Thursday, May 8, 2014

SIGNIFICANCE of 18 Holy Steps in Ayyappa Temple


Pathinettapadi (18 divine steps) to the sanctum sanctorium is divine in all aspects. The steep steps are so important and holy that no one can climb them without fasting for 41 days and carrying the holy irrumudi on ones' head.
 
There are many mythological stories associated with the holy Patinettampadi.
  • Some believe the eighteen steps denote the 18 puranas.
  • Some say that 18 weapons with which Lord Ayyappa destroyed the evil denotes the 18 steps.
  • Others are of the belief that the first five steps denotes the indriyas (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin). The next eight steps signifies the ragas (tatwa, kama, krodha, moha, lobha, madha, matsraya, and ahamkara. The next three steps signifies the gunas (satwa, rajas and thamas). The seventeenth and the eighteenth denotes vidhya and ignorance.
 
The Patinettampadi can be used only twice -
  • once for ascending the temple and once for descending below leaving the hill.
  • Before ascending or descending the steps, pilgrims break coconut as an offering to the steps. One needs to have the sacred Irumudi on head while going up or down the 18 steps.
  • While descending the steps the devotees climb down backwards facing the sanctum sanctorum.
 
One who climbs the Patinettampadi for 18 times shall plant a sapling of coconut in Sabarimala.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Pooja Calendar:

Vilakku Poja (Deepa Puja):
     Jan 5th 2013 4:00 to 6:30 pm

Irumudi Preparation:
     Jan 11th 2013 6:30 pm

House Pujas:
      As more and more devotees are coming forward to host House Pujas,     we have created a google docs sheet.
      for dates of House Pujas and food contribution pl. visit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqjblS5z2nLRdDhjeHU5WFVnQ1VFb3BTNk5EaHdyTnc#gid=2

**** This is purely for Information Purposes and this site is no way related to Bharateeya Temple in Montgomeryville, PA. ****

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Ayyappa Ashotharam

S.no Ashtotharam
1 Om Maha Shahstre Namaha
2 OM Maha Devaya Namaha
3 Om Maha Devasudhaya Namaha 
4 OM Howyayey Namaha 
5 Om Lokha Kartre Namaha
6 Om Lokha Partre Namaha
7 Om Lokha Hartrey Namaha 
8 Om Parath Paraya Namaha
9 Om Trilokha Rakshakaya Namaha
10 Om Thanvinay Namaha 
11 Om Thapesvinay Namaha 
12 Om Bootha Seinikkaya Namaha 
13 Om Mantra Vethinae Namaha 
14 Om Maha Vethinae Namaha 
15 Om Maruthaya Namaha 
16 Om Jagadeeswaraya Namaha
17 Om Lokadakshyaya Namaha 
18 Om Akranyeh Namaha 
19 Om Srimathe Namaha 
20 Om Aprameya Parakramaya Namaha
21 Om Simha Rudaaya Namaha 
22 Om Gaja Rudaaya Namaha 
23 Om Haya Rudaaya Namaha 
24 Om Maheswaraya Namaha
25 Om Nanaa Shastraya Namaha
26 Om Anarkkaya Namaha
27 Om Nanaa Vidyaavisaratharayey Namaha
28 Om Nanaa Roopatharayey Namaha
29 Om Veerayey Namaha
30 Om Nanaa Praani nishavikaaya Namaha
31 Om Bhootheysaya namaha Namaha
32 Om Bhoothitayae Namaha Namaha
33 Om Pruthayae Namaha
34 Om Bhoojanga paranothamayae Namaha
35 Om Eshi thanvinae Namaha
36 Om Pushpa Bhanayae Namaha
37 Om Maharoopayae Namaha
38 Om Mahaprabhavae Namaha
39 Om Mayaa Devasudhayae Namaha
40 Om Maanyayey Namaha
41 Om Maha Neethayae Namaha
42 Om Maha Gunayae Namaha
43 Om Maha Shyvayae Namaha
44 Om Maha Rudrayae Namaha
45 Om Vaishnavayae Namaha
46 Om Vishnu Bhoojagayae Namaha
47 Om Vigneshayae Namaha
48 Om Veerabhadreysaya Namaha
49 Om Bhairavayae Namaha
50 Om Shanmugha druvayae Namaha
51 Om Meruushrunga samasinnaayae Namaha
52 Om Munisangha nishavidhaayae Namaha
53 Om Devayae Namaha
54 Om Bhadrayae Namaha
55 Om Jaghannadhayae Namaha
56 Om Gana Nadhayae Namaha
57 Om Ganeshvarayae Namaha
58 Om Mahayogine Namaha
59 Om Mahamayinayae Namaha
60 Om Mahagnaniyae Namaha
61 Om Maha sthirayae Namaha
62 Om Deva Shastre Namaha
63 Om Bhootha Shastre Namaha
64 Om Bheema hasa parakramaye Namaha
65 Om Nagaharayae Namaha
66 Om Nagakesayae Namaha
67 Om Vyamakeseyae Namaha
68 Om Snaaathinaayae Namaha
69 Om Sugunaayae Namaha
70 Om Nirgunayae Namaha
71 Nithyayae Namaha
72 Om Nithya thripudhayae Namaha
73 Om Niraachrayae Namaha
74 Om Lokhaachrayae Namaha
75 Om Ganadeeshayae Namaha
76 Chadush shashtti kamalayae Namaha
77 Om Rigyajiss Samaadhar vanaroopinaye Namaha
78 Om Mallakassura bhajanayae Namaha
79 Om Trimurthayae Namaha
80 Om Dythya Madanayae Namaha
81 ragruthayae Namaha
82 Om Purushothamayae Namaha
83 Om Kaala Gnaninaye Namaha
84 Om Mahagnaninaye Namaha
85 Om Kamadhayae Namaha
86 Kamalekshanayae Namaha
87 Om Kalpvrikshayae Namaha
88 Om Mahavrikshayae Namaha
89 Om Vidhya Vrikshykaye Namaha
90 Om Vipudhidhayae Namaha
91 Samsaaratha pavichethrae Namaha
92 Om Pasulokha Bhayankarayae Namaha
93 Om Rokha hanthrae Namaha
94 Om Praana dhathrae Namaha
95 Om Pragarva vibhanjanayae Namaha
96 Sarva Shastrartha Thatvagnayae Namaha
97 Om Neethimathay Namaha
98 Om Paapapanchanayae Namaha
99 Om Pushkaala Poorna Samyukthayae Namaha
100 Om Paramathmanae Namaha
101 Sathangathayae Namaha
102 Om Anandaadhithyae samagasayae Namaha
103 Om Subramanyanujayae Namaha
104 Om Palinay Namaha
105 Om Bhakthanukambinae Namaha
106 Om Devasayae Namaha
107 Om Bhagavathay Namaha
108 Om Bhakthavatsalaayae Namaha

Ayyappa Deeksha : RULES, DOs & Don'ts

Ayyappa Deeksha or Ayyappa Vratham is a religious observation done as an offering to Lord Ayyappa following the rules & regulations of utmost celibacy (as practiced by Brahmacharis in good olden days).  It is usually observed for 41 days (or 21 or 11 days).

WHO can do it?
 Males: Any one can do it.
 Females: Who do not have monthly periods. So, it is essentially before puberty or eldlerly people.

WHEN?
It is usually observed during the Mandalam (which usually falls between Nov 2nd week and Sankranthi). Mandalam starts on first day of Kartika Masam (as per Kerala Calendar)

WHERE?Mala Dharana (Mala worn by devotees observing Deeksha) can be done in any temple. It is usually done by Guruswami (who had ben to Sabrimala 18 times) or the priest a the temple. Deeksha is ended by visiting Sabarimala Shrine in Kerala, India. In USA, there are some Ayyappa Sannidhanams which can be visited to end the Deeksha (for ex: Siva Vishnu Temple, Maryland).

WHAT to do?
Ayyappa Deeksha is about following Brahmacharyam strictly which includes Pooja twice a day, strict diet, no enertainment etc. Please read below.
Please try to follow these rules during the Deeksha. Except 2,3 things, most of these rules can be followed even in cold weather here in US.
Some of them may seem to be detailed. But it was done intentionally, to make devotees aware of the rules.
For any concerns or clarifications, contact
Mallik mallikby@yahoo.com

Bath & Pooja:
1. Do the bath in early morning with normal water. Yes. You can use Soap & Shampoo. If you can take bath with cold or luke warm water.
2. Do the pooja. Do your regular daily pooja followed by Ashotharam (108 namas) to Ganesh, Subramanyam, Durga & Ayyappan. (If time & health does not permit, do 108
names for Ayyappan and 16 names for others. All the 16 and 108 names are posted in this site.
3. Do the bath in evening with normal water and do the pooja as you did in the morning.
4. Chant Hairivarasanam only after evening Pooja.
5. No need for cooked Prasadam every day. Fruits as Naivedyam for Ayyappan are OK.
6. Do the pooja in the morning (before sun rise) and evening (after sunset).
7. Take bath as soon you come home in the evening from work.

Dress Code:
1. Try wearing black or blue or orange dress.
2. Not supposed to shave your beard or comb your hair (reason being you are not supposed to think abt beauty of the body).
3. Yes. you can apply moisturizing lotion as not doing in winter may not be good for health.
4. To the extent possible, men should wear Dhothi at home. Again, it may not be possible during winter here for us in USA.
5. You should never take the mala out.
6. USe fresh clothes every day. So, have two pairs of black or blue dress and wash them every day.

Food & Diet:
1. No Breakfast.
2. Lunch: Take lunch before noon. Should be freshly cooked. No left overs from previous day.
3. Dinner: Palaharam like chapathi, upma etc. No rice. Rice items like Tamarind rice / coconut rice are OK.
4. No onion, egg or meat products.
5. Eating in restaurants is prohibited.
6. If any one calls you for Annadanam, they should have prepared the meal after taking bath etc.
7. Coffee and juices: you can take any # of times. As you know it is not healthy to take coffee many times a day.
8. When you or your spouse is preparing meal, make sure you clean the stove before cooking.

CELIBACY: Follow celibacy to the core. Idea is to be far from 'kama, krodha, moha, lobha...'
1. Sleep on ground without pillow and bed.
2. NO Entertainment. (means no partying, no watching TV, listening to film music etc, no playing games)
3. Control Anger.
4. Call all women (including wife) as 'Matha' and men as 'Swamy'
5. Brhamacharyam: Can not even touch your spouse.
6. During monthly cycle for women, husban taking Deeksha is not supposed to see the wife at all. (Some say, it is not needed, but lot of people try to follow this rule
too). If it is not possible in the house/apartment you are living, that is OK. But we might see women who are in their monthly cycles outside in shops or may shake
hands with them (at work or shop). That is the reason it is recommended to take bath immediately you reach home from outside)
7. Of course No Smoking, Drinking
8. No footwear. (this is not possible in cold weather in US). So, it is OK, if you do not follow this rule.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT:
Idea is to follow these rules with utmost discipline and dedication, so we can control & overcome inherent human bad qualities one by one like anger, lust etc. By
doing it for 18 years, it is hoped we overcome all our bad qualities and become a SWAMY ourselves (or saints). Some people say that is one of the reason for 18 steps
at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.
It is also believed by Hindus and many other people that, if we practice any thing for 40 days, we get used to it and continue it. That is the reason most of the
deekshas are for 40 days and so is Ayyappa Deeksha. So, if you can, take Deeksha for 40 days or at least 21 or 11 days. Try not to take for 1 or 2 days.
One thing any Sasthras say is: Follow rules to the best of abilties, considering the environment we are in. So if you can't wear black dress to work or if you can't
sleep without a pillow because of health reasons, that is acceptable. But not following Diet and Celibacy restrictions is NOT ACCEPTABLE.

SWAMI SARANAM