- Special FeaturesFoundation YearSthala TreeTheerthamRathamArchitectureOther SpecialityAnother interesting fact is that more Hindus offer prayer at a mosque of Vavar believed to be a Muslim devotee of ayappan.
- Sthala Puran
The Sabarimala Temple (Malayalam: ശബരിമല) is a temple complex located at Sabarimala hill inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Perinad Village, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. The temple is dedicated to a Hindu Brahmachari (Celibate) deity Ayyappan also known as Dharma Shasta, who according to belief is the son of Shiva and Mohini, the feminine incarnation of Vishnu. . It is believed that the prince of the Pandalam dynasty, an avatar of Shasta, meditated at Sabarimala temple and became one with the divine. The place where the prince meditated is the Manimandapam.
As per tradition, the Shasta temple at Sabarimala is one of the five Shasta temples founded by Lord Parasurama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu.
In 1821, the kingdom of Pandalam was added to Travancore. 48 major temples including the Sabarimala temple were also added to Travancore.
The Sannidhanam (main temple) is built on a plateau about 40 feet high.
The shrine of Kannimoola Ganapathi prathishta is south-west to The Sreekovil of the Sannidhanam.
The temple of Maalikapurathamma, whose importance is almost on par with Lord Ayyappa, is located few yards from Sannidhanam. It is believed that Lord Ayyapan had specific instructions that he wanted Malikappurath Amma, on his left side.
It is believed that Maalikapurathamma worshipped is the daughter of Cheerappanchira panicker who taught Kalaripayattu to Lord Ayyappa. Lord Ayyappa stayed in Cheerappanchira for a long time and during his training, he fell in love with the daughter of his guru Cheerappanchira panicker called Subhadra(Poongudi). Some unknown tragedy happened to both of them and she is now worshipped as Malikapurathamma. Cheerappanchira, which is situated about 100km from Sabarimala holds many rights in Sabarimala. There is also a Mukkalvetti Ayyappa temple at Cheerappanchira hold 3/4 power of Lord Ayyappa and rest in Sabarimala.
The shrine of the Lord of snakes, Nagarajav is placed adjacent to the malikappuram temple. Pilgrims after the Darsan of Ayyappa and Kannimoola Ganapathi, make their darshan and give offerings to Nagarajav.
Manimandapam, is the place where Ayyappan Jeeva samadhi[Arya Kerala jeevasamadhi].
The Sabarimala temple complex include Pampa Ganapathi temple, Nilakal Mahadeva temple and Palliyara Bhagavathi temple. Ganapathi temple at Pampa has Pampa Maha Ganapathi and Athi Ganapathi (lit. old Ganapathy), sreekovil where the idol from the first Ganapathy temple is worshiped. Sabari Peedam has a temple of Rama and Hanuman also.
The temple is open for worship only during the days of Mandalapooja (approximately 15 November to 26 December), Makaravilakku or "Makara Sankranti" (14 January) and Maha Thirumal Sankranti (14 April), and the first five days of each Malayalam month.
- Architecture
- Alankar of Deity
- Prayers and BenefitsSpecial Vratas and PrayersOfferings to Deity
Devotees offer part of the broken coconut (Neythenga) to the fireplace (Azhi). Ganapathi homam is the main offering.
Stotras and Mantras
- FestivalsMandalam MakaravilakkuMakara Sankranti
- Sodasha Upcharas
- Prasadhas
- Social ActivitiesAnnadhanMarriageEar BoringHead ShaveDanaasEducation FacilitiesSocial DrivesOther Activities
- Arjita Seva