SABARIMALA:The hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa here was opened on Monday for the five-day monthly poojas for the Malayalam month of Midhunam. Melsanthi Krishnadas Nampoothiri opened the Sreekovil of the temple at 5.30 pm in the presence of Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru.
As an ongoing practice of the temple, no ritual was conducted at the Sreekovil in the evening. Sabarimala devaswom executive officer V S Jayakumar said that special rituals, including sahasrakalasam , kalabhabhishekam and laksharchana, would be conducted during the monthly poojas. As part of the Sahasrakalasam, to be held on the first day of Midhunam on June 16, Thantri Kandararu Rajeevaru will perform kalasapooja at Sopanam on the south of the Sreekovil.
Kalasabhishekam, marking the conclusion of the ritual, on the idol of Lord Ayyappa will be held during Uchcha pooja. In connection with Kalabhabhishekam, to be conducted on June 16, the thantri will conduct Brahmakalasa pooja at the Mandapam of the temple at 10.30 am.
The ritual will conclude with Kalabhabhishekam on the idol during Uchcha pooja after the procession carrying the Brahmakalsam led by the thantri and melsanthi circumambulate the Sreekovil. Udayasthamana pooja, Padi pooja and Pushpabhishekam will be the other rituals that will be performed on all days during the monthly pooja.
Harivarasanam Award Presentation
The third Harivarasanam award will be presented to noted Carnatic singer S P Balasubramaniyam at a function held at Sabarimala on June 20. Devaswom Minister V S Sivakumar will present the award at 10 am. Travancore Devaswom Board president M P Govindan Nair, members Subhash Vasu and P K Kumaran and Devaswom Commissioner Ramaraja Prema Prasad will offer felicitations. The hill shrine will be closed on June 20 evening after Athazha pooja and Harivarasanam at 10 pm.
