Saranam Ayyappa

Swamy Ayyappa, the lord who controls the universe against the evils. He is the incarnation of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

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Once, a demon by name Basmasura worshipped Lord Shiva and obtained a boon that he whomsoever he touches on the head will become ashes. The demon wants to test the effect of the boon on Lord Shiva and He started chasing him. Lord Shiva requested Lord Vishnu to intervene and Lord Vishnu in the form of Mohini and in a dance seuel made Basmasura to touch his own head which put him to death. The passion of Lord Shiva towards Mohini resulted the birth of Hariraputra. He is the popularly known as Ayyappa.Lord Ayyappa seated on a tiger atop the hill on a hill known as Sabarigiri later noted as Sabarimala.

By worshipping Swamy Ayyappa one who is facing troubles of visible and invisible will ward away. To worship Swamy Ayyappa is a difficicult one compared with others.

Sabarimala temple is open to all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, social status or nationality. The pilgrims undergo 41 days of fast to cleanse the mind. He carries on his head, the holy ghee for the Lord's Abisheka filled in coconut in "Irumudi" (two compartment cloth bag).

The temple is open only to males and menopaused females (beyond 50 years of age) and little girls below 10 years of age. This is because the Lord is a chaste yogi in Sabarimala. The male pilgrims are called 'Ayyappan' and the female pilgrims are called 'Malikappuram'.

The shrine is open only during specific period in a year. It is open from Mid- November to Mid-January and for first five days of every Malayalam month.