The rituals at the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in connection with the Vishu festival began with Tantri Kandararu Rajeevararu performing the Ashtadravya Maha Ganapatihomom on Saturday morning.
There was heavy rush of devotees at the temple from Friday evening in view of the festival.
The Tantri, assisted by Melsanthi E.N. Krishnadas Namboodiri, performed the Kalabhapuja at the Namaskara Mandapam of the temple in the forenoon.
Kalabhabhishekom
The Brahmakalasom was taken out in a ceremonial procession to the sanctum sanctorum for the auspicious Kalabhabhishekom. The kalabhom (sandal paste) offered to the deity was later distributed as prasadom among the devotees.
The Narayaneeya Bhakta Satsang, an organisation of devotees in Mumbai, started a Bhagavatha Saptaha Yajnom at the Dharmasastha auditorium at Sabarimala on Saturday. Krishnapriya, religious scholar, is the ‘yajnacharya’ who leads the seven-day ritualistic recital of the religious text Srimad Bhagavathom. Devaswom executive officer V.S. Jayakumar lighted the ceremonial lamp.
Mr. Jayakumar said Sahasrakalasabhishekom, Kalabhabhishekom, Ashtabhishekom, Pushpabhishekom, Padupuja, and Udayasthamanapuja would be the important rituals to be performed at the Ayyappa temple during the Vishu festival. The Vishukkani darshan at the Ayyappa temple will be from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. on April 15.
The Melsanthi and other priests will prepare the Vishukkani inside the sanctum sanctorum immediately after the Athazhapuja on April 14 evening.
The Ayyappa temple will be opened at 4 a.m. for the Vishukkani darshan on April 15, the first day in the Malayalam month of Medom.
