Tucked among dense forests and gurgling streams, the temple town of Sabarimala on the bank of Pamba river is the renowned temple dedicated to lord Ayyappa. Located in the Sabari hills, towards the east of Pathanamthitta district, the hills are part of the Western Ghats. The oldest historical accounts about Sabarimala are found in the writings of Xuanzang. As per Legends, the temple of Sabarimala was built by lord Parasurama (an incarnation of lord Vishnu), who was believed to have reclaimed the land of Kerala from the sea. He thereby established this grand temple to protect Kerala from destructive elements, as part of the five ‘pancha sastha’ temples. In Sabarimala, lord Ayyappa is worshipped as a brahmachari (unmarried) in a state of eternal bliss, who sought this solitary abode in the wild so as to meditate.
He was embraced by Pandala king Rajasekhara and cured the almost totally senseless teacher's child. Because of underhanded controls of his stride mother, he went to woods and executed demoness Mahishi and came to kingdom riding on tiger for giving milk of tiger to his stride mother. After that he went to thick woodland and vanished. Upon the guidelines of Ayyappa, the king fabricated a sanctuary for him here. There is an otherworldly connection existing between lord Ayyappa and lord Saturn. In the wake of watching inconveniences brought by lord Sani to his devotees, he recommended Ayyappa deeksha for 41+ days as a solution. Humans show much interest in wearing colorful clothes in daily life. But, devotees of Lord Ayyappa wear just black clothes.
Exact reason is people will wear Ayyappa Mala in the winter season and black cloths will absorb heat and protect the body from cold climate. And black clothes will hide the people from wild animals at night when they travel in Sabarimala forest to reach the shrine. Since it is the favorite color for lord Saturn, by wearing black clothes, the lord will be pleased and bless the devotees. People wear rudraksha, Spatika, Tulasi, Sandalwood, Coral, Lotus beads around the neck at the time of this temple visit. Rudrakshas will control anger and blood pressure, Tulasi beads beat unnecessary heat, Sandalwood beads will remove unwanted thirst, Spatika (Crystal) beads will absorb toxins from the body, Coral beads makes uniform blood flow in the body, Lotus beads will eliminate skin diseases.
These 48 days are called as ‘Mandala Deeksha’ and it is compared to 27 stars + 12 Zodiac signs + 9 Planets. It means, the devotees need to overcome all the effects of stars, zodiac signs, planets and reach the lord. Many of the ayurveda treatments also have a span of 41 days. People in deeksha should not apply oil to hair, should not shave and lead simple life by quitting all bad habits in these days period. People need to wake up early in the morning around 4 AM which is called 'Brahma muhurta' where the brain cells can perform in higher magnitude and fills our body with new life force. By litting camphor, the smoke arising from camphor will clear the sinus, which is the main reason devotees worship lord Ayyappa twice a day by lighting camphor. Cold water baths have many medicinal benefits in winter and explains leaving worldly comforts by controlling the mind to see the lord.
Leaving spicy, hot and salty tastes and eating vegetarian food which is easily digestible will raise immunity power and control the mind and thought process. Preparing food by self and omitting outside food is good hygiene protecting from various contagious diseases which spreads in winter. Walking with bare feet without using sandals will act as treatment of acupuncture and controls blood pressure. Sleeping on the floor will relieve various ailments in the body due to earth’s magnetic force. Performing Japas and Bajans with a group of devotees and attending to meals offered by devotees will make the person socially active by giving equal importance to people irrespective of caste, religion, race and social status. It is one among very few temples which accept devotees irrespective of their race, lineage and religion.