Sabarimalai is the holy place for the Hindu. This divine is located in Western Ghats ranges held in Pathanamthitta district in the state Kerala. Every year not less than fifty million devotees are visiting this place to get the dharsan of Lord Aiyyappa. This is the place where God Aiyyappa sat for meditation after killing Mahsi.
Ayyappan temple is situated in between eighteen hills. This temple placed at the top of the hill of about 468 m above the ocean level. The temple is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. Beyond this main temple there are some other temples in this region are Nilackal, Kalaketi, and Karimala, remnants of old temples survive to this day on remaining hills.
There are some rules are straightly followed that women between the age ten to fifty are not allowed inside the temple. But men of all ages are allowed to can able have a dharsan of Lord Aiyyappa. The temple is opened in the time of November to December and Makara Sankranthi in January, Vishu in April and first 6 days of every Malayalam month.
Devotees of Lord Aiyyappa used to follow the penance for forty one days and they finish the penance at Aiyyappan temple. Most of the devotees are following the path from Erumely, Aludha River, Karivilam thodu, Cheriyanavattom, Valliyanavattom and finally reach Pamba River. After that they have to get into Ganesh bettam in neeleemala. After that all the devotees needs to walk for nine kilometers from Neelimala to reach Sabarimala.
Nowadays, all the facilities are afforded to the visitors by opening shops and medical facilities. This shrine is under the control of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The income of Sabarimala is not less than sixty crores. The prasatham afforded to the devotees are Aravana prasatham and Appam.
Keywords: sabarimala, holy place, Kerala state, Aiyyappa
