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Kerala's Sabrimala Temple promotes communal harmony
Saturday, 8 December, 2007
Sabarimala (Kerala), Dec.7 (ANI): Drawing millions of devotees from different parts of the country and abroad, the world famous Sabarimala Temple in Kerala has also been promoting communal harmony for a long time.
While visiting the Sabarimala temple, the devotees also pay their respects to a Muslim deity 'Vavar' as a lieutenant of Lord Ayyappa.
After worshiping at the main sanctum santorum, the devotees go to worship the Muslim deity of Vavar that is located in proximity of a few metres to the main temple.
A carved stone slab symbolises the deity of Vavarswami. There is no distinguishable idol here. Covered with a green silk cloth on the three sides of a wall while the fourth side is open, the Vavarswami (the Vavar) is offered pepper as main offering.
A Muslim priest performs the rituals even today. Belonging to Vavar's family, the pries distributes the sacred ash as "Prasadam" (Gods' offering) to the pilgrims in front of the Temple.
Devotees, having climbed the 18 sacred steps, are expected to loudly chant "Swamiya Saranam Ayyapa".
Legend has it that Lord Ayyappa was born in to annihilate demon princess Mahishi, who caused destruction of the pious. For this, Ayyappa had to take a mortal form and live as an earthly being.
After annihilating Mahishi and the successful completion of divine work, the Lord preferred to reside at the land of "Sabarimala" in Kerala, where the great Tapaswani (or, the ascetic) "Sabari" was given holy glimpse by Lord Rama and salvation by Lord Ayyappa.
About five million people visit the Sabarimala Temple annually.
Lord Ayyappan is a symbol of religious unity and communal harmony. Being born out of Mohini (the female incarnation of Lord Vishnu) and Lord Shiva, he is also known as Bhuthanatha, Dharmasastha, Hariharan, Ayyanar and Manikanta.
Situated atop the Sabarimala Hill in the Western Ghats of Kerala, the renowned temple devoted to Lord Ayyappa is a pilgrimage centre since ancient time. It lies in the thick forests of Kerala's Pattanamthitta District.
Sabarimala temple is open to all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, social status or nationality.
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 Sabrimala Lord is a chaste yogi. (ANI)
--MP Labels: Sabarimala
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