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Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple
Locality/village : Pathanamthitta
State : Kerala
Country : India
Nearest City/Town : Kanjirapally
Best Season To Visit : All
Languages : Malayalam & English
Temple Timings : 4:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Photography : Not Allowed
Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple
Sabarimala Ayyappa temple is positioned in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India. The shrine of Sabarimala is one of the most remote shrines in southern India yet it still draws three to four million pilgrims each year. Surrounded by mountains and dense forest Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Ayyappan meditated. Perhaps the best known pilgrimage destination in Kerala is the Sabarimala. Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha Temples.
The important message given at the temple is the ultimate knowledge that each individual is a God into himself/herself, Tat Tvam Asi in sanskrit meaning “That is you”.
The layout of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple is believed to have originated from the specific instructions given by the Lord himself, who wanted Malikappurathamma, on his left a few yards from Sannidhanam, and his trusted lieutenants Vavur and Kadutha to be positioned as his guards at the foot of the holy 18 steps. The pilgrims worship in this place also. This exemplifies the unique feature of the temple.
Ayyappa cult gives much importance for the secularism and communal harmony and has turned 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 and all address each other as AYYAPPA.
The pilgrims on their sojourn to Sabarimala worship at Erumeli Sree Dharma Sastha Temple and conduct “Petta Thullal”. They also worship in the mosque at Erumeli as a part of their pilgrimage.
According to legend, the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple and the deity of Ayyappa have always been regarded as the Pandalam Raja’s very own. So permission from the King has to be attained before proceeding to the temple. To make it easy for pilgrims to obtain the necessary permission, a representative of the king sits with all the royal insignia, on a raised platform at the base of the Neelimala Hill. The pilgrims offer a token amount (not necessary) to the royal representative, and receive vibhuti from him.
This marks the beginning of the steepest climb of the pilgrimage, the 3 km trek up the majestic Neelimala Hill, atop which sits Lord Ayyappa in all his glory. The pilgrims wind their way up the difficult trail in an unending stream, the hill reverberating with the constant chanting of thousands.
18 Golden Steps of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple
The Sabarimala Ayyappa temple commands a lofty view of the mountains and valleys all around. The ancient temple has been rebuilt after a fire in 1950, that consists of a sanctum with a copper-plated roof and four golden finials at the top, two mandapams and the flag-staff. Replacing the earlier stone image of the deity is a beautiful idol of Ayyappa in panchaloha, an alloy of five metals, about one and a half feet. Several myths persist regarding the significance of the Pathinettu thripadikal or the 18 holy steps, but almost all of them stress the importance of the number, 18. According to a popular belief, the first 5 steps signify the five indriyas or the senses , the following 8 the ragas (tatwa, kama, krodha, moha, lobha, madha, matsraya, and ahamkara), the next 3 the gunas (satwa, rajas and thamas) followed by vidya and avidya. Climbing these would take the devotee closer to self-realisation.
Lord Ayyappan who belonged to the Vellalar Kulam, the army chief of the Pandalam royal family. Ayyan was instrumental in the defeat of Udayanan, who attacked Sabarimala and tried to demolish the ancient Sastha temple in the thick forest of present Pathanamthitta district. Meanwhile the Royal family of King Pandya had migrated from Tamilnadu about 800 years back. The King reconstructed the destroyed Sastha temple at Sabarimala. After the demise of Ayyappan, people thought that he was the incarnation of Lord Sastha and began to worship him. Later Ayyappan and Sastha became synonymous.
In Elavarsevampattu, it is clearly mentioned that Ayyan belonged to Vellalar kulam, Near Erumeli, Kottayam, Kerala. There still exists a vellala house called Puthenveedu in Erumely. Even today one can see the ancient sword used by Ayyappan to kill the monstrous power. The place where the “eruma” was killed became Erumakolly and later Erumeli.
The customs of the pilgrims to Sabarimala Ayyappa temple are based on five worshipping methods. At first, there were three sections of devotees – the devotees of Shakti who used meat to worship their deity, the devotees of Vishnu who followed strict penance and continence, and the devotees of Shiva who partly followed these two methods. Another name of Ayyappa is Sastha. All these can be seen merged into the beliefs of pilgrims to Sabarimala.
Temple is opened from 4:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The temple is open only on certain days in a month.
Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Opening Dates
| Month | Pooja | Opening date | Closing date |
| November 2016 | Mandala Pooja Maholsavam | 15/11/2016 | 26/12/2016 |
| Madala Pooja | 26/12/2016 | ||
| December 2016 | Thirunada opens for Makaravilakku | 30/12/2016 | 20/01/2017 |
| January 2017 | Makaravilakku Day | 14/01/2017 | |
| February 2017 | Monthly Pooja – Kumbham | 12/02/2017 | 17/02/2017 |
| March 2017 | Monthly Pooja – Meenam | 14/03/2017 | 19/03/2017 |
| Sabarimala Utsavam | 30/03/2017 | 09/04/2017 | |
| Kodiyettu | 31/03/2017 | ||
| April 2017 | Panguni Uthiram (Ayyappan Nakshatra Birth Date) & Arattu | 09/04/2017 | |
| Meda Vishu Festival | 10/04/2017 | 18/04/2017 | |
| Vishu | 14/04/2017 | ||
| May 2017 | Monthly Pooja – Edavam | 14/05/2017 | 19/05/2017 |
| June 2017 | Idol Installation Pooja | 03/06/2017 | 04/06/2017 |
| Monthly Pooja – Midhunam | 14/06/2017 | 19/06/2017 | |
| July 2017 | Monthly Pooja – Karkkidakam | 16/07/2017 | 21/07/2017 |
| August 2017 | Monthly Pooja – Chingam | 16/08/2017 | 21/08/2017 |
| September 2017 | Onam Pooja | 02/09/2017 | 06/09/2017 |
| Onam Day | 04/09/2017 | ||
| Monthly Pooja – Kanni | 16/09/2017 | 21/09/2017 | |
| October 2017 | Monthly Pooja – Thulam | 16/10/2017 | 21/10/2017 |
| Sree Chithra Atta Thirunal | 18/10/2017 | 19/10/2017 | |
| November 2017 | Mandala Pooja Maholsavam | 15/11/2017 | 26/12/2017 |
| December 2017 | Madala Pooja | 26/12/2017 | |
| Thirunada Re-opens for Makaravilakku | 30/12/2017 | ||
| January 2018 | Makaravilakku Day | 14/01/2018 |
Lord Sri Rama and his brother Lakshmana met Sabari, a tribal devotee, at Sabarimala. Sabari offered the Lord fruits after tasting them. But the Lord accepted them gladly and whole-heartedly. The Lord then turned and saw a divine person doing tapas. He asked Sabari who it was. Sabari said it was Shasta. Rama walked towards Shasta and the latter stood up and welcomed the Prince of Ayodhya. The anniversary of this incident is celebrated on Makara Vilakku day. It is believed that on Makara Vilakku day, Lord Dharma shasta stops his tapas to bless his devotees.and also it is called makara shankranthi [Note: there are many places with similar story of Sabari, no authentication of either exist.]
The most important event at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple is the Makara Jyothi (usually on January 14th). Thiruvabharanam or the sacred jewels of the Lord (presented by the Pandalam king) arrives at Sabarimala in three boxes. On the arrival of the jewel boxes the whole mountain reverberates to the chanting of ‘Saranam Ayyappa’ by millions of devotees gathered there to watch the event.
Harivarasanam is recited before closing the temple door every night. The Harivarasanam song, which is sung at Sabarimala is a Urakkupattu is composed by Sri Kambangudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer. It is said that Srinivasa Iyer used to recite the composition, after the Athazha Pooja, standing in front of the shrine of Ayyappa in the main temple. This significant ritual involves pouring sacred ghee brought by pilgrims in their Pallikettu or Irumudi on the idol of Lord Ayyappa. It symbolically means the merging of Jeevatma and Paramatma. While a Red coloured Irumudi is used by a pilgrim on his first journey(Kanni Ayyappan) to Sabarimala, others use Navy Blue till third year and thereafter saffron coloured Irumudi. The Prasadam at Sabarimala temple is Aravana payasam and Appam. These are prepared by using rice, ghee, sugar and jaggery. The rice needed to prepare the prasadam at Sabarimala temple is supplied by Chettigulankara Devi Temple, the second largest temple under the Travancore Devaswom Board situated at Mavelikkara.
Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple By Road
The temple is well connected by roads. Buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws are available frequently to reach the temple. KSRTC has started operating buses to Coimbatore, Palani and Thenkashi from Pampa for the convenience of the Sabarimala pilgrims. Besides, the Government of Tamil Nadu & Karnataka has been given the permission to operate buses to Pampa. A chain service exists between Pampa and Nilackal base camp.
| From | To | Distance |
| Erumeli | Pampa | 56 Kms |
| Kottayam | Erumeli | 72 Kms |
| Kottayam | Pampa | 128 Kms |
| Chengannoor | Pampa | 93 Kms |
| Thiruvalla | Pampa | 99 kms |
| Ernakulam | Pampa (via) Kottayam | 200 Kms |
| Alleppy | Pampa (via) A.C. Road | 137 Kms |
| Punalur | Pampa | 105 Kms |
| Pathanamthitta | Pampa | 69 Kms |
| Pandalam | Pampa | 84 kms |
| Thiruvananthapuram | Pampa | 175 Kms |
| Ernakulam | Erumeli (via) Palai, Ponkunnam | 175 Kms |
Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple By Train
The nearest rail head is the Kottayam Railway station. You could also take a train to Chengannur or to Punalur (Metre Gauge). You will get plenty of buses from any of these three places to Pampa.
| Kottayam (Towards South) | ||
| Train No. | Train Name | Time |
| 16348 | Mangalapuram – Trivandrum Express | 1.00 |
| 16344 | Palakkad Town – Trivandrum Amrutha Express | 2.55 |
| 12697 | Chennai – Trivandrum Super Fast (Monday) | 3.25 |
| 12695 | Chennai – Trivandrum Super Fast Express | 4.10 |
| 16630 | Mangalapuram – Trivandrum Malabar Express | 4.55 |
| 56305 | Kottayam – Kollam (Passenger) | 5.40 |
| 16381 | Mumbai-Kanyakumari (Jayanthi Janatha Express) | 6.25 |
| 16303 | Ernakulam – Trivandrum Vanchinad Express | 6.10 |
| 12623 | Chennai – Trivandrum Mail | 7.40 |
| 56385 | Ernakulam – Kottayam Passenger | 9.25 |
| 12081 | Kozhikode – Trivandrum Jansathabdhi Express (Except Wednesday & Sunday) | 10.51 |
| 12626 | New Delhi – Trivandrum (Kerala Express) | 11.05 |
| 16526 | Bangalore – Kanyakumari (Island Express) | 11.30 |
| 56387 | Ernakulam – Kayamkulam Passenger | 13.13 |
| 16327 | Korba – Trivandrum Express (Monday, Friday) | 14.20 |
| 16649 | Mangalapuram – Trivandrum (Parasuram Express) | 14.53 |
| 17230 | Hyderabad – Trivandrum (Sabari Express) | 15.10 |
| 16318 | Jammuthavi – Himasagar Express (Thursday) | 15.35 |
| 12660 | Shalimar – Nagercoil Express – Gurudev (Friday) | 16.55 |
| 12201 | Lokmanyathilak – Kochuveli Sabareerath (Tuesday, Saturday – Via Konkan) | 20.10 |
| 56393 | Kottayam – Kollam Passenger | 17.45 |
| 16301 | Shornnur – Trivandrum (Venad Express) | 18.33 |
| 56391 | Ernakulam – Kollam Passenger | 19.45 |
| 12516 | Guvahathi – Trivandrum Express (Friday) | 19 .05 |
| 56389 | Ernakulam – Kottayam Passenger | 22.00 |
| 16333 | Veraval – Trivandrum Express (Friday – Via Konkan) | 2.20 |
| 16311 | Bickaneer – Kochuveli Express (Thursday – Via Konkan | 2.20 |
| 16335 | Gandhidham – Nagercoil Express (Saturday – Via Konkan) | 2.20 |
| 12777 | Yeswanthpur – Kochuveli Super Fast Express (Thursday) | 3.25 |
| 12257 | Yeswanthpur – Kochuveli Sabarirath Express (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) | 9.30 |
| 12288 | Dehradoon – Kochuveli Express (Wednesday, Via Konkan) | 15.28 |
| Chengannur (Towards South) | ||
| Train No. | Train Name | Time |
| 16311 | Bickeneer – Trivandrum Express (Friday) | 0.20 |
| 16333 | Veraval – Trivandrum Express (Saturday) | 0.20 |
| 16335 | Gandhidham – Nagercoil Express (Sunday) | 0.20 |
| 16348 | Mangalapuram – Trivandrum Express | 1.40 |
| 16344 | Palakkad – Trivandrum (Amrutha Express) | 3.35 |
| 12777 | Hoobli – Kochuveli Express (Thursday) | 4.00 |
| 12695 | Chennai – Trivandrum Super Fast | 4.50 |
| 16630 | Mangalapuram – Trivandrum Malabar Express | 5.40 |
| 56305 | Kottayam – Kollam Passenger ç | 6.20 |
| 16303 | Ernakulam-Trivandrum (Vanchinad Express) | 6.50 |
| 16381 | Mumbai – Kanyakumari (Jayanthi Janatha Express) | 7.15 |
| 12623 | Chennai – Trivandrum Mail | 8.30 |
| 12257 | Yeswanthapuram – Kochuveli Sabareerath Express (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) | 10.07 |
| 12081 | Kozhikode – Trivandrum Janshathabdhi Express (Except Wednesday & Sunday) | 11.25 |
| 12626 | Newdelhi – Trivandrum Kerala Express | 11.45 |
| 16526 | Bangalore – Kanyakumari Island Express | 12.10 |
| 12288 | Dehradoon – Kochuveli Express (Wednesday) | 12.30 |
| 56387 | Ernakulam – Kayamkulam Passenger | 13.55 |
| 16649 | Mangalapuram – Trivandrum Parasuram Express | 15.35 |
| 17230 | Hyderabad-Trivandrum Sabari Express | 15.55 |
| 16327 | Korba-Trivandrum Express (Monday, Friday) | 15.00 |
| 16318 | Jammuthavi – Kanyakumari Himasagar Express (Thursday) | 16.20 |
| 12209 | Lokmanyathilak-Kochuveli Sabarirath Express (Tuesday, Saturday) | 17.35 |
| 12660 | Shalimar-Nagercoil Gurudev Express (Friday) | 17.35 |
| 56393 | Kottayam – Kollam Passenger | 18.35 |
| 16301 | Shornnur- Trivandrum Venad Express | 19.13 |
| 56391 | Ernakulam – Kollam Passenger | 20.25 |
| 12516 | Guvahathi-Trivandrum Express (Friday) | 19.50 |
| Kottayam (Towards North) | ||
| Train No. | Train Name | Time |
| 16347 | Trivandrum – Mangalapuram Express | 23.58 |
| 16343 | Trivandrum – Palakkad Town Amrutha Express | 1.30 |
| 56385 | Kottayam – Ernakulam Passenger | 5.25 |
| 1352 | Kollam – Ernakulam Passenger | 6.40 |
| 16328 | Trivandrum – Korba Express (Monday, Thursday) | 8.35 |
| 16302 | Trivandrum – Shornnur Venad Express | 8.18 |
| 16650 | Trivandrum –Mangalapuram Parasuram Express | 9.40 |
| 17229 | Trivandrum – Hyderabad Sabari Express | 10.20 |
| 56394 | Kollam-Kottayam Passenger | 10.50 |
| 12202 | Kochuveli-Lokmanyathilak Sabareerath (Sunday, Thursday (Via Konkan) | 11.30 |
| 16382 | Kanyakumari – Mumbai Jayanthi Janatha Express | 11.40 |
| 12625 | Trivandrum – New Delhi Kerala Express | 14.10 |
| 12515 | Trivandrum – Guvahathi Express (Sunday) | 15.45 |
| 16525 | Kanyakumari – Bangalore Island Express | 16.25 |
| 12082 | Trivandrum-Kozhikode Janshathabdhi Express (Except Tuesday, Saturday) | 16.50 |
| 56390 | Kottayam – Ernakulam Passenger | 17.15 |
| 12624 | Trivandrum – Chennai Mail | 17.35 |
| 56388 | Kayamkulam – Ernakulam Passenger | 17.50 |
| 16334 | Trivandrum – Veraval (Monday, (via) Konkan) | 18.25 |
| 16336 | Nagercoil-Gandhidham Express (Tuesday-Via Konkan) | 18.25 |
| 16312 | Kochuveli – Bickaneer Express (Saturday-Via Konkan) | 18.25 |
| 16317 | Kanyakumari – Jammuthavi (Friday) Himasagar | 19.10 |
| 12659 | Nagarcoil – Shalimar Gurudev Express (Sunday) | 19.10 |
| 56304 | Nagercoil – Kottayam Passenger | 19.50 |
| 12696 | Trivandrudm – Chennai Super Fast Express | 20.25 |
| 16304 | Trivandrudm – Ernakulam Vanchinad | 20.50 |
| 16629 | Trivandrudm – Mangalapuram Malabar Express | 22.15 |
| 12698 | Trivandrudm – Chennai Central Super Fast (Saturday) | 23.05 |
| 12287 | Kochuveli – Dehradoon (Friday (via Konkan) | 11.30 |
| 12778 | Kochuveli – Yeswanthpur Super Fast Express (Thursday) | 15.45 |
| 12258 | Kochuveli – Yeswanthpur Sabareerath Express (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) | |
| Chengannur (Towards North) | ||
| Train No. | Train Name | Time |
| 16343 | Trivandrum – Palakkad (Amrutha Express) | 0.40 |
| 56392 | Kollam – Ernakulam Passenger | 5.40 |
| 16302 | Trivandrum – Shornnur (Venad Express) | 7.25 |
| 16328 | Trivandrum – Korba Express (Monday, Thursday) | 7.45 |
| 16650 | Trivandrum – Mangalapuram (Parasuram Express) | 8.45 |
| 56394 | Kollam – Kottayam Passenger | 9.15 |
| 17229 | Trivandrum – Hyderabad (Sabari Express) | 9.30 |
| 12202 | Kochuveli – Lokmanyathilak Sabarirath (Sunday, Thursday) | 10.40 |
| 12287 | Kochuveli – Dehradoon Express (Friday) | 10.40 |
| 16382 | Kanyakumari – Mumbai Jayanthi Janatha Express | 10.30 |
| 12625 | Trivandrum – New Delhi Kerala Express | 13.20 |
| 12515 | Trivandrum – Guwahati Express (Sunday) | 14.50 |
| 2778 | Kochuveli – Hoobli Express (Thursday) | 14.50 |
| 16525 | Kochuveli – Bangalore Island Express | 15.25 |
| 12082 | Trivandrum- Kozhikode Janasathabdhi (Tuesday, Saturday) | 16.12 |
| 12624 | Trivandrum – Chennai Mail | 16.35 |
| 56388 | Kayamkulam – Ernakulam Passenger | 17.07 |
| 16312 | Trivandrum – Bikkaneer Express (Saturday) | 17.15 |
| 16334 | Trivandrum – Veraval Express (Monday) | 17.15 |
| 16336 | Nagercoil – Gandhidham Express (Tuesday) | 17.15 |
| 16317 | Kanyakumari- Jammuthavi Himasagar Express (Friday) | 18.15 |
| 12659 | Nagercoil – Shalimar Gurudev Express (Sunday) | 18.15 |
| 56304 | Nagercoil – Kottayam Passenger | 18.40 |
| 12258 | Kochuveli-Yeswanthapuram- Sabarinath Express (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) | 19.10 |
| 12696 | Trivandrum – Chennai Super Fast | 19.30 |
| 16304 | Trivandrum – Ernakulam Vanchinadu Express | 20.00 |
| 16629 | Trivandrum – Mangalapuram Malabar Express | 21.10 |
| 16347 | Trivandrum – Mangalapuram Express | 23.12 |
Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple By Air
The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport at a distance of 160 kms from the temple. Trivandrum airport is also at a similar distance from Sabarimala ( 175kms).
Sabarimala Ayyappa Swamy Temple, Pathanamthitta,Kerala
