Sabarimala means hills of Shabari, which is also mentioned in Ramayana.
The Sabarimala temple built on the hills of Kerala is in the news. There are two reasons for discussion. Firstly, the visit of President Draupadi Murmu and secondly, the order for investigation into the gold theft case. Kerala High Court has directed to expand the scope of SIT investigation in the case of gold theft in the temple and investigate the role of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) officials.
Sabarimala temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. Legend also has it that Lord Ayyappa is unmarried and had taken a vow of celibacy. It is believed that Lord Ayyappa is the son of Lord Shiva and Mohini, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This is the reason why he got the ability to defeat a demon. Upon defeating her, it was revealed that she was actually a young woman who was cursed to live a demonic life.
That love of Rakshasi and ban on entry of women
She fell in love with him and asked him to marry her, but he refused saying that he had to go to the forest and answer the prayers of his devotees. She remained adamant, so he said that the day the devotees would stop coming to seek his blessings, he would marry her, but this never happened.
50 lakh devotees will reach Sabarimala temple in 2023-24.
Legend also has it that she waits for him in a second temple, located on the way to the main Sabarimala temple. Women do not go to any temple because it is believed that doing so would insult both the deity and the sacrifice of the woman who loves him.
Lord Ayyappa took an oath to answer the prayers of every devotee and renounced all worldly desires including contact with women, which is why women are not allowed to enter his temple.
Sabarimala temple was earlier known as Sabarimala Sri Dharma Sanstha Temple. Photo: Getty Images
How did Sabarimala get its name?
Sabarimala means hills of Shabari, which is also mentioned in Ramayana. officiallyOn November 21, 2016, this temple in Kerala was named Sabarimala Sri Ayyappaswami Temple. Earlier it was called Sabarimala Shri Dharma Sanstha Temple. However, it was most known as Sabarimala temple.
It means Shabari, a devotee of Lord Ram. It is said that Lord Ram had gone to meet Shabari in this forest while going to Lanka to rescue Mother Sita from Ravana’s captivity. Shabari fed Lord Rama those berries which he tasted because they were sweet. It is believed that the hill forest where Lord Ram met Shabari was named Shabarimala. After his death the followers built a temple at the place where he had welcomed Lord Rama. This temple was named Sabarimala temple because Shabari is considered to be the main reason for its construction.
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