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Lord Ayyappa is the presiding
deity of Sabarimala, the best known pilgrimage destination in
Kerala. Sabarimala attracts millions of devotees every year from
all around. Both legend and history bear ample testimony for
belief such as that Rishi Parasurama who reclaimed Kerala from
sea by throwing his axe, installed the idol of Ayyappa at
Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa. Mandala Pooja starting
around middle November and Makaravilakku during middle of
January are the two main events of the pilgrim season November
through January. The temple remains closed during the rest of
the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam
month, and during Vishu in April & Onam in September. The temple
is open to males only of any caste or creed of all age groups,
but to women who have only either passed their fertility age or
hasn’t reached the stage of puberty. Certain prerequisites as
Irumudikettu, pious life, etc. a must to enter temple and the
Pathinettampadi ( the eighteen holy steps).
Of the several pilgrimage Centers as Nilakkal, Erumeli, Pandalam,
Kulathoopuzha, Achankoil, Aryankkavu and Muhamma, the unique
significance Muhamma has is that during the early years of Swamy
Ayyappan as Manikandan the adopted son of Pandalam Raaja (King)
took his training / learning in martial arts (kalari murakal)
from Kalari Gurukkal at Cheerappanchira family in Muhamma at
Alapuzha District in Kerala. The Kudil ( Hermitage) wherein
Swamy Ayyappan lived in Muhamma during his martial art learning
period is still being preserved in its original form by the
inheritors of Cheerappanchira family from generation to
generation. More on the present inheritors / Governors of the
Hermitage, its future plans for continued preservation and
development on following pages. It is a place of peace, power,
wish fulfillment and eco-spiritual consciousness. A place of
understanding that each human – man or woman, rich or poor – is
a child of one spirit, one energy, one love, one God. The
eco-spiritual consciousness is caused by an earth-based energy
specific to only certain holy places may be experienced here.
Visiting holy places, believably, have the power to heal body,
enlighten mind and awaken the soul. You are sure to experience
it here at Muhamma Cheerappanchirayil Lord Ayyappa Nivasa Centre.
It is as well significant to note that in reverence to the
Kalari Guru of Swamy Ayyappan, a temple was ordained to be built
up nearby to the Hermitage (kudil), and Mukkalvattam Swamy
Ayyappa Temple nearby is believed to be the one !. |
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