Pilgrimage to SabariMala
Sabarimala - Devotees' Paradise
A place where a true Hindu devotee needs to present himself
at least once in a life time. And they say, if you go there
once, you cant help yourselves going there every year thereafter.
You need to be on strict 'vratha'. 40 days of preparation before
you set out for the trek. Daily visit to temples, strict veg diet,
mind on Him, no deals with gals, no cover for your foot...
I am not the kinda person who goes to divine places.
My bhakthi is limited to a maximum of one or two visits to a sacred
place per year - be it a temple or a church.
Never been to a mosque...
During my entire hostel life (spanning 4 years) I remember going to
temple twice. One was for Vishu - Roy R C did not let me scoot. He
picked me up by my collar :-)
The second one was with Kir and Sand. Sand is more or less my type, but
with one difference. Bhakthi gets into his head, when its exam season.
Kir is a regular (almost) visitor to temples..
With this history of mine, KK would have had second thoughts that day,
when he picked up his phone to ask me "Rat, shall we go to Mala next
month?"
Coincidence, I should say. The very previos day I had a treat to attend.
And I was on veg diet. Add that day, and it is exactly 40 days for the
trip. And I wanted to go to this place, at least once. So I nodded yes
to KK. And thus started the vratha.
Me going daily to temple was pretty unorthodox to my roomies. But they were
very understanding gentlemen. They never made fun of me. And in fact, gave
me moral support. Jam and Jaf. These fellows are worth a separate episode.
So let me not write more about them here.
The day arrived.
KK and I went to the 'Ayyappa' temple early morning. Completed the formalities
for the trip. Since it was a working day, we had to head for office.
In the evening, we assembled in front of the temple again.
The adventure starts.
The 'pujari' was not to be found.
Then comes an angel. In half Hindi and half English, he gathered the situation.
He said "i'll go and get him. dont worry". Yes, he did get him, before it was late.
Some more formalities, and we were all set to leave (on bare foot)
Then the second challenge is to get to the bus station.
Distance is just 12km, but to commute 12km on a Friday evening in Bangalore 1 hr
is not enough. The same angel got us seated into an auto, and we started.
Blocks all the way.
After an hour, reached at a 2 km vicinity of the bus station.
Driver suggested "you better take to your foot. that is the best option"
Paid him and off we started on foot - running with the 'kettu' - divine baggage -
on our heads. It would be a strange sight to the onlookers to see 2 young chaps
in black dhoti and black shirt with a black baggage on their heads, running bare
footed through the footpath and the roads.
Soon after we started galloping, traffic started moving, and our auto man stopped
by us and said "Get in". A few 100 metres more in auto. Block again..
Back to foot.. with the auto following us slowly.
Again when the traffic started moving, the auto man picked us.
At the next block, we told him "Thank you very much. You need not follow us any more.
We dont think , its gonna help any more" and we set our foot on fire...
Running amidst the crowd, getting on to road when the footpath was jam-packed, crossing
roads like hell, finally we reach the station. There the bus is ! Thank God.
We were greeted at the doors by the angry conductor "What do you think you are up to?
You are answerable to this delay. What should I tell these passengers ?"
With just a smile on our faces, we went to our seats - only to find a couple seated
comfy there. They gave way for us.
AAaaahhh... His experiments...
Soon we were asleep.
Reached Kottayam at around 9. Had food from the bus station
From Kottayam, we needed to catch Pamba. Reached Pamba by 11.
After a few minutes of waiting, and a hot sip of tea, came the bus to Sannidhaanam,
the final destination.
With a blink of the eye, the bus was full. We were lucky enough to get some space to
place our foot firmly on the floor..
A few hairpin curves, steep upward road, a halt for tea. By lunch time, we reached the base
of the Mala. Had lunch. Bought some banana, a glucose packet for backup and packed it up.
Had a holy dip in the Pambayaar (Pamba Lake)
The cold water in the lake made the mind light.
Or was it just an illusion ?
The next 1 hour will the most testing time.
4 kms of trek on bare foot.
Upward slopes, at certain points more than 45 degrees.
The light drizzles contributed to a slippery floor.
Hard rock, and soft feet - often dont go easy with each other.
Had 2 stops on the way up. Unavoidable stops.
KK was panting heavily. I too could not catch my breath..
But towards end of the trek, reached safe into the temple premises.
I had seen these places before !
But on TV.
But then, it never used to be so empty.
It used to be crowded - ALWAYS.
KK explained - the temple opens only for a day. Hence only a very few devotees
come during this period. Most of the visitors are from other states. Hence
they wont really benefit from this 1-day visit...
Stepped up to the temple. Not missing any of the steps. There are 18 golden steps
in total. For a first time visitor, this is a real blessing.
Devotees are normally (literally) picked and thrown along these steps upwards
by security, to subsidise the rush.
Spent some quality time inside the temple.
Stepped down and got the 'prasad'
Rested in the premises for some time.
Now it was already 5 in the evening.
We had 2 options - stay back in the night and start for home early in the morning.
Or to dare the darkness (and the wild) and start straightaway.
The courageous 2 opted for option2. We started the downward trip.
Covered the distance in quick time.
Reached the base in 30 mins, only to find that the last bus to the town
has left already. But hope lay flat in the form of a jeep driver who offered
a trip to town for a nominal payment.
Reached Pamba by 9 in the night.
But no buses there too.. The next bus is at 4.30 in the morning.
Teamed up with fellow 'Swamis' and borded a taxi to the nearest bus station.
This station is in the national highway, and so buses can be found at all odd
times. Luckily, got a bus, with empty seats for a relaxed journey.
Dusk became dawn.
KK got down at his home town, early in the morning at 3AM
I went ahead still further.
My parents were in Kottayam for sukh-chikithsa
Got down at my stop at 4.30 in the morning.
Auto to the ashram.
A day at the ashram (still on bare foot)
Met a lot of inmates. A nice experience.
Listened to their stories.
Here is this family from Karnataka. They dont know the local
language. Nor they do know English. Mom cant speak any language
other than the local language. But still, they are good company.
I went to their room and shared the prasad with them. Listened to
their stories.. Met a lot of others also.
Parted ways in the morning the next day.
7 hours in bus.
Reached my place safe by evening..
Accompanied by a light rain, got home.
The beginning of a successful trip !
_______________________________________
The trip was on Oct 10, 11, 2004
And a year after the first trip, we are here, planning
our next trip...
A place where a true Hindu devotee needs to present himself
at least once in a life time. And they say, if you go there
once, you cant help yourselves going there every year thereafter.
You need to be on strict 'vratha'. 40 days of preparation before
you set out for the trek. Daily visit to temples, strict veg diet,
mind on Him, no deals with gals, no cover for your foot...
I am not the kinda person who goes to divine places.
My bhakthi is limited to a maximum of one or two visits to a sacred
place per year - be it a temple or a church.
Never been to a mosque...
During my entire hostel life (spanning 4 years) I remember going to
temple twice. One was for Vishu - Roy R C did not let me scoot. He
picked me up by my collar :-)
The second one was with Kir and Sand. Sand is more or less my type, but
with one difference. Bhakthi gets into his head, when its exam season.
Kir is a regular (almost) visitor to temples..
With this history of mine, KK would have had second thoughts that day,
when he picked up his phone to ask me "Rat, shall we go to Mala next
month?"
Coincidence, I should say. The very previos day I had a treat to attend.
And I was on veg diet. Add that day, and it is exactly 40 days for the
trip. And I wanted to go to this place, at least once. So I nodded yes
to KK. And thus started the vratha.
Me going daily to temple was pretty unorthodox to my roomies. But they were
very understanding gentlemen. They never made fun of me. And in fact, gave
me moral support. Jam and Jaf. These fellows are worth a separate episode.
So let me not write more about them here.
The day arrived.
KK and I went to the 'Ayyappa' temple early morning. Completed the formalities
for the trip. Since it was a working day, we had to head for office.
In the evening, we assembled in front of the temple again.
The adventure starts.
The 'pujari' was not to be found.
Then comes an angel. In half Hindi and half English, he gathered the situation.
He said "i'll go and get him. dont worry". Yes, he did get him, before it was late.
Some more formalities, and we were all set to leave (on bare foot)
Then the second challenge is to get to the bus station.
Distance is just 12km, but to commute 12km on a Friday evening in Bangalore 1 hr
is not enough. The same angel got us seated into an auto, and we started.
Blocks all the way.
After an hour, reached at a 2 km vicinity of the bus station.
Driver suggested "you better take to your foot. that is the best option"
Paid him and off we started on foot - running with the 'kettu' - divine baggage -
on our heads. It would be a strange sight to the onlookers to see 2 young chaps
in black dhoti and black shirt with a black baggage on their heads, running bare
footed through the footpath and the roads.
Soon after we started galloping, traffic started moving, and our auto man stopped
by us and said "Get in". A few 100 metres more in auto. Block again..
Back to foot.. with the auto following us slowly.
Again when the traffic started moving, the auto man picked us.
At the next block, we told him "Thank you very much. You need not follow us any more.
We dont think , its gonna help any more" and we set our foot on fire...
Running amidst the crowd, getting on to road when the footpath was jam-packed, crossing
roads like hell, finally we reach the station. There the bus is ! Thank God.
We were greeted at the doors by the angry conductor "What do you think you are up to?
You are answerable to this delay. What should I tell these passengers ?"
With just a smile on our faces, we went to our seats - only to find a couple seated
comfy there. They gave way for us.
AAaaahhh... His experiments...
Soon we were asleep.
Reached Kottayam at around 9. Had food from the bus station
From Kottayam, we needed to catch Pamba. Reached Pamba by 11.
After a few minutes of waiting, and a hot sip of tea, came the bus to Sannidhaanam,
the final destination.
With a blink of the eye, the bus was full. We were lucky enough to get some space to
place our foot firmly on the floor..
A few hairpin curves, steep upward road, a halt for tea. By lunch time, we reached the base
of the Mala. Had lunch. Bought some banana, a glucose packet for backup and packed it up.
Had a holy dip in the Pambayaar (Pamba Lake)
The cold water in the lake made the mind light.
Or was it just an illusion ?
The next 1 hour will the most testing time.
4 kms of trek on bare foot.
Upward slopes, at certain points more than 45 degrees.
The light drizzles contributed to a slippery floor.
Hard rock, and soft feet - often dont go easy with each other.
Had 2 stops on the way up. Unavoidable stops.
KK was panting heavily. I too could not catch my breath..
But towards end of the trek, reached safe into the temple premises.
I had seen these places before !
But on TV.
But then, it never used to be so empty.
It used to be crowded - ALWAYS.
KK explained - the temple opens only for a day. Hence only a very few devotees
come during this period. Most of the visitors are from other states. Hence
they wont really benefit from this 1-day visit...
Stepped up to the temple. Not missing any of the steps. There are 18 golden steps
in total. For a first time visitor, this is a real blessing.
Devotees are normally (literally) picked and thrown along these steps upwards
by security, to subsidise the rush.
Spent some quality time inside the temple.
Stepped down and got the 'prasad'
Rested in the premises for some time.
Now it was already 5 in the evening.
We had 2 options - stay back in the night and start for home early in the morning.
Or to dare the darkness (and the wild) and start straightaway.
The courageous 2 opted for option2. We started the downward trip.
Covered the distance in quick time.
Reached the base in 30 mins, only to find that the last bus to the town
has left already. But hope lay flat in the form of a jeep driver who offered
a trip to town for a nominal payment.
Reached Pamba by 9 in the night.
But no buses there too.. The next bus is at 4.30 in the morning.
Teamed up with fellow 'Swamis' and borded a taxi to the nearest bus station.
This station is in the national highway, and so buses can be found at all odd
times. Luckily, got a bus, with empty seats for a relaxed journey.
Dusk became dawn.
KK got down at his home town, early in the morning at 3AM
I went ahead still further.
My parents were in Kottayam for sukh-chikithsa
Got down at my stop at 4.30 in the morning.
Auto to the ashram.
A day at the ashram (still on bare foot)
Met a lot of inmates. A nice experience.
Listened to their stories.
Here is this family from Karnataka. They dont know the local
language. Nor they do know English. Mom cant speak any language
other than the local language. But still, they are good company.
I went to their room and shared the prasad with them. Listened to
their stories.. Met a lot of others also.
Parted ways in the morning the next day.
7 hours in bus.
Reached my place safe by evening..
Accompanied by a light rain, got home.
The beginning of a successful trip !
_______________________________________
The trip was on Oct 10, 11, 2004
And a year after the first trip, we are here, planning
our next trip...
posted by Rat at 3:41 PM
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