The Religious Mandala Pooja of Sabarimala

Sabarimala is an important pilgrimage centre, which is located in the north eastern part of Pathanamthitta, amid the untouched forest of Western Ghats. This holy mountain temple is situated at a distance of about 72 km to the northeast of Pathanamthitta district. The pilgrim season at this place initiate form the month of November and lasts till the mid of January.

The landscape surrounding this temple comprises of endless forests, captivating rivers and lush green plantations. A sacred descends from Sabarimala, named Pamba River, which has been formed by the union of five smaller rivers.

 The temple is located at a height of about 914 m above sea level and is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa who is believed to have been born from Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva, the destroyer. The festivals celebrated in this temple are Mandala Pooja, the Makara vilakku and the Vishnu vilakku.

Mandala Pooja

Mandala Pooja is celebrated for a long period of about 41 days that initiates form the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrishchikam or November to December and peaks on the eleventh day of Dhanu or December to January. No women who falls in the fertility age group is allowed to go beyond Pamba. 

Devotees carry out painstaking penance, ritual vows and fasting for 41 days during the festival, before visiting the temple. Thousands of devotees, irrespective of caste, creed and color, from different parts of the country, climb up the 18 sacred steps that lead to temple, for a glimpse of Lord Ayyappa. According to the tradition, those visiting the Sabarimala temple should also visit the Guruvayur temple. The chief day of this festival is the 41^st day, after the 1^st of Vrichikam.

Rituals and Traditions

The Vrutham or austerities performed by the devotees during the festival is the important aspect of Mandal Pooja. The austerities prescribed for the festival are quite tough for the devotees who wish to take pilgrimage at the temple on the day of Mandala Pooja or on the auspicious day of Makara Sankranti.

The 41 days of Vruthum should be lead on a simple and pious way by the devotees. The Vruthum commences after the Tulasi or Rudraksha Mala with a locket of Lord Ayyappa, is worn by the devotees, till he visits the Sabarimala temple and removes the Mala.  Till the pilgrimage is completed with the initiation of Vruthum, the devotee is called 'Ayyappan' or 'Swami'. During this period, devotees should keep their mind and body clean and pure and must not get indulged in worldly pleasures. 

It is believed among the devotees that if they follow the austerities properly, it will help them in cleansing their soul and body. Women between the age of 1-9 and 50 above allowed to follow Vruthum and are called 'Malikapuram', which means the ‘The Shakti of Lord Ayyappa’.

Celebrations at Guruvayur

Special ceremonies are also organized at Guruvayur temple during this festival. Over here, panchagavya is held every day during the festival. Panchagavya is made with mixture of five products, namely cow’s milk, curd, ghee, urine and cow dung. 

It is believed to have cleansing properties. During the Mandalam period, besides the renowned Guruvayur Ekadasi festival, other activities are also performed in the temple like the installation day of Melpathur statue, Narayaneeyam day and Kuchela day.

How to Reach

By Road: Transportation facility to this temple is only available till Pamba, which is around 66 km from Pathanamthitta. From there, pilgrims have to trek to the holy shrine.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to this temple is Chengannur, located at a distance of about 28 km from Pathanamthitta.

By Air: The nearest airports to this temple are Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, which is about 119 km from Pathanamthitta and Cochin International Airport, which is about 133 km from Pathanamthitta.