Mantram while taking off maala

This mantram has to be recited after coming home from Sabarimala and before removing the Sacred Mala

This mantram has to be recited after coming home from Sabarimala and before removing the Sacred Mala

Apoora machala rohani Divyadarshana Kaaranam
Shatrumudrat Mahadeve Dehi me Vrata mocchanam

Only after taking off the maala, offer pranams to Ayyappan's Photo and Guruswami, the shaving has to thedone.

Sri Hariharathmajashtakam (Harivarasanam)

'Harivarasanam' is the creation of Kumbakudi Kulathur Iyer. In 1955, Swami Vimochananad recited this Ashtakam for the first time at Sabarimala.
Sannidhanam, in early 1940s, 50s and 60s , was just wild jungle which few pilgrims visited. It is understood that a VR Gopala Menon of Alapuzha used to stay on at Sannidhanam even when the temple was closed. He built a shack and stayed there even when no human being was anywhere nearwhere nearby during those days when the temple was closed. It was said that the wild animals never troubled him and that he used to feed the wildest of animals. Some years later, when Devaswom Board was formed, the Web Master understands, he was asked to move out. He died as an orphan of the world at a tea estate at Vandiperiyar. He was the only companion to Thirumeni Eashwaran Nampoothiri (an old Mel Santhi of Sannidhanam) in those wild old days of solitude and dedication.
Revered Menon used to recite `Harivarasanam' with all devotion. It was with immense grief that Thirumeni Eashwaran Nampoothiri heard about the demise of Revered Menon. At that end of the pooja that day, when he was about to close the doors of the Sanctum Sanctorum, he remembered Revered Menon and recited 'Harivarasanam' starting a nostalgic tradition that remains unbroken to this day.
Harivarasanam is recited just prior to closing of the temple doors at night.
As the final verses are being sung, all the assistant Santhis leave the Sanctum Sanctorum one by one. As the song ends, only the Mel Santhi is inside the Sreekoil. He extinguishes the lamps one by one and closes the doors for the night after the last lamp is extinguished.

Harivarasanam Viswamohanam

Haridadhiswaram Aaradhyapadhukam

Arivimardhanam Nithyanarthanam

Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranakirtanam Bakhtamanasam

Bharanalolupam NarthanalasamA

runabhasuram Bhoothanayakam

Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Pranayasathyakam Praananayakam

Pranathakalpakam Suprabhanjitham

Pranavamanidram Keerthanapriyam

Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Thuragavahanam Sundarananam

Varagadhayudham Vedavavarnitham

Gurukrupakaram Keerthanapriyam

Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Tribuvanarchitam Devathathmakam

Trinayanam Prabhum Divyadeshikam

Tridashapoojitham Chinthithapradam

Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Bhavabhayapaham Bhavukavaham

Bhuvanamohanam Bhoothibhooshanam

Dhavalavahanam Divyavaranam

Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Kalamrudusmitham Sundarananam

Kalabhakomalam Gathramohanam

Kalabhakesari Vajivahanam

Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Srithajanapriyam Chinthithapradam

Sruthivibhushanam Sadhujeevanam

Sruthimanoharam Geethalalasam

Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Important Poojas in Sabarimala Temple

NEYYABHISHEKOM

This ritual of bathing the Ayyappa idol in ghee is considered an important offering to the deity. It is symbolic of the pilgrim's self-realisation. The pilgrimage itself is a symbolic journey of the individual soul merging with the supreme reality.In fact, the filling up of an empty coconut with ghee is the most important ritual before the beginning of the Sabarimala pilgrimage. Even before filling one's irumudi kettu, the pilgrim fills up the neythenga or a coconut filled with ghee, with sarana mantram on his lips.

Before filling ghee into the coconut, the devotee drains out water in the coconut symbolising the draining out of his worldly aspirations. He then fills up empty coconut with ghee, the ghee representing the soul and coconut the body.

This coconut is broken only at the hill shrine and the ghee is taken for abhishekom. When the pilgrim stands before the idol and Neyyabhishekom is performed, the merging of jivatma with the paramatma takes place.The broken pieces of coconut are thrown into the sacred fire kept alive throughtout the season on the temple premises. The burning symbolises, devouring of all impurities of one's heart in the fire of knowledge developed through devotion to Ayyappa.

One important fact that authorities quite often fail to inform the devotees about this offering is that the neyyabhishekom is performed only till the ucha puja (special puja at noon). Abhishekoms are also perfomed with milk, tender coconut water, water, honey, vibhoothi (sacred ash), sandal paste, flower, etc.

PUSHPABHISHEKOM

The pushpabhishekom is performed only after deeparadana. Flowers are brought by the devotees. At times, pilgrims from Tamil Nadu bring along truckloads of flowers of various hues.

OFFERINGS TO KOCHU KADUTHA, VAVAR AND OTHER GODS

Ganjai, (a rare variety of plantain used only for rituals), malaru (broiled paddy) and jagri are offered to Kochu Kadutha Swamy, believed to one of the trusted lieutenants of Lord Ayyappa during his war against dacoit king Udayan.

Pepper, incense sticks and rose water are offered to Vavru Swamy, the Muslim confidante of the Lord.The Paanans (members of the caste by the same name who sing in temples to please snake gods) are made to sing before the Nagaraja and Nagayakshi idols to ward off evil spirits.

OFFERINGS AT MALIKAPURAM

Sachets of turmeric powder, normally carried along with other puja materials,are emptied around the temple of Malikappuram, adjacent to the hill shrine. Other than this saffron, silk and betel leaves are also offered to the goddess.Another unique offering is the nalikeram uruttu. The devotee can purchase a coconut from the temple counter and he rolls it around the temple and later breaks it in front of the shrine.

VEDIVAZHIPADU

Devotees burst Kathina (crude cracker made by packing gun powder in a very thick iron tube) in front of the Pathiettampady. This offering is made to please all gods. It is also believed that the explosion will scare away all evil spirits haunting one's family.

UDAYASTHAMANA PUJA

Other pujas offered to the lord are udayasthamana puja and a day's puja. The puja is now performed only during the first week of Malayalam months other than the mandala and Makara vilakku seasons as it affects the routine at the hillshrine during the annual congregation.

PADIPUJA

This is an elaborate puja made at the pathinettampadi, the 18 steps leading to the hill shrine. Though this puja was performed throughout the season, of late it is offered only when the temple opens during the first week of Malayalam months in view of the heavy crowd during mandalam and Mahara vilaku seasons.

IMPORTANT PUJAS DURING MANDALAM & MAHARA VILAKU SEASONS

The three main pujas during the mandalam season are the usha puja, ucha puja and athazha puja performed at morning, noon and night, respectively.The usha puja is performed at 7.30 am. However, there is stipulated timing for other pujas as it will depend on the crowd and number of neyyabhishekoms.While the usha puja and athazha puja are perfromed by the chief priest, the ucha puja is performed by the tantri. Another feature of the ucha puja is the offering made on 25 kalasams (metallic pots).At the morning puja, ushapayasam is the nivedyam (offering to the Lord). vellanivedyam and aravana (special payasam made during the mandala and makara vilakku seasons) are offered at noon and vellanivedyam and appam are offered for athazha puja.

SHAYANAPRADAKSHINAM

A devotee performs the Shayanapradakshinam (perambulating the sanctum sanctorum in a prostrate position) as an offering to the Lord for curing ailments and solving domestic, professional and other problems. It is also done to ward off evil spririts.The devotee after a dip in the temple pond prostrates before the Lord's idol and rolls along the pradakshina vazhi (pathway around the sanctum sanctorum for perambulating).