Sabarimala Yatra begins

Mandala Kaalam is fast approaching and on an average Iam receiving atleast 6-7 mails daily - asking for doubts... Can I do this that, Can I watch TV? Can my wife/mother eat non vegetarian...etc etc

I have already made a detailed note last year... For new members, please read it here

http://shanmatha.blogspot.com/2010/11/shabarimala-yatra-vidhanam-dos-and.html

I always insist on one Golden Rule and my favorite rule - "Guru Vaakyam Pramaanam" - Guru's words are Final. But few senior Guruswamys complained me regarding the behavior of today's Guruswamys and asked me to explicitly warn - regarding the quality of Guruswamys...

Being a Guruswamy - Its already a profession to many people...So please see the anushtanam, good behavior and most important - discipline - a person having all these three is fit to be a Guru. (You may be surprised to see that devotion is not in the list - A person with true devotion automatically gets all these three qualities)

And please give due respect to the Maala you are wearing... Physical and mental cleanliness is absolutely necessary.. Try to be really sincere to the maximum extend and follow the practices strictly. Wearing slippers, using leather belts, (you may have your own reasons for justifying all these... But everything said and done it will definitely affect the sannidhyam - divinity of the Vrutham)

All that corrupts you mind - can be avoided.. (Please try avoid watching TV. Today's Kalipurushan stays in the form of Television. If you avoid seeing unnecessary programs and serials... I can promise, you'l definitely enjoy a very good experience both during the vrutham and during the dharshanam)

Make it a discipline that you go to the temple regularly.. Taking bath twice a day, doing atleast a simple puja and calling out Sharanams is part of the daily routine. People who are having Upanayanam - make it a strict practice that you do sandhya vandhanam and Gayatri Japam regularly - both in the morning and evening. Even if you are unable to go to a temple - its ok. Ayyappan will be happy seeing you doing your given duty (sandhya) But without Sandhyavandanam whatever you do - is a waste.

Doing Annadhanam is a very big Kainkaryam... But donot waste food in the name of Annadhanam... We see tons and tons of food being wasted at Sannidhanam, Pampa and Veliyanavattam - in the name of annadhanam. Annam Brahma - Please dont waste it.

If you see any devotee smoking or drinking within the Poonkavanam - you have all right to question him. Object this and ask him to stop - make him understand that he is not only committing a sin but also creating hazard to the other devotees.

Just by calling everyone as "Swami"- nothing is going to happen. Understand the reality that everyone is Ayyappan. The Lord resides inside each and every devotee. So donot PUSH or cause trouble to even a single devotee. Just because of this unruly behaviour and the pushing- the tragic accident at Pulmedu occured last year.

As usual please avoid using plastic at sabarimala and let us make Sabarimala clean and green.... Thats a very big offering to Ayyappan than doing any other puja.

Thiruvabharanam

Had a wonderful opportunity last week to visit Pandalam and have the dharshan of Lord Sastha and the holy Thiruvabaranam at the Palace. I was there at the premises almost for the whole day and from what I heard there - I thought of sharing with our readers...

Thiruvabharanam the sacred ornaments of Sastha which is brought to Sabarimala temple during Makara Sankramana. The ornaments are made of pure gold. It is traditionally in the hands of the Pandalam King, who adopted Ayyappan as his child.

While I was waiting near the Sri Kovil, one person was telling "These Abharanams were actually worn by Ayyappan".... Oh God... Devotees... please understand first -what are all there in the Abharana Box and then give your statements....

If one carefully observes the Thiruvabarana - its a a very great myth breaker....

Let me explain

Myth No 1. - The ornaments are worn by Ayyappam

Myth No 2. - Sastha is a bachelor

Thiruvanbharanam set comprises of three caskets. ie they are called main Thriuvabharanam box, the Velli Petti and the Kodi Petti. 

Main Thiruvabaram Box : Box 1

The Main Thiruvabaranam box which is given into the Sactum Santorum of Sabarimala is suppose to have the following items in it... (and now we see only a very few of these)

Thirumugham - Face of Sastha

Prabha Mandalam

Valia Churika (Dagger - Big)

Cheria Churika (Dagger - Small)

Aana (Elephant) - 2 (idols)

Kaduva -(Tiger) 1 (idol)

Velli Kettia Valampiri Sankh - 1 (Conch shell right handed spiral - with silver)

2 Roopams of Poorna and Pushkala 

Poothattam (A ceremonial plate for carrying flowers)

Navarathna Mothiram (Navarathnam ring)

Sarapoli Mala  - necklace

Vilwa Mala - necklace made of golden vilwa leaves

Mani Mala - necklace made of navaratna

Erukkum Poomala - necklace made of golden erukkum poo

Velli Petti : Box 2

Thaila Kudam for Kalasam

Pooja utensils

Kodi Petti : Box 3

Netti Pattom for the elephant

Flags of Talapara and Udampara

Mezhuvatta Kuda and other items for the elephant

Now coming to our Myth that its Ayyappan's own ornaments- how can Ayyappan wear a Golden Face mask ?  Though not found now, even the golden Vilwa mala is suitable only for decorating the Lord and not for wearing it normally... 

And the Abharanams are meant for Sastha and not for Ayyappan's personal use( i mean during his human incarnation) because in the Thirumukham - face you find a wonderful Meesai - Mustache ( whereas Ayyappan's human life was maximum 12 or upto 16 years according to some other versions )

So the Abharanams are meant only for decorating the idol as instructed by Ayyappan and not actually used by Ayyappan... 

And the Thiruvabharanams has the roopams of Poorna Pushkala which makes very clear that Sastha is with Poorna Pushkala - this might have been the original form which was installed earlier in Sabarimala.. 

Later after the human incarnation of Ayyappan - and destruction and resurrection of Sabarimala temple over a period of time, the present form of Yoga Sastha might have originated...

Everything said and done the Abharana Darshanam was a wonderful Vision of my life time... My mental state was in ecstasy and beyond description... and which gave a heart full of Satisfaction which will last long for ever