The
Govt. of Kerala and the Devosom board renovated the temple and
consecration was done in the year 1951 with a new idol in Panchaloka
(made of five metals) during May -June by Shri Kantaru Sankararu,
the then Thandri of Thazhaom, Chengannur.
After
this the influx to the temple has risen many folds especially
from the southern states of India.
Lodging:
There are 300 comfort stations, 52 pilgrim shelters, 113 rooms,
three guesthouses, 24 donor buildings and two halls to have room
for 500 pilgrims. These infrastructures can lodge around 10 lakh
pilgrims at a time.
Flyover:
During
1986 a flyover surrounding the courtyard at the Sannidhanam was
built to ease the overcrowding of the shrine. It has a link to
Malikappuram temple also.
Pamba
Bridge:
The
wooden bridge over the Pamba has been replaced with the concrete
bridge.
Railway
and Bus service:
During
the Sabarimala season Southern Railways and Bus Transport corporations of
the southern states operate special trains and buses for the benefit
of the pilgrims.
Communication Facilities:
Gone are the days are when one has to travel tens of miles to
make a phone call. The telecommunication facility at Sabarimala
has been revamped and the pilgrims now have the privilege of making
national and international phone call right from Sannidhanam and
Pampa
Carry
Chairs ( Dholi):
The
old and the unwell can go up and down the mountain in an open
chair carried on the shoulders of four bearers. This is called
Dholi. It can cost a few hundred rupees to use the service.
Devaprasanams:
It
is a method of knowing the likes and dislikes of God and Goddess
by performing certain pooja and rituals, after which a committee
of astrologers gather and interpret the results of the outcome
of pooja.
Golden
18 Steps:
The
original granite steps were badly damaged due to continuous breaking
of coconuts on the steps by pilgrims climbing the steps. The Devasom
Board with the approval of Lord Ayyappan through a devaprasanam,
covered the steps with panchaloka. The work was completed by 15th
November 1985.
Golden Kavasams of the Lord:
Lord
Ayyappan has three golden kavasams. They are:
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The
first kavasam is the centuries old one donated by the royal
family of Pandalam, which is brought to Sabarimala every
year during the Makara Jothi festival on January 14th
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The
second kavasam is the one donated by the royal family of
Travancore in the year 1973 that is used for adorning the
Lord during the Mandala Pooja festival. This weighs around
420 sovereigns. |
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The
third kavasam was donated by Shri G.K.Devarajulu and his
son of LMW group of Coimbatore, India and the one made under
the supervision of our Guruswamy Sri Sri Venkatesh. This
is made of 4.5 KGs of gold. This used for adorning the Lord
on Vishu and on request by remittance of Rs.1000/- during
Mandalam period. |
Mode
of selection of Melshanthi (Yearly High Priest):
The term of melshanthi lasts for one year from mid October to
mid October. During July - August the Devosom board publishes
notifications in leading newspapers for applications from eminent
priests, well versed and experience in mantra and tantra. Those
who have served a term as Melshanthi cannot apply.
The applicants are short listed after a preliminary interview.
Out of the short listed candidates one is selected by Lord's grace
by the method of lucky dip. Say, if ten candidates are selected,
each ones name is written on a piece of paper and folded and deposited
in a pot. Another ten piece of paper are taken and 9 papers are
folded blank and on one paper the word 'Melshanthi' is written
and dropped in another pot. Both the pots are taken inside the
srikovil by Thandri and offered pooja. Later a child is made to
take the papers from both the pots one by one. The child takes
a paper each from both the pots. When a name and a blank paper
match the candidate is rejected. When a name and the word 'melshanthi'
matches the candidate is selected
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