Wednesday, December 4, 2013

What to do with Irumudi Kettu after reaching Sabarimala

For last 3 consecutive years I have been to Sabarimala, the most disturbing visual over there is that many devotees are not aware of what to be done with Irumudi Kettu. As a result, many just dump the items in the shrine where ever there is space available.



Below is the list of actions to done at Sanidanam:
  •  Break the coconut (this may be in the Irumudi or outside of it) against the wall just before climbing the 18 holy steps.
  •  After offering prayers to Lord Aiyappa, one can open the Irumudi. (But it is advisable to open the Irumudi after offering prayers to Maalikapurathamma)
  • The coconut filled with ghee
    • It can be broken and the ghee collected in a vessel can be provided to abhishekam to Lord Aiyappa. For this there is a separate queue at Sreekovil and a ticket has to be bought to do such kind of offerings. After abhishekam this ghee can be brought back.
    •  During the season the queue would be very long, the next best this is to take the ghee filled coconut and break it open at ghee collection counter at Sreekovil. You can also buy small packets of ghee which was used for abhishekam at counters
    • After removing the ghee from the coconut, the coconut is thrown into the homakundam, close to the main shrine in front of the pathinettampadi (18 holy steps)
    • Some piece of coconut can be retained to mix it along with prasadam
  • The rice from the Irumudi can be offered at many places. There are large vessels placed on the route from Sreekovil to Maalikapurathamma temple to collect rice. The rice can also be offered at Anna daanam counters as well. 
  • Camphor, incense sticks (Agarbathi), rose water & sandal paste these have to be offered to Maalikapurathamma. These offering can be put into containers placed in the temple.
  • Vibhoothi should be offered at the Maalikapurathamma temple. The vibhoothi packet should dropped into the box placed next to the naga devatha temple/
  • Turmeric Powder should be offered to Naga devathas. The turmeric powder packet should be placed in the container near to the Naga temple. (It should not be opened and sprinkled around the temple)
  • The mixture of Aval, malar, Kadali pazham, Jaggery, Kalkandam (Sugar Candy) & Dry Grapes should be separately put in a bag. A ticket has to be bought from the counter and this is offered to Maalikapurathamma. This offering with returned after performing puja. This later has to be mixed and taken back home as prasadam
  • Before leaving the shrine, the last coconut has to be broken against the wall just next to the 18 holy steps

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