Makaravilakku marks the grand finale of the two-month period of the Sabarimala pilgrimage. This follows the arrival of 'Thiruvabharanam' from Pandalam to Sannidhanam.
Three days prior to this , the procession carrying the holy caskets containing the sacred ornaments , as also other relics and paraphernalia needed for special poojas at Sabarimala , starts on its long trek from Pandalam. A scion of the Pandalam royal family , chosen and blessed by the Valiya Thampuran (Senior Raja) accompanies the procession in a palanquin (pallakku).
Thiruvabharanam
A member of royal family chosen by the Valiya Thampuran (Senior Raja) accompanies the Thiruvabharanam procession from Pandalam to Sannidhanam and back. All through the journey, people in large numbers pay their respects to the Raja of Pandalam and receive ‘vibhuthy’ from him. Devotees ,particularly women,who are prohibited from going to Sabarimala, can have opportunities for ‘darshan’ of the holy ornaments at Srampickal Palace during Mandalam-Makaravilakku season.
Other customs include :
• The Valiya Thampuran never goes to Sabarimala.
• Male children before ‘upanayanam’ (thread ceremony) and female members of the Palace are not allowed to undertake the pilgrimage.
• No one from Pandalam royal family goes to Sannidhanam on Makaravilakku day.
• Family members do not stand right in front of the sanctum sanctorum while at Sabarimala.
• Members of Pandalam palace need not carry ‘irumudikettu’ while climbing ‘pathinettampadi’.
• The Pandalam Valiya koikkal temple remains closed for 12 days upon the death of any member of the Palace.
On 28th Dhanu (around 12th January), the day the procession is to start, at 4 in the morning , the holy boxes are taken from Srampickal palace and moved to the temple for viewing and worship. 'Darshan' of the Ornaments and rendering of offerings to them on this occasion are believed to be highly auspicious and beneficial.
Palanquin
Thousands queue by the sacred pieces now. At around 1 o'clock in the afternoon , a brahminy kite (popularly known as 'krishnapparunthu') will be sighted circling majestically far above the temple. Devotees believe that this is Lord Vishnu upon 'Garuda' accompanying the Thiruvabharanam from Pandalam through Sabarimala where again the kite is found hovering above the temple synchronizing with the arrival of the procession there. The chanting of the Lord's name rises to a thunderous crescendo at the sight of the kite and deafening explosions of crackers rend the air. The Boxes are closed and taken out of the temple by specially deputed bearers.
[Krishnapparunthu at the start of Thiruvabharanam procession at Pandalam]
The ValiyaThampuran has will arrive in royal style from his Palace to the temple and is by now inside the temple to offer 'vibhuthy' to the members of the procession as also to his represndative whom he has chosen to escort the Thiruvabharanam. The delegation of authority and responsibility by the Senior Raja to his representative is symbolized by the former handing over a sword to the latter.
The procession will start. The frenzied movements of the bearers of the boxes, the rising tempo of the devotees chanting 'Swamiye-Ayyappo', the exploding fireworks, The Pandalam Raja accompanying the Thiruvabharanam in his palanquin, the infectious excitement of the surging crowds and the seemingly unperturbed hovering of the 'krishnapparunthu' far above-all make up an indescribably magnificent moment when the journey starts for the distant hill shrine, marking the fulfillment of a vow, the consummation of a dream, the vindication of a faith.
Three days prior to this , the procession carrying the holy caskets containing the sacred ornaments , as also other relics and paraphernalia needed for special poojas at Sabarimala , starts on its long trek from Pandalam. A scion of the Pandalam royal family , chosen and blessed by the Valiya Thampuran (Senior Raja) accompanies the procession in a palanquin (pallakku).
Thiruvabharanam
A member of royal family chosen by the Valiya Thampuran (Senior Raja) accompanies the Thiruvabharanam procession from Pandalam to Sannidhanam and back. All through the journey, people in large numbers pay their respects to the Raja of Pandalam and receive ‘vibhuthy’ from him. Devotees ,particularly women,who are prohibited from going to Sabarimala, can have opportunities for ‘darshan’ of the holy ornaments at Srampickal Palace during Mandalam-Makaravilakku season.
Other customs include :
• The Valiya Thampuran never goes to Sabarimala.
• Male children before ‘upanayanam’ (thread ceremony) and female members of the Palace are not allowed to undertake the pilgrimage.
• No one from Pandalam royal family goes to Sannidhanam on Makaravilakku day.
• Family members do not stand right in front of the sanctum sanctorum while at Sabarimala.
• Members of Pandalam palace need not carry ‘irumudikettu’ while climbing ‘pathinettampadi’.
• The Pandalam Valiya koikkal temple remains closed for 12 days upon the death of any member of the Palace.
On 28th Dhanu (around 12th January), the day the procession is to start, at 4 in the morning , the holy boxes are taken from Srampickal palace and moved to the temple for viewing and worship. 'Darshan' of the Ornaments and rendering of offerings to them on this occasion are believed to be highly auspicious and beneficial.
Palanquin
Thousands queue by the sacred pieces now. At around 1 o'clock in the afternoon , a brahminy kite (popularly known as 'krishnapparunthu') will be sighted circling majestically far above the temple. Devotees believe that this is Lord Vishnu upon 'Garuda' accompanying the Thiruvabharanam from Pandalam through Sabarimala where again the kite is found hovering above the temple synchronizing with the arrival of the procession there. The chanting of the Lord's name rises to a thunderous crescendo at the sight of the kite and deafening explosions of crackers rend the air. The Boxes are closed and taken out of the temple by specially deputed bearers.
[Krishnapparunthu at the start of Thiruvabharanam procession at Pandalam]
The ValiyaThampuran has will arrive in royal style from his Palace to the temple and is by now inside the temple to offer 'vibhuthy' to the members of the procession as also to his represndative whom he has chosen to escort the Thiruvabharanam. The delegation of authority and responsibility by the Senior Raja to his representative is symbolized by the former handing over a sword to the latter.
The procession will start. The frenzied movements of the bearers of the boxes, the rising tempo of the devotees chanting 'Swamiye-Ayyappo', the exploding fireworks, The Pandalam Raja accompanying the Thiruvabharanam in his palanquin, the infectious excitement of the surging crowds and the seemingly unperturbed hovering of the 'krishnapparunthu' far above-all make up an indescribably magnificent moment when the journey starts for the distant hill shrine, marking the fulfillment of a vow, the consummation of a dream, the vindication of a faith.
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Thiruvabharanam procession
The procession takes the age-old route through village roads, across rivers and up and down hills. The Raja (Thampuran) and other members are accorded reception at various places by various devotee-groups, including tribals. All through the procession , people in large numbers pay their respects to the Raja and receive 'vibhuthy' from him. After scheduled halts at Ayroor-Puthiyukavu and Laha, the procession reaches Valiyanavattom(Pampa) on the 3rd day(1st Makaram). From there the Thiruvabharanam proceeds through the traditional forest route to Saramkuthi while the Thampuran (Raja) and his aides go to the Rajamandapam near the Pampa Ganapathy temple and stay there.
Thiruvabharanam procession
The procession takes the age-old route through village roads, across rivers and up and down hills. The Raja (Thampuran) and other members are accorded reception at various places by various devotee-groups, including tribals. All through the procession , people in large numbers pay their respects to the Raja and receive 'vibhuthy' from him. After scheduled halts at Ayroor-Puthiyukavu and Laha, the procession reaches Valiyanavattom(Pampa) on the 3rd day(1st Makaram). From there the Thiruvabharanam proceeds through the traditional forest route to Saramkuthi while the Thampuran (Raja) and his aides go to the Rajamandapam near the Pampa Ganapathy temple and stay there.
The Raja of Pandalam who stayed back at Pampa on 1st Makaram arrives at Sabarimala on 3rd Makaram.Devotees continue to arrive in large numbers for ‘darshan’ of the deity adorned with the holy ornaments and to obtain the blessings of the Raja. ‘Darshan’ on the morning of 7th Makaram is exclusively restricted to the Pandalam Raja, after which the temple will be closed and the Raja returns to Pandalam , taking the Thiruvabharanam with him.
There the Melsanthi(chief priest) receives the Raja who then climbs up the holy steps and worships the Lord. At Sabarimala the Raja stays in the Rajamandapam at Malikappuram . Carrying his sword of authority , he goes to the Ayyappa shrine overseeing the various poojas and returns after receiving 'prasadam' from the Melsanthi. 'KalabhaAbhishekom' of Ayyappa deity is performed on 5th and 'guruthi' at Malikappuram on 6th of Makaram. The Raja also offers 'dakshina' to Thanthri, Melsanthi and others. After the 'guruthi', the Raja moves over to a room up Pathinettampadi. Next morning , he sets out for Pandalam , taking the Ornaments with him. Minutes before his departure, he comes to the sanctum sanctorum to take leave of the Lord. It is now an extremely emotional and moving scene when the Sannidhanam holds only the two : The Lord and the Raja of Pandalam ; even the chief priest moves out of sight, leaving the Raja alone to commune with the God. After a few minutes , the priest returns and seeks the permission of the Raja to close the Sreekovil for the season and then hands over the key to the Raja in a ritualistic gesture that re-establishes the rights of Pandalam Raja over the shrine at Sabarimala.
[The Raja - the last person to climb down Pathinettampadi]
[Raja handing over key of the Sreekovil to the Devaswom authorities]
Thiruvabharanam Return Journey
After the Makaravilakku , the Sabarimala temple is closed for the season on the morning of 7th Makaram. Immediately the return journey commences. The first overnight halt is at Laha. The second day the procession reaches Perunadhu Temple. This is the temple constructed by the Raja of Pandalam .
Staying at Perunadhu the Raja personally supervised the construction of the Sabarimala temple. The Ayyappa deity in this temple is also adorned with the holy ornaments. Thousands , especially women queue up to have the 'darshan' and to obtain 'vibhuthy' from the Raja of Pandalam . On 9th Makaram, the procession moves to Aranmula Kottaram (Palace) and halts there. On the 10th Makaram around 8 am, the holy journey reaches back in Pandalam.
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