Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is one of the most ancient and prominent Sastha temples in the country. Located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is one of the few Hindu temples in India that is open to all faiths. The shrine of Sabarimala is one of the most remote shrines in southern India yet it still draws three to four million pilgrims each year. Surrounded by mountains and dense forest Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Ayyappan meditated. Perhaps the best known pilgrimage destination in Kerala is Sabarimala. Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha Temples. It is believed that "Parasurama Maharshi" who retrieved Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe, installed the idol of Ayyappa at Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa.The pilgrimage begins in the month of November and ends in January. The temple attracts pilgrims not only from the southern states of India, but also from other parts of the country and abroad. The shrine gets thronged with devotees especially during the main pilgrim season from November to January. Mandala pooja (December12,2011) and Makaravilakku(Jan.15th,2012) are the two main events of the pilgrim season. The temple stays closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam month and during Vishu (April).
Certain customs are to be strictly observed if one has to undertake a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. A pilgrim attending the Mandalapooja should observe austerities for 41 days. During this period, the pilgrim should abstain himself from non vegetarian food and carnal pleasures. Pilgrims set out in groups under a leader, and each carry a cloth bundle called Irumudi kettu containing traditional offerings. Unlike certain Hindu temples, Sabarimala temple has no restrictions of caste or creed. The temple is open to males of all age groups and to women who have either passed their fertility age and those before reaching the stage of puberty. The easiest route is via Chalakkayam, by which one can reach the banks of the river Pamba by vehicle. Pamba is the main halting point on the way to Sabarimala. From here one has to trek 4 to 5 kms to reach the temple.
There is a number of other pilgrimage centers related to Sabarimala. Most of them are in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. Pathanamthitta is famous for its temples and corresponding fairs and festivals. Churches, temples and mosques exist side by side here with little friction.
Nilackal Mahadevar Temple : is one of the sacred spots for Hindu pilgrims to Sabarimala. Lord Shiva is the deity of Nilackal Mahadevar Temple is situated at Nilakkal, which is 5 km from Plappally on the Pamba-Pathanamthitta Road. Nilackal is 150 km away from Thiruvananthapuram. Nilackal Mahadevar Temple is an intermediate halting area on the route ot Sabarimala, Vehicle parking facilities are there.
Erumeli Sastha Temple : presiding deity is Lord Ayyapa, located at a distance of 38 km from Kottayam, which is resered by both Hindus and Muslims. This place is home to Vavar, a muslim friend and commander of Manikanda.
erumeli vavar palliWhich is very rare place where the hindu muslim keeps unity on their worship in India. Erumeli is an important meeting place for the pilgrims to Sabarimala, so its called as Kochambalam. There is a mosque- Vavar Palli, located very near to the temple. The famous ceremony of Petta Thullal during the annual pilgrimage is a unique feature of this place. Belives that it is against the traditional dogmas where Pilgrimage going to Sabarimala without Pettathullal and worshiping at Sastha temple and mosque- Vavaru palli.
pandalam ayyappa templePandalam Valiyakoyickal Temple : According to the history, the King of Pandalam Rajashekaran, found a baby(Ayyappan) lying in the banks of river pamba. As the King had no childrens, the child was considered as a god-given gift and named Ayyappa. So the baby Ayyappa was brought up as a prince. So Sree Dharma Sastha of Pandalam Valiyakoyickal temple is Dharma Deva to the king of pandalam. One of the major events associated with the Makaravilakku festival is the procession of the Thiruvabharam (holy ornaments) of Lord Ayyappa from this temple. Chengannur is the nearest town and the railway station 12 Km away.
kulathupuzha sastha templeKulathupuzha Sastha Temple : is very ancient, the idol at Kulathupuzha is called “Manikantan”. It is believed that the Temple was constructed by the Rajasekara, King of Pandalam. But the idol was discovered by a Brahmin from Kottarakkara after several years and he started pooja there. The King of Kottarakkara heared about this and the constructed the present temple. Feeding to the fishes in the nearby river is an important vazhipadu in the Temple.
achankoil sastha templeAchankoil Sastha Temple : It is also known as Arachan, the temple is a sacred place of worship where pilgrims from Kerala and Tamilnadu come in group by group through out the year. According to legends the God gave “Darshan” to a worshipper who entered into a long term panance at Kandamala where the temple situated. The main festivals season, here comes during Mandalampooja. The nearest town and railway station is Chenkotta of Tamilnadu.
ariyankavu dharma sastha templeAryankavu Sastha Temple : The history behind the Ayyappa of Aryankavu is similar to that of Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha. The only difference between the two are that Sastha was brough up by the Pandi Raja of Madura and not the King of Pandalam. The temple is constructed about 35 feet below the road level. There is a beautiful waterfall known as “Palaruvi” in the dense forest area about 2 kilometres away from the temple premises. It is also believed that Ayyappa had relationship with Sourashtrans during his life at the palace of Raja of Madura. Even now Sourashtrans reach here in groups during the time of Mandalapooja. The temple situated 86 Kms away from Trivnadrum.
Nearby Tourist Destinations
Munnar , Thekkady, Thommankuthu waterfalls, Kumarakom, Cochin (Kochi), Madurai, Coimbatore, Kodaikanal.
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