SABARIMALA

In the year 1975 there was a beautiful song coming out of my neighbours home in the morning. Until then in my home NATIONAL ECKO radio was singing only Karnatic music.

First time a Tamil song went into my blood stream and touched my brain with so much of sweetness . I asked my mother what is that song is all about. She said the song is for Sabarimala Ayyappan. He is most powerful god and you need to go to a forest to see him.

There was a invitation from them for Ayyappa puja in their home. First time I am seeing people wearing Black dhoti and were looking divine.

Immediately I was hooked to their devotional path and was sitting for the whole puja. The puja was close to 3 hrs. A kid of 5 years doing no nonsense sitting at a puja , I feel now is due to the greatness of Ayyappan.

Years passed by and I was also evoulving as a humanbeing and completed my graduation in the year 1990, it was Physics my graduation, and struggling hard to know what I need to know after my graduation.

Since we were from outside chennai, Knowing more about other options in career virtually nill, my only aim was to get a seat in M.Sc( Physics), Unfortunately for me, I didnot get seat in any good colleges.

Remember it was September 1991 and I didnot get any seat. Was in terrible depression about my future and what I am going to do next?. There was a beautiful Ayyappan temple was constructed near my home and I use to go their and pray. One day I asked him to give a seat for M.SC., If I get it I will come trekking 48 miles.

For my surprise, I got a seat in M.Sc.( applied electronic) in my college and I got admitted on 18th December 1991. See 18th December was the date and 1 st semester would have got completed in most of the college but still I joined and completed the course.

So it was 1993, I should complete my prayer and I should trekkdown to Sabarimala. I told my mother and father. My mother was very much supportive but my father does not beleive in this sabarimala cult.

Went to temple , Identified my guru and wore mala for the first time. I felt light. I was looking bright and I was really started enjoying Sanyasi hood at that point of time.

We too conduted a beautiful pooja in our home and that day was un forgottable since my mother cooked lot of food for the puja, we do not know how many people would come. When we saw lot of people coming for puja, I was panicking but my mother was able to manage it well . Infact with the blessings of the Lord everybody appreciated our food and Puja.

The D day arrived , I was about to start my journey towards Sabarimala. It was 12th January 1994 , my date with Ayyappa started. It was one of the toughest journey in my whole life.

We reached Erumeli in the evening 8 PM, I never seen such a rush in my whole life, I was asked to do pettai thullal and asked to start trekking.

First I was carrying whole lot of medicine, dresses and what not. Big luggage for such a nice trekking was a big mistake. That time I do not know I should carry a backbag, So I was carrying a Jolna bag ( Side bag).

Since Life back home was so easy , I was not able to match the speed of fellow devotees and my walking ability went for question. I was able to make upto Azhutha with difficulty. From then on I need to climb a step mountain Azhutha. There is a saying that if you climb it you will definetely cry. It happen to me since my lifestyle was so easy that the journey showed me the real life ahead .

Somehow we reached Mookuli Bhagavathy temple and from then on the journey should be smooth till Karimalai medu. But again I was into problem of not able to walk due to my exhaustion. All the devotees who came with me thought that I would not make immediately. The left me in a place and went on trekking.

I started myself and started to think about Ayyappan for the first time . I started to walk slowly but I gained speed in due course. In the whole rush of devotees , I know only Ayyappan. So It was me and him only. The talk with Lord started for the first time and I was so light and walking as if I am participating for a gold medal race in Olympics. ( exaggeration listen it) But fact.

I reached pampa around 9 PM where I met guru. He told me to ease myself and take rest. It was middle of the path and I took food and started sleeping. I got up by 5 AM,13th January 1994.

My fellow devotees came and joined with us on 13th January 1994 12 PM. So God was with me till the time I was near the holy 18 steps.

I saw the Jyothi for the firt time .

Curtain Raiser to know about the Lord Ayyappan .

Wait for more information on Lord

Swamiyae Saranam Ayyappa.