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SWAAMI SARANAM !!
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This Post has my Experiences during the REcent Visit to sabarimala via ERUMELI !! alMost 70 Kms of Walk ..
This post is dedicated to all AYYAPPA devotees and to those who are eager to know what Actually is in SABARIMALA !!

PS : SHORTCOMINGS shoulD be forgiven ...
PLSS ... comment oN the POST..



DAY 1 ( 6 - DEC - 2007 )
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We started the holy journey from PAZHAVANGADI temple in Trivandrum where we filled our PALLIKETU .We went to changanacherry by Kerala Express were 23 other people joined our pilgrimage. At around 7 P.M. we boarded bus to Erumeli, one & half hours journey . We alighted there and stayed @ AYYAPA SEVA SANGHAM's rest house . Then we did the Holy PETTATHULLAL with the pilgrims there .
TheN sleep ...............

DAY 2 ( 7 Dec 2007 )
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In the morning , we had our bath in a river nearby @ erumeli .We visited the Ayyapa temple there and VAvaru palli ( mosque ) there . After that ,we started our bon voyage. :)
We walked through dense forests till we reached "Kaalaketti " , the place which is believed to be the one where Lord Ayyapa tied the " MahishI " . Almost all deities are believed to have given blessings to Ayyapa there . There is a temple of Lord Shiva there .We rested for about an hour there for all our groupmates to arrive .Then we resumed our journey till we reached the base of Azhutha Hill . We took a bathe in Azhutha river & as per belief, took a round stone from Azhutha river & carried it uphill.Actually of the 2 hills , karimala is considered to be difficult for climbing .But for me it was " Azhutha ". The hill was steep and i was completely exhausted midway , but my pals Anoop and Deepak showed no signs of exhaustion. So I asked them to continue their journey and asked them to wait for me at the hilltop .After sometime , I revived my energy resumed climbing .At the top of the hill , there is a place called " KALLIDANKUNNU" where we are to drop the stone which we took from Azhutha river .I placed my stone there .We rested at the hilltop for sometime. We started our downward journey . Anoop ran all the way down. Deepak and me walked slowly enjoying all the beauty of the place . We reached a place called "MUKKUZHI" and rested there ie "VIRI VECHU " . That night was superb with comic scenes .Along with us were several other ayyapa's staying ( staying is exaggerated , actually it is just a Thatched place to SLEEp ) Our group sang some devotional songs & were in full jive till 10:00 Pm. After that everybody slept . At around 4 - 5 Am some swami saw a Dog's eye and mistook it as a Leopard n cried "Puli".My gudness , there was a perfect Pandemonium ! All my pals climbed On trees or either jumped up . I was in sound sleep n didn't know about all this stuff .When i woke up hearing all these sound, i saw deepak climbing down from a highrise .
Funny it was !

DAY 3 ( 8 Dec 2007 )
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We resumed our journey early morning and reached " kariyila thodu " .We took a bath in the ice cold water there .To reach there we walked through the " Periyar Tiger Reserve " area .we saw fresh eviDence of tuskers there " fresh Dung ".After bath , the next task was to climb KARIMALA . It was not like Azhutha , it had flat portions and steep slopes alternatively .
Like that the Uphill path had 7 sections .Climbing karimala was a bit easy,though i got exhausted once and we rested for 10 minutes and resumed climbIng . We reached the hilltop after some time. There was a temple and a well. The well has the footprint of Sreerama & the well never gets dried up .We waited for our other troop members to arrive there. Almost for 3 hrs , we rested there. When everybody arrived ,we resumed our journey to Holy Pamba. Unlike climbing , 'mala irakkom ' was difficult . The path was so steep that ,my calf muscle started getting Cramps.We reached " valiyanavattom ", which is the bottom place of karimala .. n we walked continously and reached " Cheriyanavattom ". we were nearing our destination .. " PAmBA " n finally we reached there .I was deeply in agony when i saw the massive crowd over there and the pitiful state of " holy PamBa river ".We took our bath from the reservoir which is quite away from PAMBA.
At evening , we started climbing "NEELIMALA " after taking the blessings of " pamba GAnAPATHI ". It was simply " HEAVY RUSH " over there . Every corner of the hill was filled by Devotees .We walked through "appachimedu " n reached " MArakootam" . From tHere the queue started to SANNIDHANAM . we were trapped in it . All others in our group went frenzy and ran through the forest , creating new pathways and reached " sannidhanam ". Our immense luck made us get a call from " Kuttu Sir " . He adviced us to leave the queue and meet him. We did so, we begged the policemen there and he allowed us to go through the ' chandrasanan road ' and met others near the sannidhanam .From there ,we saw the queue ,my Goodness .. if we were in it , we could not have made the darsanam even after 18 hrs ... We walked through the holy 18 steps to reach the abode of Lord Ayyapa . we viewed the deity clearly and at that time my mind went numb and i couldn't take my eyes from Lord's face ...
We stayed at the pilgrim centre there that night . At around 11:00 pm we heard the
"HARIVARASANAM" sang to make the lord sleep..

DAY 4( 9 DEC 2007 )
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We prepared the stuff for neyyabhishekam early morning and went for the holy Darsan again .We were able to view Lord in close range .. My luck allowed me to see the lord the 3rd time . After getting the neyyabhishekam done , we started descending the holy HILL with joy filled MInd . I reached TRIVANDRUm by around 7:00 Pm. Anoop's father made arrangements for our return journey in KSRTC bus from PAMBA .

The journey was a marvellous experience for me .. I didn't feel tired after the hectic 70 Kms walking nor did my legs complain .My minD became fresh after the Trip.

HOPE U ENJOYED MY POST !! WAIT EAGERLY FOR MY NEXT UPDATE !!