[RGK]

Originally Posted by MX6

@nowwhat. K J Yesudas stands for Kattassery Joseph Yesudas.
Yesu is Jesus in Tamil/ Malayalam. So Kattassery Joseph named his son as the Das of Jesus!
==============
If anyone listens to Yesudas singing Harivarasanam, their heart would surely melt. That man is beyond religion.

Absolutely. His voice is the first song on eve of 1st day (around 5.30 pm) of tamil month karthigai every year at sabarimala.
I met him in person in Walmart in Cincinnati during June 2004. He was extremely simple and gave his contact nos of his abhiramapuram office in chennai.

[simplyself]

Hi All.

Please let me know the route from Pampa to Chidambaram - Vaideeswaran Koil - Tanjavur - Pondicherry - Kanchi - Tirumala.

Also, can we go to Trivandrum and come to Chidambaram from Pampa?

Please let me know the road condition from Toppur checkpost to Mettur enroute Bhavani.

Thanks in advance.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by simplyself

Hi All.

Please let me know the route from Pampa to Chidambaram - Vaideeswaran Koil - Tanjavur - Pondicherry - Kanchi - Tirumala.

Also, can we go to Trivandrum and come to Chidambaram from Pampa?

Please let me know the road condition from Toppur checkpost to Mettur enroute Bhavani.

Thanks in advance.

Your circuit should be Pampa-MC Road-Trivandrum-Tirunelveli-Madurai-Trichy-Tanjore-Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai-Vaitheeswaran Koil-Sirkali-Chidambaram-Cuddalore-Pondy-Tindivanam-Vandavasi-Kanchipuram-Arakonam-Tirutanni-Nagari-Puttur-Renigunta-Tirupati

https://maps.google.co.in/maps?saddr...&via=3&t=m&z=8

Unless you have a strong reason to go to Mettur,do not take the Mettur route to Bhavani.Stick to the 4 laned highway via Salem-excellent road condition and lesser time as well.

Originally Posted by aargee

I promised some pics to Ranjit from Wadakanchery & here're some of them from the main town

Thanks Aargee,I somehow missed this post entirely and saw this when I was replying to somebody else.Thanks a ton for this-better late than never.Grew up in between all those places in the pictures

[simplyself]

The deeksha is prescribed for 'mandalam'. It is 40 days. Deeksha should be observed for mandalam duration.

Austerities like bathing with cold water, walking without footwear, abstinence from sex, non-vegetarian, smoking, drinking and other 'rules' like limited food are nothing but getting the devotee to experience the very basics of life - the life of an ascetic, without comforts. There are also a few safe guards against extreme devotion/austerity like saying that the devotee (himself known as Ayyappa) should not keep the Lord with empty-stomach.

Kerala police should be commended for their patience.

Facilities have improved a lot over the years. But accidents do occur, and tens of pilgrims lose lives in these.

Not all high caste people wear the sacred thread.

[balajird]

I have a different theory on the "Irumudi" (I have no intent to challenge the explanation of others and my sincere apologies if this post hurts anybody, this is just what I heard from my dad and what I believe makes sense to me as well).

In olden days, people have to undergo the trip by foot to the temple starting from "Erumeli", since there were no hotels or food available, they take the rice, dry fruits, coconut and a few additional edibles, the ghee in the coconut sealed helps to carry the ghee safely that could be used to prepare / consume food, this helps them to survive for the days they will have to walk through the forest and have darshan of Ayyappa samy. When I had my trip in 1995, I was told the above as to why the "Irumudi" has to have all these contents. I am convinced that along the lines of spiritual explanation, this practical explanation does makes sense.

As Vamsi rightly mentioned, its not possible to remain "pure" through the 48 days (thats what I followed) but certainly drives us to a greater extent to "attempt" the goal of "upavasa". During this time frame, I was instructed to take "head bath" twice a day in cold water and was told that this will acclimate us the forest environment where rainfall could be expected during the trip and will obviously be cold due to the altitude. Getting used to this will help in not falling sick if one has to encounter the nature.

I was told that it was either black or dark blue that was preferred as this will help yourself camouflage in the forest environment from wild animals and hence the need to wear these clothes.

Anyways, these are my understanding and as I mentioned earlier, my apologies if this hurts anyone.

Lastly, thanks for this wonderful thread and please continue to post and complete this thread. Thanks.

[simplyself]

Originally Posted by balajird

I have a different theory on the "Irumudi" ....

In olden days, people have to undergo the trip by foot to the temple starting from "Erumeli", since there were no hotels or food available, they take the rice, dry fruits, coconut and a few additional edibles

Another theory for Irumudi is that the Lord, when sent in to forest to bring tiger's milk to cure the queen's headache, took with Him some food items bound in a cloth. Balaji, please note that Irumudi is seldom opened. The one time it is opened before ascending the Pathinettambadi is to take out cocnuts to be used at the Ganapathi temple and just before starting to ascend the Pathinettambadi.

The ghee filled coconut has an explanation : the three eyes of the coconut are believed to represent the eyes of Siva. Metaphorically, the third eye symbolizes spiritual awakening of the devotess. Coconut represents his body and the ghee refers to his soul. This ghee is later used to anoint the Lord, indicating thereby the deliverance of the pilgrim's soul to the Lord.

In the process of making ghee, butter is allowed to simmer slowly for several hours. The longer the simmering, the purer is the ghee. In Hindu cosmology, tapas ( spiritual austerity) is likened to a fire. Heat has a transormative power that purifies and creates. In men, heat is created by devotional fervour and spiritual practices. Thus the ascetic discipline of the pilgrim is the heat that purifies and transformed into ghee by slow simmering.

Ghee is also considered the essence of food substances, used in hindu rituals. Similarly, sexual fluids represent the essence of body substance. It is claimed that the richest blood in the body preoduces the reproductive ingredients. From this an indefinable force is generated which the yogis called 'ojas', believed to be stored in human brain, and is the source of all intelligence and spiritual power. Sexual power and action, if properly controlled, is transformed into ojas. Swami Vivekananda explained that is why chastity is considered highest virtue and is so strictly imposed in spiritual exercises. The ghee that the pilgrim offers to the Lord therefore represents all that is best and most powerful in him. The code of celibacy that is imposed on the pilgrims is designed to direct the inner strength of the pilgrim towards a spiritual transformation by tapping all his inner resources.

Funerary symbolism is evoked at many moments of the ritual of preparing irumudi : pouring rice onto ghee filled coconut ( which later represent the pilgrim himself ) resembles that part of funerary rite where rice is poured into the mouth/ head of the deceased; walking backwards away from the house or temple or stage where the irumudi is prepared resembles the practice of taking dead bodies which are taken backwards - head first - out of the house on their way to funeral ground; pilgrims perform their own death rituals in an act of self- sacrifice and self annihilation which allows them to merge with the Lord.

Regarding black clothes to be worn during the deeksha, it is most commonly black. However, blue and saffron are also used. One of the explanations is, according to Hindu custom, the brahmin should wear red, ksatriya yellow red and vaisya green while performing auspicious rituals. White indicated renunciation and spirituality It is worn by officiating priests, novices and widows. The single colour code of the Ayyappa cult is a mark of austerity that sets him apart and differentiates him from the norm, making his purpose obvious and providing a uniformity that emphasizes the equality of all the cult members.

However, there is a popular story behind the black clothing : that black is liked by Sani and the devotees who wear black during the deeksha period will be exempted from Sani's influence.

[simplyself]

Originally Posted by Gansan

If we accept Vavar was a Muslim, the Iyappa legend could not have taken place before the 5th century AD, when Islam was founded by prophet Mohammed, which is just a century before Adi Sankara.

The period of Ayyappa is generally placed during late 13 th Century.

[balajird]

Thanks simplyself, this is a good explanation. :-)

[simplyself]

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

Your circuit should be Pampa-MC Road-Trivandrum-Tirunelveli-Madurai-Trichy-Tanjore-Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai-Vaitheeswaran Koil-Sirkali-Chidambaram-Cuddalore-Pondy-Tindivanam-Vandavasi-Kanchipuram-Arakonam-Tirutanni-Nagari-Puttur-Renigunta-Tirupati

Hi,

We have almost finalized the route. Google suggests this : Nellore - Chennai - Chengalpat - Tindivanam - Perambalur - Trichy - Dindigul - Periyakulam - Theni - Sabarimala.

How do we avoid Chennai city? What is the Bypass for Chennai to Chengalpat, coming from Nellore? Also, please let me know the condition of the roads Chennai onwards.

Return journey would be on same route till Trichy. From Trichy to Tanjavur - Vaideeswarankoil - Chidambaram - Pondi - Mahabalipuram - Nellore or Mahabalipuram - Kanchi - Nellore. Please let me know the conditions of road and any other info deemed relevant.

Thanks

[raju2512]

Originally Posted by simplyself

Hi,

How do we avoid Chennai city? What is the Bypass for Chennai to Chengalpat, coming from Nellore? Also, please let me know the condition of the roads Chennai onwards.

Thanks

After Puhzal on the Nellore - Chennai NH, you will see the by pass entry on your left. The ramp takes you on to the by pass road which will cross the NH and join the NH 45 just after Tambaram. However you have to face city traffic like condition till Chengalpet by pass depending on the time of crossing

[shrionsong]

A group of friends are planning to visit Sabarimala over this weekend. it is given as idol installation day in the Calendar. What to expect? Any members having experience on when the temple darshan will open in the peetam? We plan to start on Saturday from Chennai at around 6.30 pm. Any tips from members.

Thanks in advance

shriram

[kutoos]

Originally Posted by shrionsong

A group of friends are planning to visit Sabarimala over this weekend. it is given as idol installation day in the Calendar. What to expect? Any members having experience on when the temple darshan will open in the peetam? We plan to start on Saturday from Chennai at around 6.30 pm. Any tips from members.

Thanks in advance

shriram

Shriram,
Check this site (http://hindupad.com/sabarimala-templ...-installation/). This gives a few insights into the prathista dinam scehdule.

It says that the temple will open on the evening of 3rd June and close after the Harivarasanam on 4th June.

Alternatively, the temple remains open for five days starting 14th June.

The Only tip for now is that as it is monsoon season, be prepared for heavy rains all the way up to the sannidhanam.
Seconfly, plastic bottles are now banned. You cannot buy bottles at Pampa, but you are allowed to carry one if you have it in your person.
Wishing you a blessed trip. Swami Saranam

[shrionsong]

This is a followup post. We started from here at 2 pm. Reached pampa by 4am. There was a good amount of vehicles but light by season standards. Very good darshan around 6 am. Even the security was relaxed. No pushing around. They genuinely waited for everyone to have darshan and then moved along. Even the 18 steps was relatively free. The climate was beautiful. Light drizzle. But not too much to lose grip. One of the security team ascribed the lighter crowd to the fact that most came on Saturday night for darshan, India Pak match, auspicous day on Sunday (lots of marriages) and rains. We reached chennai back by 10 pm on Sunday. Thanks to team bhp for the timely guidance. Idol installation day seems to be a good choice for a yearly visit day. Once again - Thanks team bhp.