Neyyabhishekam:
Neyyabhishekam is the most important offering to Lord Ayyappa. The ghee-filled coconut is used to perform this ritual. The ritual starts at 4:00 AM and continues till Ucha Pooja (1:00 PM). After performing the darshan of Lord Ayyappa and upa-prathistas, groups of Ayyappa pilgrims will make a viri (a sheet spread on the ground) under the guidance of guru Swamy (the senior most pilgrim). They collect all ghee-filled coconut and arrange them on the viri.
Padi Pooja:
Padi Pooja is the pooja of the 18 holy steps ‘pathinettampadi’, held on select days after the floral bathing of the idol called ‘pushpabhiskeham’. The pooja is conducted in the evenings and is performed by the tantri, in the presence of the Mel Santhi (priest). The hour-long ritual of decorating the Holy Steps with flowers and silk cloths after lighting traditional lamps on each step, concludes with performing ‘Arathi’ by the tantri.
Udayasthamana Pooja:
‘Udayasthamaya’ literally means from sunrise to sunset. Hence, it implies worship from sunrise to sunset. Udayasthamana pooja is conducted from dawn to dusk (from Nirmalyam to Athazha pooja). In addition to the Nithya pooja, special poojas with Archana’s and Abhishekams are conducted to obtain the blessings of the Bhagavan (presiding deity) which enables to fulfillment of the wishes of the devotees. Out of the total 18 poojas, 15 are done before noon and there are 45 Kalasa Abhishekams.
Kalasams:
Sahasrakalasam:
Sahasra Kalasam is an offering to Hariharaputhra (Sri Dharmashastha) as per the Tantric Veda and Agama Shastras with a view to sleek blessings for the happiness of mankind. It is the noble effort to invoke all the holy spirits utilizing all that is sacred in the form of incense, the precious and semiprecious stone, the seven seas, and the sacred rivers into the holy kalasam (sacred pot) of gold, silver, copper, etc.
Ulsavabali:
The rituals of Ulsava Bali begin with the sounding of Paani. Ulsava Bali is dedicated to the Bhoothaganams (associates of the presiding deity) and Paani is meant to invite the Bhoothaganams. Then begins the sprinkling of cooked raw rice (Ulsava Bali Thooval) to cover the balikallu of the Bhoothaganams around the Naalambalam and Balikkalpura by the temple tantric. When the sprinkling of the cooked rice over the Saptha Maathrukkal is completed, the Thidambu of the presiding deity is taken out of the sanctum sanctorum to enable the devotees to offer prayers. Ulsava Bali is held as part of the annual festival at the Lord Ayyappa Temple.
Puspabhishekam:
Puspabhishekam is the showering of flowers on Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala. The flowers and leaves that are used in the Pushpabhishekam ritual are Tamara (lotus), Jamanthi (chrysanthemum) Arali, Tulsi (basil), Mulla (jasmine), and Kuvalam (bilva leaves). A devotee who wishes to perform Pushpabhishekam at Sabarimala has to book in advance. The cost of performing the Pushpabhishekam is Rs.10,000/-
Ashtabhishekam:
Ashtabhishekam is one of the important offerings to Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala. The eight items used for Ashtabhishekam at Sabarimala are: Vibhuti, Milk, Honey, Panchamrutam, Tender coconut water, Sandalwood or Chandanam, Rosewater or Panineer, Water
Kalabhabhishekam:
Kalabhabhishekam is a very important special pooja usually performed for the strengthening of the Chaitanya of the deity. As part of kalabhabhishekam, the tantri performs the Kalabhakalasa pooja at the Nalambalam in the presence of Mel Santhi. Kalabhakalasabhishekam, marking the conclusion of the ritual by pouring the sandalwood paste on the idol of Lord Ayyappa, is performed during the Ucha pooja by the tantri after the procession carrying the golden urn having sandal paste for the Kalabhabhishekam around the Sree Kovil.
Laksharchana:
ARCHANA means ‘chanting and glorifying the Divine name’. LAK means 100,000. Therefore, LAKSHARCHANA is the name and practice of repeating in a group, the name of the Lord in the form of a Mantra. Later, the tantri, assisted by Mel Santhi and some other priests performs Laksharchana at the Sannidhanam. The `Brahmakalasam’ of the laksharchana is taken in procession to the sanctum sanctorum for `abhishekam’, before the `uchapuja’.
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