Shabarimala Temple

Ayyappa Temple, Sabarimala

A most important pilgrim site of Hinduism in the South Indian state is Shabarimala Temple.
The presiding deity at Sabarimala is Dharma Sastha or Lord Ayyappan and also known as Ayyanaar, one of the most venerated deities amid the Hindu pantheon of gods. Every year millions of Indians, irrespective of caste, creed or religion throng the tiny complex to have darshan of Lord Ayyappan.
Legend has it that the temple at Sabarimala was built by Parasurama, the warrior-sage who reclaimed the Land of Kerala from the sea. Sabarimala is one of the five ‘panchashastha’ temples erected by the powerful yogi to protect Kerala from destructive elements, the others being Kulathuppuzha, Aryankavu, Achankovil and Erumeli.
At Kulathuppuzha, the Lord is worshipped as an infant boy, at Aryankavu as an adolescent on the verge of matrimony and at Achankovil, he is depicted as a ‘grihasthashrami’ with his wives, Poorna and Pushkala.
However, on Sabarimala Lord Ayyappan is a brahmachari in a state of everlasting bliss or Samadhi, holding ‘chinmudra’. It is said that the lord sought this solitary abode to meditate soon after vanquishing the demon, Mahishi in a ferocious battle. The sabarimalasannidhanam is open to devotees only during mandalapooja, makaravilakku,vishu and the beginning of every month.
The temple is surrounded by verdant tropical jungles and 18 hills, Sabarimala is part of Sahyadris remnants of ancient temples are visible in the adjoining hills and at Nilackal, Kalaketi and Karimala offerings are still made to the devis/devas. East of the sannidhanam is ‘Vavarnada’ which commemorates Vavar, a Muslim associate of Lord Ayyappan. This gateway speaks volumes about the existing amity amongst religions in Kerala.