History:

Sabarimala Temple is one of the famous pilgrimage sites in India located in the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala. It is one of the most important places of worship for Hindus from all around the world. Legend has it that it was originally visited by Sage Pandalam, who was believed to have been a Brahmin, and Ayyappan, the son of Shiva and Mohini, the female form of Vishnu. However, some people believe that the deity began to honor Ayyappan following an encounter he had with a group of saintly ascetics. The temple is said to have been constructed in the twelfth century by the Pandalam dynasty. The main deity of the temple is Shasta or Ayyappa, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Devotees from all over India and South East Asia come to the temple during the Mandalapooja and Makaravilakku festivals. It is one of the best temple in Kerala which you must visit.

Facts:

1. Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is one of the oldest and most famous Hindu temples of India. 2. It is located in the Periyar Tiger Reserve of the Western Ghat mountains of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. 3. The temple is dedicated to the deity "Ayyappan" (son of Shiva and Mohini, a form of Shiva's wife Vishnu) who is worshipped here in the form of Dharma Sastha. 4. The temple is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites of Kerala and the popular pilgrimage is held here from November to January. 5. During this time the temple witness millions of devotees from all over India. 6. This pilgrimage is known as "Mandalakalam" or the season of Ayyappan. 7. The temple is open only to Hindus and women between the age group of 10 to 50 are not allowed to enter the temple. 8. Sabarimala is also the only temple in India that does not use electricity and has been using 100% naturally produced energy since centuries. 9. It is believed that prayers and offerings to Sabarimala has divine power and will bring good luck and fortune to all who visit the temple. Here are some facts about the Kerala temple.These facts will help you understand why it is oldest temple list of the best temples in Kerala

Worship Method:

The worship method of Sabarimala temple in Kerala is based on a unique spiritual concept. The devotee undergoes a rigorous personal and spiritual process in preparation for the austerities. This involves the mandatory 41 days of penance, fasting, abstinence from personal comforts and the chanting of prayers and mantras. The day of Sabarimala pilgrimage usually falls on either December or January and pilgrims partake in a sacred ritual known as Vishu Kani – the dawn of auspiciousness – to commence their journey. On this day, the devotee must bathe in the Pampa river, adorn themselves with sandalwood paste and bath in the sacred water of the river. After which the devotee wears black and yellow garments to signify the colour of purity and offers flowers to the deity. Prayers are then offered to the divine which mark the commencement of the austerities period. The expenses of these rituals are typically sponsored by family members of the traveller or other devotees. Thereafter, the devotee follows a strict schedule of prayers, devotion and rituals to attain higher levels of spiritual consciousness and a closer connection with the divine. On reaching the temple, the devotee must bathe again in a special holy river, offer flowers to the Lord and rituals to be performed according to the prescribed protocol. Upon completion of the rituals, and with the Lord’s blessings, the devotee is relieved of their sins and is granted the desired wishes. This most visited temple in Kerala

Opening Timing:

? The opening timings of Sabarimala Temple in Kerala are from 4.00am to 11.00am and from 5.00pm to 8.30pm everyday. top temples in Kerala

How to reach:

Sabarimala Temple is located in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India. The distance from the capital, Thiruvananthapuram, is around 200 km. The nearest railway station to Sabarimala Temple is Chengannur and Kottayam Railway station. It is approximately 65 km and 110 km from both the railway stations. The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, which is 155 km away from Sabarimala. The temple can be reached by bus, taxi or auto rickshaw. Non-stop Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses ply to Sabarimala from many cities in Kerala like Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode. Private buses are also available from local cities to the temple. famous temples in Kerala