Malayali Hindus score another point with festivities
Venkat Raman
December 16, 2020
The Auckland Malayali Hindu Samajam deserves credit for having brought together more than 500 devotees from Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington to celebrate ‘Ayyappan Vilakku,’ a solemn annual event that inspires discipline, orderliness, piety and abstinence among devotees.
A Report sent by Samajam Committee Member Athulya Shreejit Nair said that the six-hour long Programme, held at Shri Ganesh Temple in Papakura, South Auckland on Saturday, November 28, 2020 followed the rituals seen at Sabarimala in Kerala where Lord Ayyappan has His Abode, witnessing more than 50 million devotees arriving from various parts of the world.
Strict codes observed
Samajam President Gopal Ayyar and his team of Committee Members and volunteers organised the event with a sound knowledge of the stringent code of conduct and protocol for Ayyappan Vilakku.
This included preparation of ‘Irumudi’ ( a small bundle of two compartments of offerings for Lord Ayyappan, traditionally carried by devotees visiting Sabarimala, the abode of the Lord), prepared the previous evening at the residence of Ragavan Rengachariar), their arrival, carried by devotes to the Temple. The Ayyappan Vilakku Pooja was held at a specially erected Marquee outside the Temple.
Chief Priest Parameswaran (Chandru) conducted the proceedings with such mastery that a few devotees said that the experience was similar to the one he had obtained at Sabarimala on a previous visit. The Programme included Ekakumba Pooja, Sankalpam, Vigneswara Pooja, Rudrabishekam, Neyyabhishekam, Kumbabishegam and Mahadeepaarathanai (Aarthi).
Chandru was supported by his assistants Vasudevan Sharma, Vijithan Sivakumaran and Ramachandran (Ramesh), while chanting of the Rudra was by Venkat Subramanian, Ragavan Rengachariar, Manoj (Wellington) Sunil Kumar, Alamelu Ragavan and Lakshmanan.
Traditional Kerala cuisine was served for Maha Prasadam (dinner) with Aravana Payasam and Appam.
About Makara Vilakku
Makara Vilakku Pooja is one of the most significant prayer offerings to Lord Ayyappan.
Directly linked to the beginning of the Sabarimala pilgrimage, the pious seasons begins on the first day of the Malayalam month of Vrichikam (between November 14 and 17). The pilgrimage continues through to the following month, with the first day of Malayalam month of Makara being the most important.
Hindus the world over, mark this day as In the rest of the country, this day is known as the Makara Shankaranthi, a significant day for devotees of Lord Ayyappan.
On this day, the ‘Thiruvaabaranam (Jewels) of Lord Ayyappan are transferred from the Old Pandalam Palace to the Sabarimala temple.
According to a legend, Krishnaparanthu, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu closely follows the Thiruvaabaranam procession. This is a rare species of eagle and is not commonly season, except at the procession.
After it follows the procession, the bird circles above the Sannidhanam at Sabarimala. After making nine circles around the Shrine, and paying its respects to the Deity, it flies away, only to be seen the following year at the procession.
Single Star on the horizon
The legend also says that on the day of the Pooja, the sky will be characterised only one Nakshatram (Start) on the horizon, appearing when Lord Ayyappan adorns the Thiruvaabaranam.
The disappearance of the Star is marked by the appearance of a Divya Jyothi on the hills opposite the Sabarimala Temple. This Divine Light shines thrice and then disappears. It signifies the benevolence of Lord Ayyappan and the hill on which it shines is called Ponnambalamedu.
There are only nine places in and around the temple complex from where this Divine Light can be witnessed.
Lord for worldwide devotees
Although principally a Hindu God, Lord Ayyappan is worshipped by millions of people of other religious beliefs, giving Him the Status of ‘Universal God.’ The devotees- all of them pilgrims – bring with them their prayer laden requests of absolution and help and with that, they bring garlands to adorn the Lord and chant paeans. They carry with them their Irumudi and bathe in the Holy River of Pampa.
Such is the call of Lord Ayyappan, that it cannot be resisted, and devotees take all kinds of pains to catch just a glimpse of the lord during the Makara Vilakku Pooja.
The legend and history are intermingled in the genesis of Ayyappan. It is believed that Ayyappan was born as progeny of the union of Vishnu and Shiva. Vishnu appeared as Mohini, the beautiful enchantress – the alluring damsel appearing at the time of the churning of the Ocean Of Milk to entice the asuras and divide the nectar (Amritham) among the Devas themselves. Shiva succumbed to the beauty of Mohini and Ayyappan was born out of this union. Hence the name Hari Hara Putra – Hari (Vishnu), Hara (Shiva), Putra (son). Ayyappan is regarded as the third son of Shiva, the other two being Ganesha and Muruga.
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