Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world with an estimated 50 million devotees visiting every year. Women between the ages of 10 and 50 are not allowed to enter the temple.
Truely speaking this is an unwanted discussion but this is written in national interest.
To know about the history of Sabarimala plse Visit the following link :
History Of Sabarimala
Coming to the topic, Let us see the basic factors that makes a devotee eligible to enter Sabarimala.
Lord Ayyappa devotees who wish to go to Sabarimala Temple observe vratham or follow certain austerities for one mandalam season that is 41 days. The main aim of the Mandala Kala Vratam is to purify the mind and soul. The Mandalam season begins in the Malayalam month Vrichikam and ends in the middle of Dhanu month.
Austerities followed during Mandala Vratham
Those devotees going to the Sabarimala temple apart from observing the austerities wear a mala made from Rudrakhsam or Tulsi beeds. This ritual is known as Maladharan. It is performed at a temple or in one’s own house after performing a simple puja. The garland is received from a temple priest or from a guruswami or from an elderly person amidst chanting of Swami Saranam.
Devotees during this period wear blue, black or ochre (yellow-orange color) dress. Most devotees do not cut their hair or shave during the Mandalam period.
Truely speaking this is an unwanted discussion but this is written in national interest.
To know about the history of Sabarimala plse Visit the following link :
History Of Sabarimala
Coming to the topic, Let us see the basic factors that makes a devotee eligible to enter Sabarimala.
Lord Ayyappa devotees who wish to go to Sabarimala Temple observe vratham or follow certain austerities for one mandalam season that is 41 days. The main aim of the Mandala Kala Vratam is to purify the mind and soul. The Mandalam season begins in the Malayalam month Vrichikam and ends in the middle of Dhanu month.
Austerities followed during Mandala Vratham
- Waking up early and having a bath.
- Many people visit a nearby shrine or pray at home.
- Most devotees take food only after bath.
- Non-vegetarian food is totally avoided during the 41 day period.
- Devotees try to consume freshly cooked vegetarian food.
- Evening bath and visiting a shrine or puja at home is performed.
- Devotees observe Brahmacharyam (no sex or celibacy) during the vratham period.
Those devotees going to the Sabarimala temple apart from observing the austerities wear a mala made from Rudrakhsam or Tulsi beeds. This ritual is known as Maladharan. It is performed at a temple or in one’s own house after performing a simple puja. The garland is received from a temple priest or from a guruswami or from an elderly person amidst chanting of Swami Saranam.
Devotees during this period wear blue, black or ochre (yellow-orange color) dress. Most devotees do not cut their hair or shave during the Mandalam period.
My Question, can a woman complete her 41 days vrata ?
A woman gets into her Menstruation period in an average of 21 days, the sabarimala vrata requires 41 days of vrata and on these days of vrata, the devotee must regularly visit temples, do mantra chanting at home and make himself energized. Which is impossible by a woman of the particular age group.When we visit Sabarimala, we are going there by becoming Ayyappa himself (Tat Tvam Asi) . Each devotee taking the vrata is called Swami Ayyappa and is respected as God in our tradition as he is in the extreme state of purity.
The word “TATWAMASI”, inscribed in front of the Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala, affirms that the Grand Reality of the Cosmos is same as the essential Divinity within us, and thus relates the devotee to the Lord Ayyappa.
Another reason...
Malikapurathamma is the Goddess that is worshipped in a subsidiary shrine at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Malikapurathamma Temple is visited after having darshan of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. As per the story of Malikapurathamma, she is Demoness Mahishi who was annihilated by Ayyappa. When Mahishi – the buffalo-headed demon – was killed by Ayyappa, she changed into a beautiful woman. Mahishi in her previous birth was the daughter of Sage Galvan. She was cursed by a student of Galvan to become a buffalo headed demon. With Ayyappa killing Mahishi, she attained reprieve from curse.
The beautiful woman wanted to marry Ayyappa. But Ayyappa told her that he is a Brahmachari. Ayyappa asked her to reside near his temple in Sabarimala. Her temple in time came to be known as Malikapurathamma Temple. Ayyappa also told her that He will marry her when no first timer (kanni Ayyappa) comes to Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.
Goddess Malikapurathamma, one among the greatest of yoginis and celestial beauties was not allowed entry inside the temple. All the woman who fights for entry inside the temple is seen just as incarnations of demoness Mahishi. These Mahishis can wait till there is no more first timer to come to Sabarimala, so that Malikapurathamma can marry the Lord.
Demoness Mahishi fights for entry but curse freed Goddess, Malikapurathamma waits, Woman can wait and see him in your old age, let your sons and son in laws take aid you there.
