Sabari Hill, the abode of Lord Ayyappa, situated in the midst of dense forests and mountains, is unique for many reasons. The temple is open only during certain auspicious occasions. The most important day is Makara Sankranthi (January 14) as it marks the movement of the sun towards northern hemisphere (Uttarayanam) and worshipping at this time is regarded very auspicious. A sea of humanity assembles near Sabari Hill to worship Lord Ayyappa who is visible in the form of a light (Jyothi) above the hill.
Unlike any other temple where one goes straightaway, the Ayyappa temple atop the Sabari Hill calls for certain prior qualifications for the pilgrim, like physical and mental cleansing. Normally, the pilgrim starts his preparation 41 days in advance. According to tradition, Guru, the Master, initiates the pilgrim and puts on him a chain of sacred beads. From now on, the pilgrim starts observing strict austerity, celibacy and silence. It is this discipline, devotion and dedication which qualify him to visit the temple. He visits nearby temples frequently to be able to observe these norms. A pilgrim to Sabari hill can easily be identified. Wearing black or blue attire, a chain of beads around his neck, sacred ashes smeared over his head, he would be reciting the Mantra “Saranam Ayyappa” which means total surrender to the Lord; the term believed to have originated from Buddhist prayer. With no other thoughts except that of God, the mind of the pilgrim becomes steady, and body gets purified. During a ceremony, the Guru helps the devotee in getting the offerings ready which are coconuts filled with ghee and rice.
Reciting the names of God, the pilgrim embarks on his momentous journey towards Sabari Hill to worship the Lord he identifies with himself. Arriving at Erumeli, the nearest town towards Sabari Hill, he finds the sleeping town being transformed into a vast congregation of devotees. The chanting of God’s name reverberates in the air. This is the place where people irrespective of class, regions, or religions, pass through with the aim of having a glance of the Lord they venerate. Having worshipped the Muslim saint, Vavar, the pilgrim moves ahead and reaches near Pampa River. After the bath, the tired devotee is rejuvenated and starts trekking the difficult terrain ahead.
As the devotee arrives atop the Hill, he finds the unique 18 steps which lead to the temple above. Nowhere else steps leading to the shrine are viewed with as much reverence as in Sabari Hill. It is believed that the 18 steps symbolize the 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita and Puranas which are 18 in number. On reaching the very entrance to the sanctum sanctorum, the moment he was aspiring for, the pilgrim finds the Maha Vakya, “ Tatwamasi” (You are That) displayed prominently above. Standing in the queue, the devotee says: “I have come here not to seek anything but to lose many things like my attachment, my obsessions and ego, which obscure my vision. I seek your grace by which I would elevate myself from the realm of my body and mind and realize the “real me”. I seek your grace which alone would give me the clear vision.
After having a glimpse of the Lord, the devotee takes out the ghee from the coconut, transfers it into a pot and offers it to the Lord for Abhisheka (anointment) which signifies the merger of individual Jiva with Paramatma, the eternal reality. This body has come as a result of karma, done in previous births. He throws the coconut which symbolizes the body, into the burning pyre nearby. Having got the Darshan, the devotee introspects within. He recalls the Maha Vakya which he saw while entering the temple and ponders over it. The message he gets is clear: “I have come here to see God not as a power apart from me, but as a power within me. In fact, I see God when I see my own Self.” He realizes that the discipline and devotion he adhered to helped him to get good vision.
The austerity one undergoes, the simplicity he adopts , the celibacy he follows and above all the devotion he cultivates at heart are not only pre-requisites for undertaking pilgrimage to Sabari Hill. In fact, they are the principles that he should adhere to even after the return from Sabari Hill. The preparations the pilgrims undertake before visiting Sabari Hill should form the fundamental principles of his life. He may continue his family life, perform his duties but from now on he would be guided by Lord Ayyappa to a life of truth and perfection. The veneration he showed towards Guru would continue. His temple visit should now become a regular event. In fact, he would be transformed as a new person purged of all desires and with the only aim of surrendering at the feet of Lord Ayyappa. That explains the oft-repeated mantra: “Saranam Ayyappa”.
