THATHWAMASI

May 29, 2007

Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha temples. This is one of the most ancient temples in Kerala. Lord Parasurama consecrated the deity of the temple at the foot of Sabari hills to which reference has been made in Ramayana. The temple attracts pilgrims from all part of the country and abroad. The main feature of the temple is that it is open to everybody. Sabrimala temple gives much importance for the secularism and communal harmony and has turn out to be a model for the whole world. Another significant aspect of the pilgrimage is that all the pilgrims whether rich or poor, learned or illiterate holding position or not master or servant, are all equal before LORD AYYAPPA. There is no other temple in the world in which the pilgrims itself are called after the deity of the

temple. The Lord Ayyappa is always around us. Yes in your mind, body, speech, thought and every inch of your body is made with the blessings of the paramathma .The Lord affirms that "The kingdom of God is within us" and that one is not to wander outside to achieve salvation. The meaning of the holy word "THATHWAMASI" written in the front of the temple shows how you are related to Lord Ayyappa. Sabari Hills, the Secred aboard of Lord Ayyappa, is thronged by millions of devotees throughout the year, particularly during the Mandalam period. On the first day of 4th month of malayalam calendar, the pilgrims commences a well defined preparatory routine of austerities enduring for a "Mandalam" of 41 days. The emphasis is to give up

all materialistic desires and surrender oneself to the thought of Lord- a sort of penance from the sins committed knowingly or unknowingly. The accosting of "Maala" symplices the invoking of the Lord into the pilgrims' hearts. The pilgrims lead a simple life in uniform grab of black and dark blue colors. These and unkempt, unshaven face signify immersing one's Ego in sacred anonymity. During the period the devotees greets each other as "Swami Saranam" to be reciprocated by"Ayyappa Saranam". Swami Saranam, meaning one is at the mercy of the Lord is a significant mantram. Anyone who had undertaken pilgrimage to the Hills,especially during the peak period of "Mandalam", will understand the significance and divine feeling one gets by chanting the "Mantram",

which echoes through the Hills. The Lullabies of birds, the whistling winds and roaring sound of river 'Pumba' submerge in the chanting of mantram and all these together create a divine atmosphere only to heard to be believe. The Holi river Pumba is considered to be sacred as the Ganga. A holi dip in the river before proceeding to the hills is an experience itself. The common offering to the Lord is ghee filled coconut. The hard shell of the coconut signifies how stubborn are our desires for worldly life, the sweet fruit inside signifies how serene is our heart and filling it with pure ghee signifies our true love for the God. Once the pilgrim reach the

"sannidhanam "after trekking the Hills, their hearts overflow with the vision of Lord at the temple. What we see in the sanctum sanctorum is the Lord in a posture of meditation. This is the "Nirvikalpa Samadhi" of the Lord as the Lord in his superior manifestation, seeks His own identity with the cosmic immanent, as the self meditates on itself. The experience of the long walk from Erumeli to Sabarimala,Commanding oneself to the total care of the Lord, signifies a unique feeling and the effects lasts for long after returning home. This experience prospects the temptation to accost 'Maala' year after year. With the manifestation of Vishnu as the divine mother in the form of " Mohini" and "Shiva" as divine Father arrived Shaastha- the supreme Lord of

Law and Love. WITH WARM REGARDS Roshni Dubey

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