Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa
Sabarimala Darshan during Mandalapooja or Makarasankranti is a religious tradition followed in the family from generations. Rituals strictly adhered in the family for Sabarimala Pilgrimage are as follows:
- Mandala Vratham observed for 41 days – Family memebers planning to go to Sabarimala, seekblessings of parents, Guruswami (the devotee who had pilgrimage for more than 18 years) and family deity before taking the vratham. On the first day of Malayalam month Vrishchikam, endured with the guidance of a Guruswami in the family, devotee adorns tulsi bead mala (neck chain) at the family temple. During these days, ayyappas take bath in the morning and evening, eat only Satvic vegetarian food, maintain celibacy, refrain from cutting hair, shaving beard and clipping nail, and try to maintain comforts to a minimum.
- Ayyappa pooja , Bhajans by family members , Sastham Pattu (devotional songs / stories from birth to manifestations of Lord Ayyappa) are performed either at Aryaveedu tharavadu or at Kuttanappilly tharavadu or at one of the family member’s house followed by Annadanam.
- Kettunira , preparation of Irumudi Kettu (two pouched cloth bag carrying offerings to the lord) at family temple.
- Sabarimala Darshan on the 41st day of Mandalavilakku, or at times on Makaravilku (month of January).
After taking penance for 41 days and by carrying the Irumudi Kettu, the ayyappas from the family climb the pathinettampadi (by keeping the right leg first) and have the Sabarimala Darshan.
Ayyappa Pooja Rituals
- Before sunset, a nilavilakku (Kerala Copper / Bronze Lamp) is lighted to initiate the Ayyappa Pooja.
- Pooja is for Ganapati (Ganapati Vilakku), Ayyappan (Peedam or a photo), and Guru (Vilakku). For Shastham pattu apart from the above Maalikapuram (peedam or photo), Kadutha (peedam), Vavar (peedam), Murugan, Thalapparamala are also adored.
- Paddy, rice & a coconut are kept on top of banana leaves. This is considered as the seat / peedam for the deities.
- The Guruswami performs the pooja, naivedyam, and offers flowers / pushpanjali (Lotus, Tulsi, & Chethi) followed by Deeparadhana. Naivedyam consisting of aval, malar, sharkara, kadhali pazham (small banana), elaneer (tender coconut), karimbe (small pieces of sugar cane) & thirumathuram (mix of kadhali pazham, honey & kalkandam),
- Deeparadhana / aarti is performed with deepam (Kodivilakku), camphor (karpooram) in a plate (copper / bronze thattam) with 72 cotton wicks (thiri) drenched / soaked in ghee.
Sastham Pattu, also known as Vilakkum Pattu or Ayyappa Pattu
Sastham pattu is also started along with Ayyappa pooja. In olden days, when Sastham pattu is conducted, all the family members & the ayyappas in the nearby area attend it. No need to invite anyone, they come & attend and it was considered as a privilege & blessings. They also join the bhajans and singing of Sastham pattu accompanied by udukku.
Sastham pattu culminates in “Ethirelpu” (welcoming of Deities). The deities are instated on a coconut placed on peeda created by placing banana leaf, paddy, & rice. During the Ethirelpu (which normally happens by mid night), devotees perform dance called “Nritha / Thullal” depicting the Gods “Lord Ayyappa, Maalikapuram, Kadutha and Vavar”. Annadanam starts during the course of the singing and after the initial pooja. .
Oracles (mediator between the God and devotees) carry Chooral (cane), round head sword and will adorn aramani (traditional waist belt with bells), chilambu (special shaped anklets filled with small bells) depicting Ayyappa Swami, and Maalikapuram. Depicting Kadutha and Vavar, they will carry “adakka poonkula” (arecanut tree flower). Procession begins from the nearby place created as a temple which is represented by a “vazhakkula” (Plantain with fruit) and proceeds towards the pooja mandap. After reaching the venue, these oracles place the swords, chilambu & Chooral infront of the peedam in mandap and Guruswami performs the rituals at the venue and procession moves back to the Ayyappa pooja mandap.
After reaching the mandap, Guruswami performs Azhi pooja by preparing the azhi (fire pit). Ayyappas & udukkai pattu singers will sing and go around the azhi. They offer paddy & rice to God Agni. Ayyappas will walk over these hot ambers, few take it in hand and few throw it over their body. The devotion was deep rooted to such extend, that they believed no one gets burnt. Oracles perform thullal before the deities and the tempo of the thullal increases by end of pooja. They give blessings to ayyappas & family members. Ancestors had enormous respect for these oracles when they are in trance and heed to their words. Guruswami completes the pooja before sunrise, around 4 am.
Sastham pattu got discontinued after the demise of Krishnan Panicker. In 2019, Sastham pattu was conducted in the family after a very long gap. All the above mentioned steps need not be strictly followed in Sasthampattu. It can be considered as done with annadhanam or when the procession ends.
During these days Sastham Pattu is not so popular and family members perform Bajans on Saturdays.
Kettunira at Tharavadu Temple
Kettunira ritual is performed two or three days prior to Sabarimala Piligrimage. Guruswami will perceive over the kettunira & guide the ayyappas in preparing the Irumudi Kettu. It is done in front of the Panchamoorthi shrine. Bhajans are sung by the families during the Kettunira.
In one pouch of the “Irumudi”, offering for the Lord such as emptied dry coconuts filled with Pure Ghee, Rice, Jaggary, Aval (flattened rice), Malar (Puffed rice), Kalkanda (Rock Candy), Raisins, Coconut, Banana, Betel leaves, Arcanut, Coin, and other pooja items like Incense sticks, Camphor, Sandal powder, Vibhuthi, Vermilion etc. The ayyappas under the guidance of Guruswami make a hole for one of the coconut pore and fills Ghee through the holed pore. This pouch is offerings alone.
In the other pouch, the food and clothes for the devotee are filled. It is filled with rice, coconut, new dhoti, aval, and rice balls. It is taken during the pilgrimage for the sustenance.
After Kettunira, ayyappas stay at the temple ootupura that night & by early morning on 39th day leave for Sabarimala in a bus arranged by the families.
Earlier kettunira was performed in the morning at Veliyathara house presided by Narayana Panicker, or at Appukutta Panicker’s house and in the evening at the family temple of Kuttanappilly tharavadu. Next day at Njettayil Padmanabha Menon’s house or sometimes at Mangalakuzhi Gopala Menon’s house. In the evening these ayyappas from all these families carrying the Irumudi Kettu will come walking as a procession for the finale at Aryaveedu tharavadu. Kettunira & bhajan is conducted at the Aryaveedu temple followed by annadhanam at the temple ootupura. It is a big event for the tharavadu.
During these days only members from Aryaveedu & Kuttanappilly families goes together.
Sabarimala Pilgrimage
At Erumeli, they offer “Petta thullal” depicting the “Mahishi Nigraham” and offer prayers to Vavar swami and Sastha temple.
After pettathullal the group proceeds to Pamba where they stays for a day. After taking holy dip in the river, on the shore of the river, Ayyappas performs the “Shraadha Bali” to the souls of departed family members. They worship Lord Ganesha, Nagaraja, Parvathi Devi, Aadimoola Ganapathi, Lord Hanuman and Lord Rama at Pamba.
By midnight , the group starts from Pamba , carrying the Irumudi Kettu on their head, climbs the Neeli hill and Sabari hill to reach Sannidhanam, the abode of Lord Ayyappa and performs darshan on the 41st day.
During the trekking devotees pass through “Appachi Medu” and “Sabaripeedam”, where Sabari got Sri Rama Darshan and also “Sharamkuthi Aal” where the arrow of Ayyappa fell showing the Pandala Raja the place for construction of the shrine. The remanence of “Petta thulllal” i.e. arrow, etc. are offered there. Ancestors used to take the long route in the early days.
On reaching the shrine at Sabarimala, our ayyappas take Darshan and offer to Lord the items carried in the Irumudi. Ghee from coconut is taken out by breaking it and taken in a container to temple and other offerings are also segregated and taken in separate utensils. Sabarimala Tanthri performs Ghee Abhishekam and a part of it is brought back home in Irumudi. They perform Darshan at other shrines at Maalikapuram, Nagaraja, Thalapparamala, Karuppa Swami & Kadutha Swami.
There is yet another offering called “Padikkal”. The foresters using their special drum sings devotionals to ward to evil spirits and bad omens from devotees.
After the Darshan, on 41st day, the pilgrimage reaches culmination point and our ayyappas return home. Thereafter the tulasi mala is taken off before the panchamoorthi shrine.
