Sabarimala The shrine of Lord Ayyappa or Dharma Sastha on the Sabari hills on Western Ghats attracts lakhs of devotees. According to Puranas, Lord Vishnu once appeared as Mohini and Siva succumbed to Her beauty. Since Ayyappa was born of their union, He is known as Harihara Putra. His other name is Manikantan as he had a golden bell round his neck when he was found by the King of Pandalam on the banks of Pampa. This divine boy is said to have vanquished demoness Mahishi in the Sabari hills. Parasurama had installed five Devi deities along the seashore and five Sastha images along the hilly tracts. Sastha is depicted in different stages of life in these five temples. At Kulathupuzha, He is represented as a child, at Ariyankavu as a Brahmachari, at Achancoil as a Grihastha with His consorts Poorna and Pushkala, at Sabarimala as Vanaprastha and at Ponnambalamedu or Kantamalai, as yogi. Pilgrim season: The main pilgrimage takes place during Vishu (April), Mandala Puja (Dec) and Makara Sankranti (Jan). Pilgrims trekking long distances reach the shrine after negotiating Karimala and Neelimala. Vehicles can go up to the banks of Pampa river. From here it is a five-km trek to reach the hill shrine. The presiding deity is enshrined in a neat little sanctum on a raised ground. Only those who carry Irumudi are allowed to climb the 18 sacred steps leading to the sanctum. Others follow a side entrance. On the evening of Makara Sankranti pilgrims witness a magnificent flash of a light known as Makara Vilakku or Jyothi on the eastern side, called Ponnambalamedu. The shrine is kept open during the first ten days of every Malayalam month. 1 / 4 Sabarimala Pandalam Sastha temple is 15 km from Pathanamthitta. The Thiruvabharanam of the Lord is kept here and is ceremonially taken to the hill shrine for Makara Sankranti festival. Access: Kottayam-Pampa 122 km; Kottayam-Erumeli 54 km; Ernakulam-Erumeli 120 km; Erumeli-Pampa 175 km; Thiruvananthapuram-Erumeli 150 km; Erumeli-Sabarimala trek 56 km; Erumeli (60 km from Ernakulam): Pilgrims bound for Sabarimala offer worship at the Sastha shrine and an ancient mosque here. Hence Erumeli is thronged by both Hindus and Muslims. Kottayam (85 km from Ernakulam): Thirunakkara Mahadeva temple (85 km from Ernakulam); Kumaranallur Bhagavathy temple (6 km from Kottayam) Dakshina Mookambika' Saraswathi temple, Panachikadu (10 km from Kottayam): This shrine, dedicated to the Goddess of Learning, is situated in an ancient Vishnu temple. The Devi is worshipped under a rare creeper known as Saraswathi Latha in a rectangular area constantly under water. The holy feet of the Devi is always under water. Pujas are performed for an image of Saraswathi, installed opposite to this spot. Ghee is offered as prasadam. Navaratri is the most important festival. 2 / 4 Sabarimala Vaikom (40 km): This well-known Siva shrine, situated near the Vembanad lake, is dedicated to Sri Vaikathappan, the benign form of the Lord. Legends have it that Khara, an asura, had installed Lingams at Vaikom, Ettumanoor and Kaduthuruthi. It is customary to worship at all the three Siva shrines on the same day. As Vyagrapada worshipped the Lingam at Vaikom, it was earlier known as Vyagrapadapuram. Sage Parasurama is said to have consecrated the Lingam and established puja rites for the shrine. The sanctum is circular in shape with copper-plated roof with a golden Kalasam. The Lingam is about 5 feet high. He is worshipped as Dakshinamurthi in the morning, as Kirata (hunter) as He appeared before Arjuna, at noon and as Sachidananda in the evening. Devotees are fed in this temple round the year and the Lord is known as Annadana Prabhu. Festival: Vaikkathu Ashtami festival for 13 days during Nov-Dec. Ashtami is the day on which Vyagrapada had darshan of Lord Siva here. The day is celebrated all over Kerala; Koodi Puja is performed on the next day to mark the meeting of Lord Subramanya of Udayanapuram (3 km from Vaikom) and Sri Vaikathappan. Ettumanoor(11 km): This is another popular Siva temple, dedicated to Sri Mahadeva. The image, an Aghora murti (fierce form of the Lord), was installed by Khara. This temple resembles the Vaikom Siva shrine. At the entrance there is a giant lamp (known as Valia Vilakku), believed to have been brought here and lighted by the Lord Himself. Devotees worship this ever-burning lamp first by pouring oil in it. The sanctum enshrines the image of Lord Mahadeva at the back of a Lingam on a high pedestal. To the east of the sanctum, Parvati is worshipped but without, any idol installed. Ganapathi, Sastha and Dakshinamurthi have separate shrines in the prakaram. 3 / 4 Sabarimala Among the important offerings here are Kootu Payasam and Thulabharam. It is believed that one can get complete cure from witchcraft, after worshipping at this temple for a Mandalam (41 days). Another interesting feature is the Nandi, whose image gets filled with paddy. It is believed to possess medicinal properties. Festivals: The procession of seven and a half golden elephants (known as Ezhara Ponnana — seven elephants of the same size and one small elephant) on the eighth and tenth days is the highlight of the 10-day festival during Feb-March. The eighth day attracts thousands of devotees when the Lord is kept at the beautifully decorated Asthana Mandapam at midnight. Other shrines: Pananchikkal Bhagavathi on the southern side of the temple courtyard and Sthambha Vigneswara (sage Vyagrapada turned into this form). Adityapuram (24 km): Sun temple and Perunna Subramanyaswamy 2 km from Changanacherry). Temples in Idukki district: Sri Krishna temple at Peermedu, 42 km from Kumili; Sastha temple at Vazhathoppu; Subramanya temple at Munnar; Ayyappa temple at Anachal; Santhigiri Siva temple, Adimali; Parthasarathy temple, Mundakkayam; Krishna temple, Thodupuzha. Map {mosmap lat=| lon='} 4 / 4.