The Sabarimala Temple (Malayalam:ശബരിമല) is a temple complicated placed at sabarimala in the Periyar Tiger Reserve inside the Perinad Village, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India.It’s miles one among the largest annual pilgrimage sites within the world with an estimate of over 40 to 50 million devotees travelling every yr.The temple is dedicated to a Hindu celibate deity Ayyappan additionally known as Dharma Shasta, who in line with belief is the son of Shiva and Mohini, the feminine incarnation of Thirumal.The traditions of Sabarimala are a confluence of Shaivism, Kali, Vaishnavism, and other Śramaṇa traditions. The temple is situated on a hilltop amidst eighteen hills at an altitude of 1260 m (4,133 ft) above sea level, and is surrounded by using mountains and dense forests. The dense woodland, part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, across the temple is referred to as Poongavanam. Temples exist in each of the hills surrounding Sabarimala. Whilst useful and intact temples exist at many places within the surrounding regions like Nilakkal, Kalaketty, and Karimalai, remnants of vintage temples continue to exist to at the moment on remaining hills.

He worship of Shasta forms a part of the very historical records of south India.At Sabarimala, the deity is worshiped as Ayyappan and as Dharmashasta. The shrine of Sabarimala is an ancient temple. It’s miles believed that the prince of Pandalam dynasty, an avatar of Ayyappan, pondered at Sabarimala temple and became one with the divine. The location in which the prince reflected is the Manimandapam. There are numerous Shasta temples in South India and across the globe.As in keeping with lifestyle, the Shasta temple at Sabarimala is one of the 5 Shasta temples founded by Lord Parasurama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The opposite Shasta temples in this organization of 5 consists of the Ayyappan Temples:at Kulathupuzha, wherein the Shasta seems as a Balaka or child; at Aryankavu in which the lord appears as a Brahmachari or young man; at Achankovil Shastha Temple, wherein the lord leads the Grihastha Ashrama lifestyles here and depicted along together with his better halves – Purna and Pushkala at Sabarimala, in which the lord is depicted within the Vanaprastha or form of renunciation; at Ponnambala Medu the lord seems as a “makaravilaku”

The Pathinettu thripadikal or the 18 sacred steps is the primary stairway to the temple. As per the custom followed, no pilgrim with out “Irumudikkettu” can ascend the 18 sacred steps. In 1985, the 18 steps had been protected by Panchaloha. The northern gate is open for folks that do no longer bring an “Irumudikkettu”, as found inside the Kerala high court docket judgment of 1991. The temples of Lord Ayyappan’s relied on lieutenants Karuppu Sami and Kadutha Sami are placed as his guards (kaval) on the foot of the holy 18 sacred steps. The temple of Maalikapurathamma, whose significance is sort of in par with Lord Ayyappa,is positioned few yards from Sannidhanam. It is believed that the Lord Ayyapan had precise commands that he wanted Malikappurath Amma, on his left aspect. Previous to the fireplace catastrophe, there was most effective a Peeda Prathishta (holy seat) at Malikappuram. The idol of Malikappurath Amma become hooked up by Brahmasree Kandararu Maheswararu Thanthri. The Devi at Malikappuram holds a Sankh, Chakram and Varada Abhya Mudra. Now the idol is protected with a gold Golaka. The temple additionally was reconstructed in the closing decade and now the conical roof and sopanam is covered with gold. Nagarajav Shrine at Sabarimala

The shrine of the Lord of snakes, Nagarajav is located adjoining to the malikappuram temple. Pilgrims after the Darsan of Ayyappa and Kannimoola Ganapathi, make their darsan and supply services to Nagarajav. Manimandapam, is the vicinity wherein Ayyappan Jeeva samadhi The Sabarimala temple complex include Pampa Ganapathi temple, Nilakal Mahadeva temple and Palliyara Bhagavathi temple. The Nilakal Mahadeva temple and Palliyara Bhagavathi temple is as antique as the Shasta temple and the deities are worshiped as the mother and father of Lord Ayyappa. Ganapathi temple at Pampa has Pampa Maha Ganapathi and Athi Ganapathi (lit. Old ganapathy), sreekovil in which the idol from the primary Ganapathy temple is worshiped. Sabari Peedam has a temple of Rama and Hanuman additionally.