AUSTERITIES (VRATHA RULES)
The Vratham or Vratha for visiting Sabarimala Ayyappa Sannidhanam or Swamy Ayyappa Temple starts on the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrichikam (this year on 17th November 2014) and culminates on Mandala Pooja Day (27th December 2014) or Makara Sankranti day (14th January 2015). On observing this Sabarimala Vratham (austerities), the mind and soul get purified as the devotees undertake certain practices and cleanliness. Here are some of the customs and rules of the austerities.
Maladharanam – Wearing of Mudhra Mala
The Sabarimala Ayyappa Vratha is marked by the wearing of "Thulasi Mala" (garland) or "Rudraksha Mala”, bearing the locket of Lord Ayyappa. The temple priest or Guru Swami instigates the Mudra Mala to the devotee (Maaladharanam), by chanting mantra or simply “Swamy Saranam”. Guru Swamy is an Ayyappan devotee who has completed 18 successive years of Sabarimala pilgrimage and he guides others for the pilgrimage. The garland is to be obtained after sanctification in a temple or pooja room. Devotees offer "Dakshina" to Guru swami or the priest. Subsequent to this ritual, the devotee wearing the "Mala" is called as "Ayyappan" or "Swamy" and the female (aged between 1 and 9 or above 50 years) devotees are called as "Malikappuram" (who is the Shakti of Lord Ayyappa).
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PILGRIMAGE
Traditionally people who come to the Temple of Swami Ayyappan must observe 41 days vratha to be followed according to specified rules (austerities). The Vratha begins in mid-November, the devotees begins the Vratha by wearing a necklace made with tulasi or rudraksha with a pendant of Swami Ayyappan, this necklace must be put to them by a Guruswami (person who done the pilgrimage to Sabarimala at least eighteen times). During Lent vegetarianism is prescribed and a clean body and absolute purity. The devotees call themselves Swami. They must do poojas (religious ceremony) food offerings to Swami Ayyappan. The devotee celebrating a pooja must invite other devotees that he knows and offer them food sanctified by offering to Swami Ayyappan. Devotees usually wear black clothes, blue or saffron. For devotees visiting the Sanctuary Sabarimilai, departure is preceded by a grand pooja. During this pooja every devotee has to fill a coconut (nei-thenga) with ghee (clarified butter). Nei-thengai and another coconut are put in a bag with rose water and several symbolic ingredients. The bag containing these elements is called Irumudi. Every devotee must wear Irumudi on his head when he leaves to Sabarimala. Before heading to Sabarimala, devotees have to go to Erumeli to go get some sacred ash (Thirunuru) in front of the mosque of Vavar and fulfill the spiritual dance called Petta-thulal. Then After bathing in the river Pampa, they begin their journey to the shrine of Sabarimala. At the top of Sabarimala on the heights, devotees access to the Temple by the 18 sacred steps (Painettupadhigal). Then after prayers at the Temple, the Ghee contained in coconut devotees is given to a priest for abishekam on the statue of Swami Ayyappan. This sacred ghee is given back to devotees who brings them home. Today the cult of Swami Ayyappan is known and practiced by millions of Hindu 60 million each year to visit Swami Ayyappan temple during the festival between mid-November and mid-January. Swami Ayyappan is also known in Sri Lanka but in the name of Ayyanar. But in fact Ayyapan is the incarnation of Ayyanar or Dharma Sastha. Swami Ayyappan appears annually in the sky on the day of Mahara Sakranthi (between 13 and 15 January) as a flame called Mahara Jodhi to bless his devotees. The 18 holy steps represent the 18 major obstacles that must be overcome to attain Moksha.