18 HOLY STEPS @ SABHARIMALA AYYAPPA TEMPLE..........
Meaning of Namaskaram Slokam - Saranam Ayyappa
Loka Veeram Maha poojyam,
Sarava raksha karam Vibhum,
Parvathi hrudayanandam,
Sastharam pranamamyaham 1
I salute that God Sastha,
Who is the hero of the world,
Who is greatly noble,
Who is the lord protecting everyone,
And who gives happiness to the heart of Parvathi.
Vipra poojyam, Viswa Vandhyam,
Vishnu Shambho priyam sutham,
Kshipra prasada niratham,
Sastharam pranamamyaham 2
I salute that God Sastha,
Who is being worshipped by Brahmins,
Who is saluted by the universe,
Who is the darling son of Vishnu and Shiva,
And who is becomes pleased very quickly.
Matha mathanga gamanam,
Karunyamrutha pooritham,
Sarva vigna haram devam,
Sastharam pranamamyaham 3
I salute that God Sastha,
Who walks like a vigorous elephant,
Who is filled with nectar of mercy,
And who is the God who removes all obstacles.
Asmad kuleshwaram devam,
Asmad Shathru vinasanam,
Asmad ishta pradha daram,
Sastharam pranamamyaham 4
I salute that God Sastha,
Who is the God of my family,
Who destroys my enemies,
And who fulfills all my wishes.
Pandyesha vamsa thilakam,
Kerale Keli vigraham,
Artha thrana param devam,
Sastharam pranamamyaham 5
I salute that God Sastha,
Who is the greatest of the clan of Pandyas,
Who is the playful God of Kerala,
And who is the God who looks after the oppressed.
Traymbaka puradheesam,
Ganadhipa Samanvitham,
Gajaroodam aham Vande,
Sastharam pranamamyaham 6
I salute that God Sastha,
Who rides on an elephant,
Who is the king of Tryambaka,
And who is near to Lord Ganesa.
Siva veerya samud bhootham,
Sreenivasa thanudbhavam,
Siki vahanujam Vande,
Sastharam pranamamyaham 7
I salute that God Sastha,
Who is the personification of power of Shiva,
Who was born out of the body of Sreenivasa,
And who is the brother of him who rides the peacock.
Yasya Danwantharir matha,
Pitha devo Maheswara,
Tham Sastharamaham vande,
Maha Roga nivaranam. 8
I salute that Sastha,
Whose mother is Dhanwanthari,
Whose father is Lord Shiva,
And who cures all diseases.
Bhoothanatha, sadananda,
Sarva bhootha daya para,
Raksha raksha maha baho,
Sasthre thubham namo nama. 9
Salutations and salutations to that Sastha,
Who is the lord of all beings,
Who is perennially ever happy,
Who shows mercy towards all beings,
And I pray, Protect me great hero.
Ashyama komala vishala thanum Vichithram,
Vasoavasana arunothphala dama hastham,
Uthunga rathna magudam, kutilagra kesam,
Sastharamishta varadam saranam prapadhye. 10
I seek the protection of Sastha who loves his devotees,
Who has the peculiar pretty black body colour,
Who lives till the end of the world,
Who has dawn like hands which resemble lightning
Who has tall crown made of costly gems,
And Who has curly and pretty hair.
What do the 18 steps of Sabarimala temple signify?.......
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage centre located at the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District, Perunad grama panchayat in Kerala. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world, with an estimated over 100 million devotees visiting every year.Ayyappan's temple is situated amidst 18 hills. The temple is situated on a hilltop , and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. The dense forest,around the temple is known as poongavanam. Temples exist in each of the hills surrounding Sabarimala. While functional and intact temples exist at many places in the surrounding areas like Nilakkal Kalaketty, and Karimala remnants of old temples survive to this day on remaining hills. The shrine at Sabarimala is an ancient temple of Ayyappan also known as sasta and Dharmasasta.
18 Divine steps to the sanctum is divine in all aspects. Initially the 18 steps were made of granite. It was later covered with Panchaloha in the year 1985 to prevent it from deterioration. As per the tradition, ONLY those who undertake the penance for 41 days and those who carry the IRUMUDI on their head are allowed to use the steps.
1st step- Getting knowledge and consciousness to make think is called first step.
2nd step- The bhakters ultimate consciousness is second step. Dvaita & advaita are same. Advaita means God & Dvaita means soul.
3rd step- vision or insight, imagination, understand, act, excercise, law to be connected with intellect.
4th step- pure consciousness image of knowledge it refers.
5th step- not in pure form & enlightened like bhagavathi Gods form.
6th – past several births (purva janam) goodness if we climb sixth step and we can see lord shiva.
7th step- will-power, we will have will-power to get God's blessing
8th step- yaga inner form. rahoyagam.
9th step- supreme celestial light , “paramjyothis” in order today also “makara jyothi” is seen.
10th step- meditating and knowing universal supreme lord.
11th step- ascetic meditating. God and devotee uniting.
12th step- samadhi non dualistic state of consciousness.
13th step- atma, soul changes happens.
14th step- supreme brahma, indicates knowledge person God subramanian. Ultimate supreme brahma is also called this step.
15th step- nadabrahma means ecstasy continues.
16th step- jyothiswarupa- illumination of God. A supreme effulgence, the proper form of God.
17th step- trigunathitha means tri characters of God
18th step – which is considered as parama feet- the ultimate supreme feet of lord ayyappa swamy.
The symbolism of these 18 steps is as follows:........
The first five steps symbolise the five human senses (Panchendriyas) i.e. visual (vision), auditory (hearing), olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste) and tactile (touch). These signify the `mortal’ nature of one’s body.
The next eight steps symbolise the eight Ashtaragas viz, Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha, Maltsarya, Asooya, Dhumb (Love, Anger, Avarice, Lust, Pride, Unhealthy Competition, Jealousy and Boastfulness).
The next three steps stand for three Gunas or Thrigunas (nature-born qualities) i.e. Satva, ( perspicuity, discernment) , Rajas (activity, enjoyment) and Thamas (inactivity, stupor). The last two steps represent Vidya (Knowledge) and Avidya (Ignorance).
It is assumed that after climbing up these eighteen steps reverently, one symbolically detaches oneself from all the worldly ties that bind one physically and mentally to the world. It is only then that a person will be in a receptive condition to be ‘one’ in consonance with the concept of ‘The Ultimate Creator’.
The above are the most prevalently accepted version of the significance of the Holy 18 steps. Other versions are as follows: Ayyappa was a master of 18 weapons and the steps signify these. Ayyappa before merging into the idol at the Sanctum Sanctorum, surrendered his 18 weapons, one at each step of Pathinettam Padi.
The steps represent the 18 hills existing in and around the region of Sabarimala......................
1. Ponnambalamedu,
2. Gowdenmala,
3. Nagamala,
4. Sundaramala,
5. Chittambalamala
6. Khalgimala,
7. Mathangamala,
8. Myladummala,
9. Sreepadamala,
10.Devarmala,
11.Nilakkalmala,
12.Thalapparamala,
13.Neelimala,
14.Karimala,
15.Puthuserrymala,
16.Kalakettimala,
17.Inchipparamala and
18.Sabarimala.
Eighteen is considered as the code number to break into the soul of the Nature. The significance of 18 can be traced back to the Vedic age.
The first Veda, believed to be protected by Lord Brahma himself, had 18 chapters. Later, Veda Vyasa divided it to create the four vedas: Rigveda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharava Veda. Each of these vedas had 18 chapters.Veda Vyasa also wrote 18 puranas and 18 upa-puranas. The Bhagavad Gita has 18 chapters and the Kurukshetra war lasted 18 days.
There are many mythological stories associated with the holy Patinettampadi. Some believe the eighteen steps denotes the 18 puranas. Some believe that the first three steps depict “Bhoomi, Agni, Vayoo & Akash”, 6 to 9 steps for Karmendriya, 10 to 15 for Jhanandriya, 16th for mind 17th Intelligence and 18th Jeevathma Bhava. Those who cross all these steps are believed to achieve “Punyadarshan”.
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. Before ascending or descending the steps, pilgrims break coconut as an offering to the steps. One needs to have the sacre 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 coconut sapling in Sabarimala. Built on a plateau about 40 feet high, the Ayyappan temple commands a lofty view of the mountains and valleys all around.
SWAMIYE SARANAM AYYAPPA
J.KANNAN, M.Com, FIATA
"WE DON'T THINK TO BREATHE
WE BREATHE TO THINK"
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