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Jaya Guru Datta!!!

SWAMIYE SARANAM AYYAPPA

NAMASKARAS TO HIS HOLLINESS PARAMA PUJYA SRI SWAMIJI

 

 

Dear Devotees,

HAPPY PONGAL!!!!

First I want to tell you a little about the Ayyappa Temple and some history

surrounding Sri Ayyappa.

Ancestors of the Pandalam Royal family came to Kerala during their flight

from Madurai after their own Ministers turned on them. They settled down and

their kingdom was known as Airoor Swaroopam.

The Raja that is ruleing today is 83 year old Punartham Naal Ravi Varma

Thampuram.

His ancestor,King Rajasekhara found the baby Ayyappa on the banks of the

river Pamba. He could tell that the child was special and so this king took baby

Ayyappa home as his own child.

Later the Queen gave birth to a male child named Raja Rajan. However the King

was very impressed with the young Ayyappa and crowned him as if he was the

kings eldest son instead of RajaRajan.

The Diwan (Manager) did not like this and began trying to kill the young

Ayyappa by various means.

This Diwan convinced the Queen that the young Ayyappa should not become King

since she had a son of her own bloodline. He told her that she should pretend

to be sick with severe headache and tell the doctor to say that only the milk

from a tigress would cure the Queen and that the young Ayyappa should get that

milk. They were sure that the tiger would kill him or he would fail to bring

the milk,which would cause his reputation to dull in the eyes of the King. In

this way the Queens son would be chosen as King.

The young Ayyappa convinced the King to let him get the milk. The King sent

with him food and coconuts with three eyes in rememberance of Shiva. The

Panchabutas,sent by Lord Shiva,went with young Ayyappa to the forest for the

tigrees

milk. Lord Shiva told him that he had to give comfort to the King,who was

very concerened for him and cure the Queens ailment. Shiva also said that he

should go to the palace with the tigers as they were all Devas in the disguise

of

tigers and that Lord Devendran was the tiger that Ayyappa would ride to the

palace.

As they approched the palace they met with all the people that had ridiculed

him on his way to the forest to fetch the milk from the Tigers.

When he arrived at the palace he told that now they could get the Queen

cured. The King fell at young Ayyappas feet and asked for his forgiveness and to

send back the tigers since the Queens ailment was cured.

That day the young Ayyappa had just turned twelve years old.

Young Ayyappa asked the King to ask for a boon and was told that he wanted to

build a Temple in Ayyappas memory and that Ayyappa should pick the place.

Ayyappa shot an arrow which landed at a place called Shabari. He told the King

to

build there and disappeared.

Ayyapa had made it clear that He would only grace those who had observed

fortyone days Viradha,keeping themselves isolated from family desires and tastes

and leading a life like Brahmacharyas ans they should adorn themselves with

coconut and such like He Himself did on His journey to get the tiger milk. Also

they should bath in the river Pampa and climb the 18 stairs.

Sage Aghastya did Kumbhabhishekam to that Temple.

Every year Thousands upon thousands of devotees descend upon this Holy place

of pilgrimage.

Only thos who carry an Irumudi are allowed to enter the Temple premises. All

must walk up the 18 steps to get to the Temple. They must break a coconut at

the base of the steps before going up.

Breaking of coconut is a spiritual act. The shell represents the material

body and the kernal the immaterial. The water represents the soul. By breaking

the coconut on the steps,he breaks the physical barrier and blends with the

Ultimate. On the devotees 19 pilgrimage he will bring a coconut sapling to plant

there.

The 18 steps are also symbolic. They are said to represent the 18 mountains

in the area. they also represent the five indrias:eye,nose,ear,skin and tongue

, the eight rajas:kama,krodha,lobha,moha,mada,matasraya,aham and asooya , the

three Gunas:satva guna,raja guna and tamo guna , Vidya and Avidya

18 is considered as the code number to break into the soul of nature.

When you enter Erumeli you will be close to 50 Km from Sabarimala. When you

reach there with Diksha you must take Darshan of Erumeli Dharmasasta. There

Diksha people will dress in face paint and leaves like Tribal peoples and dance.

Everybody will carry different things to correspond to the amount of times

they have gone on this journey. For instance , first year people will carry

arrow,second year will carry sword ,etc.

After Darshanam you can travel by walk for the 50KM to Sabarimali Temple or

they can travel by bus to a point 5Km away to pamba river.

Ther you can take bath in river and prepare food called Pambasaddhi for

eating there. At this place you should take Darshan of Ganesh,

Ram,Hanuman,Mata,etc. From there you wlak to Sabarimali. When you reach The

Temple at Sabarimali

you will see the beutiful Temple from the top of the mountain. When you reach

the Temple entrance you will see a big fire pit. Past the fire pit you will

see the 18 steps. You break one coconut on the bottom step and go up to the

Temple. There you will get the Darshan of Lord Ayyappa. This will be a very

auspicious time in your life.

I have made this pilgrimage several times and it was such a great feeling to

get that Darshan after so much effort. It was such a feeling that I can not

describe.

Mataji Temple is there also.(Malikapurattamma)

We are performing tommorrow this Ayyappa Puja between 7PM and 9PM.

Anyone who wants to sponsor is welcome. Please let us know tomorrow by noon.

Everybody knows that Sri Swamiji has made very good Bhajans on Sri Ayyappa.

Listen to Ayyappa bhajans tomorrow.

Always in Parama Puja Sri Swamiji's Seva,

NPS Sankaramanchi Temple Priest

Datta Kshetra Baton Rouge

Sri Guru Datta!!!