“Manikanta or Ayyappa, the presiding deity at Sabarimala, is close to my heart and very special to me,” said legendary singer K.J. Yesudas on his arrival at the hillock on Monday.
Mr. Yesudas has undertaken the pilgrimage to the temple many times. But this time, his wife, Prabha, accompanied him, that too after strictly observing the customary 41-day penance.
‘Great experience’
“It’s a great experience that melts our soul in divine ecstasy; I am unable to give a verbal description of the soulful feeling,” an elated Ms. Yesudas told The Hindu .
Tantri Kandararu Maheswararu Mohanararu offered them prasadam after performing the ‘neyyabhishekom’.
“Sabarimala is the one and only pilgrimage centre where every devotee gets equal treatment. Religion, caste, and creed have no place at the abode of Lord Ayyappa. Everyone is a ‘Swami,’ ‘Ayyappa,’ ‘Manikanta,’ or ‘Malikappuram’ (female pilgrim) here. Nowhere else can one find such sublime philosophy,” Mr. Yesudas said.
Mr. Yesudas sang ‘Harivarasanam’, the sacred lullaby, when the Melsanthi (head priest) was closing the sanctum sanctorum after the day’s prayers.
