for it, and this time, it was bit crowded and we were waiting around 30 mins to see Swamy Ayyappa.. This time, Bala asked me to come in the last lane, so that we can sit in the peedam opposite to the Sannidanam for sometime.. And luckily we could manage to sit there for some time.. And the closing time came, and felt the real rush then.. I was literally out of my control.. and the rush was moving me.. And somehow, we managed to see the glimpse of Swamy Ayyappa for the third time that day, before the temple is closed.. The temple is closed, and Harivarasanam was sung for the day to make Ayyappa sleep.. Finally, we purchased the aravana appam and payasam and had some prasadam there and went to sleep..
Next day morning, we got the "Abhishega" ghee as well..Then we thought we will start early, so that we can catch our train in the evening from Ernakulam.. We just came around the temple again and started our journey down.. We got down around 12PM to Pampa. Luckily, we got a direct bus to Ernakulam from there.. It was around 4 hours of Journey to Ernakulam.. Finally, we reached Ernakulam Junction around 4PM. And we had a bath in the waiting room there itself and got ourself refreshed.. We had some hot tea while we were waiting for the train..
The train came on time, but it was full rush.. Though, we had reserved tickets, we came sitting all the way.. It's a good train journey after a good divine trip. Me and Sakthi got down in Erode Junction, and Bala headed way back to Bangalore.. Sakthi got the bus to his hometown outside the stations and I took an auto to reach my home nearby.. I reached home around 1PM.. And since its the first time, the mother did some rituals and got me in.. I ended the last day of lying down that night.. And the next morning, i went to the near by Ganesha temple early in the morning and got the malai removed.. And that ends my first divine Sabarimala trip..
Overall, it was a good trip with a different feel and refreshing experience..
Swamiyae Saranam Ayyappa.. Swamiyae Saranam Ayyappa..
Finally, the day has come for my first SabariMala trip. December 20th, my brother had IBM interview, so I went to leave him in the interview venue in the morning. It's a busy morning. By the time, I came back Bala and Sakthi were there in my home. And we have booked to tie the Irumudi by 10:30AM. So packed things soon and started our journey.
First we purchased the necessary things for the pooja and a bag for the travel. We approached the counter for Irumudi and we were taken to the place where Irumudi will be done. Since it was 10:30 already, there is no crowd at all and we were the only 3 to tie Irumudi at that time. The Namboodari got all the items for Irumudi, done the rituals and kept the Irumudi on our heads. That was really a wonderful experience. That far, I have seen only other swami's chanting the divine ayyappa slogans, and that's the moment I did for the first time in my life. Our Irumudi rituals are done. We are not supposed to leave any other place other than Sabarimala after tieing Irumudi. So we stayed in the temple itself, since our train was only in the evening. We have been talking, sort of playing, fighting in the temple itself. Fortunately, there was a elephant in the temple that day. It became our time pass till we leave. I really wondered on that Mamooth, because it was eating continuously right from the time we see it to the time we leave the temple.Then we took the afternoon Meal in annadanam itself in the temple and waited for some more time before we start our journey. And finally the time arrived.
It was around 4:00PM, we left the temple. We took a bus to City junction, but as it happens normally we were getting late due to Bangalore traffic. So we decided to get down in Malleshwaram and get an auto to Cantonment. Finally, we reached Cantonment station much before the train was there. It was a different experience of walking bare foot in the city places, tieing a dhoti around my waist. That's as different experience. At last, the train had arrived and we started our journey towards Swamy Ayyappa..
Fortunately, the train we were travelling goes via my hometown Erode. And since, that was my first Sabarimala experience, my parents are also bit excited. They wished to see me atleast in the Erode station. The train reached Erode station around 11:00PM. I remember the moment, my Mom and Dad came running on the platform to see me before the train leaves. I am lucky enough to receive their blessings as well on my journey. The train reached Ernakulam Station around 4:30PM. From there we need to go Kottayam (only from there we get direct buses to Erimeli and Sabarimala). So we got another train from Ernakulam and reached Kottayam around 7AM. Just outside the station, we got a direct bus to Erimeli and our Journey continued..
On the way, we had some breakfast and reached Erimeli at around 10AM. There is a ritual to go to "Pettai Sastha" temple and a "Vaavar Sanithi"(Ayyapa's friends) in Erimeli before going to Sabari Malai. Another interesting thing in Erimeli is, you need to perform the ritual in a tribal gesture. There are shops who will get you to the tribal form and the band sets will be available for you to dance. This ritual is called "Pettai Thullal". Pettai Thullal ends in "Pettai Sastha" temple and that completes the rituals in Erumeli. Then we started our journey to Sabarimala..
It took around 2 hours to reach Pampa from Erumeli. It's around 2PM we reached Pampa, we had a quick bath in Pampa, the sacred river (Panthala Raja found Ayyappa as a baby in the banks of this river only). Then we started our journey towards Ayyapa. It took around 2 hours to climb the hill. And really, that was an wonderful experience though it was not a easy journey. All the way, we were hearing chants of Ayyappa devottees.. We reached the hill top around 5PM. Since, we had the virtual Q passes, we din't wait much.. We are directly allowed to the queue before the Padinettu Padi (18 golden steps). We waited there for 10 mins and I felt the real rush there for that 10 mins.. Sakthi was asking me to go in the centre of the steps, so that I can touch all the steps.. Otherwise, the temple staffs will pull us off in a hurry.. I followed sakthi and able to touch all the divine steps.. And now we are in "Sastha Temple", our destination.
Luckily, we don't had any rush at that time inside the temple.. We just encircled the path around the temple, and finally had a full and divine view of Swamy Ayyapa.. It was a small dark place, with Ayyappa's idol in the centre and lit by the lamps.. That view was extremely beautiful and really refreshing.. We didn't felt the tiredness of climbing the mountain at all. And then we came beside the temple.. As I am going for the first time, I need to tie a bell (which we bring from Erumeli) in the temple.. I felt a kind of frustration at that moment.. Seems it is good to have a bell tied by the first time goers in home.. So I was about to tie the bell, a big crowd surrounded and trying to snatch the bell from me.. I was saying them, that I will tie it first and then they can take it.. But they didn't let me at all.. Finally I didn't tie the bell at all.. I just left it to them.. I don't know what that brings to them grabbing it from me in such a harsh manner..Then we completed visiting the "Manja maatha" temple beneath the sannidanam and visited other small temples around..
We left to a place known to Bala for staying that night.. Finally we managed to get a place.. We went there, rested for some time and unpacked our Irumudi and took the ghee for abhishekam (we need to give it).. Bala gave it to somebody to get that done.. After 7PM, we had the "Annadanam" in that place itself and came out for a walk.. We visited the shops and hotels around for some time.. And it was around 8PM, we thought of going to sannidanam again.. We went for it, and this time, it was bit crowded and we were waiting around 30 mins to see Swamy Ayyappa.. This time, Bala asked me to come in the last lane, so that we can sit in the peedam opposite to the Sannidanam for sometime.. And luckily we could manage to sit there for some time.. And the closing time came, and felt the real rush then.. I was literally out of my control.. and the rush was moving me.. And somehow, we managed to see the glimpse of Swamy Ayyappa for the third time that day, before the temple is closed.. The temple is closed, and Harivarasanam was sung for the day to make Ayyappa sleep.. Finally, we purchased the aravana appam and payasam and had some prasadam there and went to sleep..
Next day morning, we got the "Abhishega" ghee as well..Then we thought we will start early, so that we can catch our train in the evening from Ernakulam.. We just came around the temple again and started our journey down.. We got down around 12PM to Pampa. Luckily, we got a direct bus to Ernakulam from there.. It was around 4 hours of Journey to Ernakulam.. Finally, we reached Ernakulam Junction around 4PM. And we had a bath in the waiting room there itself and got ourself refreshed.. We had some hot tea while we were waiting for the train..
The train came on time, but it was full rush.. Though, we had reserved tickets, we came sitting all the way.. It's a good train journey after a good divine trip. Me and Sakthi got down in Erode Junction, and Bala headed way back to Bangalore.. Sakthi got the bus to his hometown outside the stations and I took an auto to reach my home nearby.. I reached home around 1PM.. And since its the first time, the mother did some rituals and got me in.. I ended the last day of lying down that night.. And the next morning, i went to the near by Ganesha temple early in the morning and got the malai removed.. And that ends my first divine Sabarimala trip..
Overall, it was a good trip with a different feel and refreshing experience..
Swamiyae Saranam Ayyappa.. Swamiyae Saranam Ayyappa..
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