Dharma Shashta is the deity of Sabarimala. Legend has that lord Ayappa
dissolved into Dhasrma Shastha. Lord Ayyappan is considered as the dispeller
of sorrows by His devotees.
The pilgrimage to Sabarimala shall be
undertaken only after observing 41 days of penance. Both first timers and
senior pilgrims are required to observe the penance. Recent astrological
findings in the temple mandated that even the officials posted at the temple
on duty and the pilgrims who visit the shrine when it opens for monthly
worships should also observe penance.
The penance for pilgrimage
starts on the first day of Malayalam month Vrishchikam when the sun god
starts moving in the path of salvation. As part of the penance, the pilgrim
should take bath before sunrise, wear a sacred chain with a pendant with the
image of lord Ayyappa and give up luxuries of life. The pilgrim should
observe celibacy, eat pure vegetarian food and avoid shaving.
Once
the sacred chain is worn, the pilgrim is considered as the lord himself. The
18-steps leading to the shrine are considered to be holy. The pilgrim should
carry on his or her head a holy kit which has two compartments to carry
ghee-filled coconuts and other articles to be offered to the lord.
While climbing the 18 steps or after that when moving towards the shrine,
one should not push others in a hurry but should be disciplined instead.
Darshan also has an order. The first to be visited is lord Ganesha in the
south-west corner, Nagarajavu (the serpent god) and goddess Malikappuram.
Offerings are made after the Darshan and pouring ghee over the idol is the
most important among them. This will not be done post afternoon prayers.
Each prayer has a different system of offering. Early morning, before
daybreak (nirmalyam) the idol with remnants of the previous day's offering
is bathed eight times in different holy liquids (ashtabhishekam). The
offering for the session is thrimadhuram (a mixture of three types of
sweet), idichupizhinja payasam (rice pudding in coconut milk and jaggery),
aravana (special preparation of rice and jaggery offered at Ayappa temples)
and vella.
One needs to strictly observe the rules and rituals while
going to the temple. Women between the age of 10 and 50 are not allowed to
visit the temple. This is because the deity Shashta is a celibate. The
representatives of the royal family of Panthalam do not have to carry the
special bag with two compartments with offerings while climbing the 18
steps. It is in the presence of the king that the deity is anointed with
sandalwood paste, marking the end of makaravilaku (the concluding worship of
the pilgrimage season).
The Tantri who comes for makaravilakku pooja
is received at flight of the 18 steps by the chief priest by washing his
feet.
Mandalapooja and Makaravilakku are the two most important
rituals here. Mandalapooja falls on the 11th of Malayalam month of Dhanu. On
the Mandala worship day the idol is decorated with golden ornaments offered
by the king.
Makaravilakku falls on the day of Makar sankranti,
marking end of winter solstice. Apart from the special worship of the way,
the deity decked in holy jewels and ornaments is worshiped with lights lit
all around the temple at sunset (deeparadhana).
The jewels and
ornaments to be used for the deeparadhana pooja are brought in a ceremonious
procession from the Panthalam palace. Malikkapuram deity is taken out in
procession for three consecutive days starting from Makaravilakku.
The main auspicious days of the temple are Vishu darshanam on the first of
Malayalam month Medam, offering of the first harvest of paddy (niraputhari),
Chithira aatta thirunaal and Painkuni Uthram (the birthday of lord
Ayyappa). The culmination of the 10-day annual festival of the temple falls
on the birthday of the lord, Painkuni Uthram of Malayalam month of Menam.
