21.09.2008
I am just back from my annual pilgrimage to Sabhari Mala. Yes, I am tired and my legs are stiff and sore! Yet I am totally at peace with myself. As I use this Sunday to contemplate on the journey and the temples we visited, I thank Lord Ayyappan for being with us throughout the Journey and protecting us from harm and danger.
Before I begin a brief description of some of the Temples we visited, I thought it fit that I should dwell upon the significance of the Eighteen Steps which are at the heart of the Pilgrimmage to Sabhari. In fact, most veterans of Sabhari Yatra invariably enquire whether the pilgrim could comfortably transcend the Eighteen Steps. While the divine darshan is the boon of the pilgrimage, for the devotee who has maintained his Vratha and has carried the Iru Mudi on his head, climbing the Eighteen steps in peace and tranquility is the culmination of the Yatra.
What is the significance of the Eighteen Steps?
As in most symbolism related issues, especially more so in Hindu Mythology, there is more than one way of understanding the Eighteen Steps.
Significance of the number Eighteen
To begin with, Eighteen is significant number in Hinduism: the Mahabharathe war was fought in Eighteen Days; The Bhagavad Geetha has Eighteen Chapters; The main Puranas are Eighteen. Eighteen is a complete number.
The origin of the Eighteen Steps.
When Ayyappan decided to leave this earthly abode and take up his rightful place amongst the celestial pantheon, he selected the sacred Sabhari hill as the spot for his ascent. He bade farewell to his father-on-earth, Panthala Raja and ascended to the skies where Indira the King of Gods had created the Seat of Knowledge (Jnana Peetam). This throne was a bit high for our Lord who was just twelve years old. In order to facilitate his
Ascent, eighteen Devas who had come to witness the sight, lay themselves down quickly at His feet. Ayyappan then climbed on these Eighteen divine “steps” to reach the throne where he sat in the Yogic position. The Eighteen Devas froze into the Eighteen Steps. Later, when Parasuramar established the original temple, he worshipped these Eighteen steps and further sanctified them. The Steps are in themselves divine and therefore worthy of worship. This is called Padi Pooja.. These steps are also called The Eighteen Golden Steps of Absolute Truth. (Sathiyamana Ponnu Pathinettu Padigal)
Some also state that Ayyappan was carrying Eighteen different types of weapons when he came t Sabhari, which he sacrificed to create the Eighteen steps that he climbed to reach his throne.
The original Eighteen Steps were narrow and difficult to climb. The earlier practice of breaking Coconuts on the step indicating the number of each pilgrims journey to Sabhari had chipped and mutilated the steps so much that the Devaswom has covered the original steps with Gold plated even ones that we see today. (By the grace of Ayyappan, I have had the opportunity to climb the original steps on my first, second and third trips during 1982 to 1984.)
The Symbolism of The Steps
There are many lists of Eighteen associated with the steps. A popular one gives the following:
The Five Sense Organs (Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Hands and feet), The Five Senses (Sight, Hearing, Smell, Taste and Touch), the Five Koshas or figurative coverings of the body (Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya, Jnana Maya and Ananda Maya) and the Three Gunas ( Rajogunam, Thamogunam and Sathva Gunam).
These Eighteen are obstructions in the path of oneness with God. The true devotees of Ayyappan alone are taught the secret of controlling and Chanelizing these qualities and transcending these limitations by crossing the Eighteen steps. In this sense the climbing the Eighteen Steps is a figurative conquest of our own limitations and achieving our fullest potential by the grace of God. Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!!!
Another view links the Eighteen steps to the eighteen Vital spots in the Human nervous system as listed in the Shareera Sasthra namely 1. Mooladharam,2. Swaadhistanam, 3. Manipooragam, 4. Anaahatham, 5. Vambi, 6. Visuddhi, 7. Aangatha, 8. Bindhu, 9. Ardha Chakram, 10. Rosini, 11. Naagam, 12. Santharam, 13. Shakthi, 14. Vyanikam, 15. Samanam, 16. Unmanam, 17. Maha Bindhu and 18. Sahasraaram. These Yoga Saasthra secrets are symbolically represented in the Eighteen Steps.
(If anyone knows of any other significance or reasons, do communicate it to me for my enlightenment and sharing with others. Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!!!)
None can climb these Eighteen steps without an Iru Mudi or sacred offering on their head, except the High Priest and his assistants and even they only after great purification and test during the performance of Padi Pooja. It is not possible to lift your head while carrying the Irumudi. Thus by a natural tendency the devotee climbs with his head bowed down, one step at a time. This, in my humble view is the true significance of the Pathinettu Padi. Our growth should be step by step and not a meteoric flash that disappears almost as it is seen. Such steady growth in slow yet sure steps is vouchsafed only to those who walk with a firm yet humble steps guided by God in His infinite Wisdom. Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.
(I have taken some of the data given above from a very useful and authoritative book written by Kovi. Arangan Swami titled “ A Complete Guide about Sabarimala. Set in Q & A pattern the book throws light on almost every facet of the Sabhari Pilgrimage through answers to 300 Questions. I happened upon it in the Ayyappa Seve Samajam bookj stall. After I had gone through it I asked the voulunteer for a copy I was pleasantly surprised to note that he was none other then the author Kovi Arangan Swami. He not only sold the book to me, he also autographed it for me!)
I am just back from my annual pilgrimage to Sabhari Mala. Yes, I am tired and my legs are stiff and sore! Yet I am totally at peace with myself. As I use this Sunday to contemplate on the journey and the temples we visited, I thank Lord Ayyappan for being with us throughout the Journey and protecting us from harm and danger.
Before I begin a brief description of some of the Temples we visited, I thought it fit that I should dwell upon the significance of the Eighteen Steps which are at the heart of the Pilgrimmage to Sabhari. In fact, most veterans of Sabhari Yatra invariably enquire whether the pilgrim could comfortably transcend the Eighteen Steps. While the divine darshan is the boon of the pilgrimage, for the devotee who has maintained his Vratha and has carried the Iru Mudi on his head, climbing the Eighteen steps in peace and tranquility is the culmination of the Yatra.
What is the significance of the Eighteen Steps?
As in most symbolism related issues, especially more so in Hindu Mythology, there is more than one way of understanding the Eighteen Steps.
Significance of the number Eighteen
To begin with, Eighteen is significant number in Hinduism: the Mahabharathe war was fought in Eighteen Days; The Bhagavad Geetha has Eighteen Chapters; The main Puranas are Eighteen. Eighteen is a complete number.
The origin of the Eighteen Steps.
When Ayyappan decided to leave this earthly abode and take up his rightful place amongst the celestial pantheon, he selected the sacred Sabhari hill as the spot for his ascent. He bade farewell to his father-on-earth, Panthala Raja and ascended to the skies where Indira the King of Gods had created the Seat of Knowledge (Jnana Peetam). This throne was a bit high for our Lord who was just twelve years old. In order to facilitate his
Ascent, eighteen Devas who had come to witness the sight, lay themselves down quickly at His feet. Ayyappan then climbed on these Eighteen divine “steps” to reach the throne where he sat in the Yogic position. The Eighteen Devas froze into the Eighteen Steps. Later, when Parasuramar established the original temple, he worshipped these Eighteen steps and further sanctified them. The Steps are in themselves divine and therefore worthy of worship. This is called Padi Pooja.. These steps are also called The Eighteen Golden Steps of Absolute Truth. (Sathiyamana Ponnu Pathinettu Padigal)
Some also state that Ayyappan was carrying Eighteen different types of weapons when he came t Sabhari, which he sacrificed to create the Eighteen steps that he climbed to reach his throne.
The original Eighteen Steps were narrow and difficult to climb. The earlier practice of breaking Coconuts on the step indicating the number of each pilgrims journey to Sabhari had chipped and mutilated the steps so much that the Devaswom has covered the original steps with Gold plated even ones that we see today. (By the grace of Ayyappan, I have had the opportunity to climb the original steps on my first, second and third trips during 1982 to 1984.)
The Symbolism of The Steps
There are many lists of Eighteen associated with the steps. A popular one gives the following:
The Five Sense Organs (Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, Hands and feet), The Five Senses (Sight, Hearing, Smell, Taste and Touch), the Five Koshas or figurative coverings of the body (Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya, Jnana Maya and Ananda Maya) and the Three Gunas ( Rajogunam, Thamogunam and Sathva Gunam).
These Eighteen are obstructions in the path of oneness with God. The true devotees of Ayyappan alone are taught the secret of controlling and Chanelizing these qualities and transcending these limitations by crossing the Eighteen steps. In this sense the climbing the Eighteen Steps is a figurative conquest of our own limitations and achieving our fullest potential by the grace of God. Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!!!
Another view links the Eighteen steps to the eighteen Vital spots in the Human nervous system as listed in the Shareera Sasthra namely 1. Mooladharam,2. Swaadhistanam, 3. Manipooragam, 4. Anaahatham, 5. Vambi, 6. Visuddhi, 7. Aangatha, 8. Bindhu, 9. Ardha Chakram, 10. Rosini, 11. Naagam, 12. Santharam, 13. Shakthi, 14. Vyanikam, 15. Samanam, 16. Unmanam, 17. Maha Bindhu and 18. Sahasraaram. These Yoga Saasthra secrets are symbolically represented in the Eighteen Steps.
(If anyone knows of any other significance or reasons, do communicate it to me for my enlightenment and sharing with others. Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!!!)
None can climb these Eighteen steps without an Iru Mudi or sacred offering on their head, except the High Priest and his assistants and even they only after great purification and test during the performance of Padi Pooja. It is not possible to lift your head while carrying the Irumudi. Thus by a natural tendency the devotee climbs with his head bowed down, one step at a time. This, in my humble view is the true significance of the Pathinettu Padi. Our growth should be step by step and not a meteoric flash that disappears almost as it is seen. Such steady growth in slow yet sure steps is vouchsafed only to those who walk with a firm yet humble steps guided by God in His infinite Wisdom. Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.
(I have taken some of the data given above from a very useful and authoritative book written by Kovi. Arangan Swami titled “ A Complete Guide about Sabarimala. Set in Q & A pattern the book throws light on almost every facet of the Sabhari Pilgrimage through answers to 300 Questions. I happened upon it in the Ayyappa Seve Samajam bookj stall. After I had gone through it I asked the voulunteer for a copy I was pleasantly surprised to note that he was none other then the author Kovi Arangan Swami. He not only sold the book to me, he also autographed it for me!)
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