Ayyappa Pahi Mam- A malayalam prayer describing the route from Erumeli to Sabarimala temple

Ayyappa Pahi Mam- A malayalam prayer describing the route from Erumeli  to Sabarimala temple

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Here is a great prayer  describing  in what way the pilgrimage   to Sabari Mala should be done from Erumeli .The pilgrimage  is a period of six days with stay at Erumeli. Kallidam kunnu, Neelimala , two days in Sabarimala  and then Erumeli.  This is considered as the long route to Sannidhanam from  ERumeli.  Some of the terms and names may  not be known to  people who have not gone to  Sabari Mala  Pilgrimage .They  are

1.Erumeli- The pilgrimage  to Sabari Mala commences from here. All devotees   dress  up like tribal men and dance here  (Petta Thullal) , go round the temple  of Petta Sastha, Vavar  andDharma Sastha and then proceed  to Perur thodu.

2.Perur  Thodu –It is a stream which is about 3 km from Yerumeli. Ayyappan’s Poongavanam (garden forest)   starts from here. It is also called  KOttapadi.

3.Kala Ketti –This is about 12 km from Perur thodu.Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi who came to see the killing of Mahishi  by Lord Ayyappa  , it seems tied their steed Nandi here.

4.Azhutha  river-.It is a rivulet  which is about 3 km from Kala Katti. Pilgrims take  bath in the river and proceed further taking a stone (Kallu) from the river.

5.Azhutha medu- The stone  taken from Azhutha river is put here . This place is also called Injiparai kottai and Udumparai

6.Kari Mala-lierally black mountain .This also is   considered as  the temple  of Lord Shiva .There is also a spring  called Kari Mal kinaru here . It is believed that Lord Ayyappa killed  the   Thief   called Udayanan.

There are two resting places here called  Periyanavattam and Cheriyana vatytam.

7.Pamba river- The road going to the temple starts from here.People take bath here , do pooja, do Tharpanam  and give food as charity.

8.Neeli Mala-This is also  called  Appachi Medu.Here  the pilgrims worship  the Gods of the forest.

9.Sabari Pedam- This is the place where  the  woman sage called Sabari was waiting  for the arrival of  Lord rama.

10. Pathittu Padi- These are the 18 steps the Pilgrim must climb to reach  the temple of Lord Ayyappa

11.Kumbalam thodu- This is a small stream near the temple  from where water for anointing the God is taken,A dip in this stream is believe   tto completely purify you.

12.Malika Purathamma  -This  is the Yakshi who due to curse  became a Rakshasi called  Mahishi. When she  got back her from  , she requested  Lord Ayyappa   to marry her.Declining her request the  Lord made her the Goddess of Sabari hills, She has a  separate temple.

13.Kadutha swami –He is the assistant of Lord Ayyappa   and is the security guard    to the eighteen steps)

1.Athalenniye dharaniyilulloru,

Marthyorokkeyum   ayyane  koopuvan,

Kootamode Erumeliyil chennitu,

Petta  kondati Ayyappa , Pahi mam

1.Peoople   of all over  the world  .

Without any fear   went to Erumeli  ,

For the sake of saluting the lord ,

And celebrated Petta, Oh Ayyappa  , please  protect me.

2. Aathamodham   vasichu pularkale  ,

Kotta vathil kadannu nadannu poi,

Theerthamam peru thottil kulichudan,

Parthale   nadannu  , Ayyappa  Pahi Mam.

2.Afte living   there    with great joy, at dawn,

They crossed  the  Kotta Vathil (door of fort)  and  ,

Walking further, they took bath in the sacred  waters  of  Perur thodu(Perur stream) ,

They walked   further  , Oh  Ayyappa , please protect me.

3.Inbamodothu  Kala ketti  kada-

Nambinode yazhuthaa   nadhi pukku  ,

Vanpiyaklum azhuthayil  snanavum  ,

Kambamenniye  Ayyappa,  Pahi  Mam.

3.After   crossing   with pleasure   Kala katti,

Speedily reaching   the   river  Azhutha,

They took bath   in   river Azhutha,

Without    any problem, , Oh Ayyappa, please   protect me.

4.EEsa  puthranaam ayyane  chinthichittu,

AAsayodoru  kallu meduthu udan,

AAsu keriya kallidum kunninmel,

Vasam annavarayyappa  , Pahi mam.

4.After   thinking about the Lord who is son of God,

With great love   we  immediately take a stone  ,

And   climb  on the  hill   and drop the   stone ,

And live there  that day, Oh Ayyappa  , please  protect me.

5.Ulkanivode   pinne  pular kaale ,

Vekkam angu chavutti Karimala  ,

Pokkameriya kunnum kadannavar,

Pukku pambayil, Ayyappa  Pahi Mam.

5.Then  in the early morning with a compassionate mind  ,

Speedily    taking    steps  on the  Karimala  ,

And crossing    that very tall  hill,

They reach Pamba,  Oh Ayyappa, please protect me.

6.OOzhi thannil prasidhamaam  Panbayil,

Snanavum cheithu, sadhya kazhichudan,

Kozha koodathe  Neelimala  Keri,

Vasamenniye   Ayyappa  , Pahi Mam.

6.Then after taking their  bath, in the world famous ,

River Pamba and after partaking the feast there ,

Without problem  climbing    without ,

Breath   the Neelimala,  ,Oh Ayyappa  , Please  protect me .

7.Yethayum vismayamaam  guhakal  ,

Kandothukoodi   sabari peedathingal,

Thathra  ninnu Sabariye  Vandhichu,

Bhakthi poorvamai, Ayyappa,  Pahi Maam.

7.Then after   seeing   the caves   which create,

Great wonder in you  and  meeting together ,

At the Sabari Peeda  and standing   there ,

Saluting Sabari with devotion, Oh Ayyappa, Please  protect me.

8.Yere modhaal  pathinetty nalpadi ,

Keri chennu thozhuthu  bhagawane ,

Mari ponnu  kudilum chamachudan ,

Mara thulyanam Ayyappa  , Pahi mam.

8,Then after   great joy  climbing ,

The   great   eighteen steps you salute the God,

And then come  by another way   ,

And build immediately a  hut,

Oh Ayyappa  who is as pretty as God of love  , Please protect me.

9.Ayyane  ninachu  annu vasichudan  ,

Payye  neram pularum    dasanthare ,

Chovvinodu thirichu  vadakkottu  ,

Deivamayulloru Ayyappa  , Pahi Mam.

9.Staying there  that day    Meditating on the lord,

And slowly at the time nearing   the dawn,

Properly    go towards  the north,

Oh Ayyappa   who  is God, please protect me.

10.Othu koodi  akumbalam thodathil,

Badhamodhena  snanavum dhanavum,

SAdhyayum kazhichangume   ponnudan,

Pukka ambalthil Ayyappa  Pahi Mam,.

10.Then joining  together  at Kumbalam Thodu(stream),

And after  taking bath there  and giving charities  ,

And also  partake   in the feast there and coming back,

And again  enter the temple  , Oh Ayyappa, please protect me.

11.Ororo janam paarathe  vannitangu,

Aadharena   thozhuthu BHagwane  ,

Sakthikotha vazhipadokkeyum ,

 Bhakthiyai  kazhichayyappa Pahi Mam,

11.Then  each and every person with great  respect,

And devotion   salute the God ,

And  do rituals of the temple  as per their capacity,

And with devotion, Oh Lord Ayyappa, Please protect me.

12.Avvannam thanne  pinne pular kaale  ,

Chovvode  Mala thanneyum   ammayum,

SArvarum Kadutha swami   thanneyum,

Chennu vandhicchar Ayyappa, Pahi Mam.

12.In that same way  next day dawn,

All people properly togther  ,

Went   and worshipped    the mother,

And Kadutha Swami, Oh Lord Ayyappa , Please protect me.

13.Annu thanne mala irangeettu ,

Vannu lokar yerumeliyil parkkunnu ,

Thingina  maala   agathenam yennude  ,

Sankarathmajan Ayyappa, Pahi Mam.

13.That same day after getting down from mountain,

All  people  again    reach and live in Yerumeli  together ,

And Then I have to remove  my  Maala (Thulasi  bead chain),

Oh Ayyappa who is son of Lord Shiva , Please protect me.