Thiruvabharanam
Encyclopedia
Thiruvabharanam is the sacred ornaments of Ayyappan
, the presiding deity of Sabarimala
temple. The ornaments are made of gold. It is believed that these ornaments are made at the orders of the Pandalam King, who adopted Ayyappan as his child.
Thiruvabharanam is kept in the Srampickal Palace of Pandalam
, which is close to the Valiyakoikkal Temple
, inside the Pandalam Palace
premises. A few days before the festive season starts, a procession carrying the holy caskets containing the sacred ornaments proceeds towards Sabarimala around January 12 every year. At around 1 o' clock in the afternoon of the day the sacred procession starts, a brahminy kite, popularly known as Sree Krishna Parunthu, is sighted circling above the temple and seen accompanied with the procession. Devotees believe that this is Vishnu
upon Garuda
accompanying the Thiruvabharanam from Pandalam to Sabarimala where again the kite is found hovering above the temple.
The royal representative of the King of Pandalam accompanies the procession in a palanquin. On the Makaravilakku day, Ayyappan's idol in Sabarima is adorned with these sacred ornaments. After the festive season, the return procession of the Thiruvabharanam starts from Sabarimala and reaches back Pandalam.
The Thiruvabharanam procession follows the traditional routes through forests, hills, and rivers. A team of representatives (not belonging to the Royal Family) takes the holy caskets on their heads. The procession is accompanied by hundreds of devotees and armed policemen. The procession is warmly welcomed by different associations and temples on the way to Sabarimala and back.
Thiruvanbharanam procession carries three cases or caskets. They are the main Thriuvabharanam box, the Velli Petti and the Kodi Petti. These contain the following:
Box 1
Thirumugham
Prabha Mandalam
Valia Churika
Cheria Churika
Aana (Elephant) - 2 (miniature replica)
Kaduva - 1 (miniature replica)
Velli Kettia Valampiri Sankh - 1 (Conch shell with q right hand spiral - Silver covered)
Lakshmi Roopam
Poothattam (A ceremonial plate for carrying flowers)
Navarathna Mothiram (Navarathnam ring)
Sarapoli Mala - Traditional temple necklace
Velakku Mala - Traditional temple necklace
Mani Mal - Traditional temple necklace
Erukkum Poomala - Traditional temple necklace
Kanchambaram
Box 2
Thaila Kudam for Kalasam
Required Pooja utensils
Box 3
Kodi Petti
Netti Pattom for the elephant
Chattah Idunna Jeevatha
Flags of Talapara and Udampara
Mezhuvatta Kuda
Ayyappan
Ayyappan is a Hindu deity worshiped in a number of shrines across India. Ayyappan is believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Sastha, who is the son of Shiva and Vishnu . The name "Ayyappan" is used as a respectful form of address in the Malayalam language, spoken in the Indian state of Kerala...
, the presiding deity of Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
temple. The ornaments are made of gold. It is believed that these ornaments are made at the orders of the Pandalam King, who adopted Ayyappan as his child.
Thiruvabharanam is kept in the Srampickal Palace of Pandalam
Pandalam
Pandalam is one among the fastest growing towns in Kerala, India. Known far and wide for its legendary connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala, Pandalam is considered to be a holy town...
, which is close to the Valiyakoikkal Temple
Valiyakoikkal temple
Valiakoikkal Temple is the family temple of the Pandalam Royal Family. The temple is located at Pandalam in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala. It is situated within the Pandalam Palace premises. The main deity is Ayyappan. Procession of the Thiruvabharanam towards Sabarimala shrine starts from the...
, inside the Pandalam Palace
Pandalam Palace
Pandalam palace is the permanent home for the royal family of Pandalam. It is cituated on the banks of river Achankovil. Although most of the original buildings have vanished by flood and fires, a few still remain which could be witnessed in the area among the newly constructed buildings.There are...
premises. A few days before the festive season starts, a procession carrying the holy caskets containing the sacred ornaments proceeds towards Sabarimala around January 12 every year. At around 1 o' clock in the afternoon of the day the sacred procession starts, a brahminy kite, popularly known as Sree Krishna Parunthu, is sighted circling above the temple and seen accompanied with the procession. Devotees believe that this is Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
upon Garuda
Garuda
The Garuda is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.From an Indian perspective, Garuda is the Hindu name for the constellation Aquila and...
accompanying the Thiruvabharanam from Pandalam to Sabarimala where again the kite is found hovering above the temple.
The royal representative of the King of Pandalam accompanies the procession in a palanquin. On the Makaravilakku day, Ayyappan's idol in Sabarima is adorned with these sacred ornaments. After the festive season, the return procession of the Thiruvabharanam starts from Sabarimala and reaches back Pandalam.
The Thiruvabharanam procession follows the traditional routes through forests, hills, and rivers. A team of representatives (not belonging to the Royal Family) takes the holy caskets on their heads. The procession is accompanied by hundreds of devotees and armed policemen. The procession is warmly welcomed by different associations and temples on the way to Sabarimala and back.
Thiruvanbharanam procession carries three cases or caskets. They are the main Thriuvabharanam box, the Velli Petti and the Kodi Petti. These contain the following:
Box 1
Thirumugham
Prabha Mandalam
Valia Churika
Cheria Churika
Aana (Elephant) - 2 (miniature replica)
Kaduva - 1 (miniature replica)
Velli Kettia Valampiri Sankh - 1 (Conch shell with q right hand spiral - Silver covered)
Lakshmi Roopam
Poothattam (A ceremonial plate for carrying flowers)
Navarathna Mothiram (Navarathnam ring)
Sarapoli Mala - Traditional temple necklace
Velakku Mala - Traditional temple necklace
Mani Mal - Traditional temple necklace
Erukkum Poomala - Traditional temple necklace
Kanchambaram
Box 2
Thaila Kudam for Kalasam
Required Pooja utensils
Box 3
Kodi Petti
Netti Pattom for the elephant
Chattah Idunna Jeevatha
Flags of Talapara and Udampara
Mezhuvatta Kuda
See also
- PandalamPandalamPandalam is one among the fastest growing towns in Kerala, India. Known far and wide for its legendary connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala, Pandalam is considered to be a holy town...
- Pandalam PalacePandalam PalacePandalam palace is the permanent home for the royal family of Pandalam. It is cituated on the banks of river Achankovil. Although most of the original buildings have vanished by flood and fires, a few still remain which could be witnessed in the area among the newly constructed buildings.There are...
- Valiyakoikkal templeValiyakoikkal templeValiakoikkal Temple is the family temple of the Pandalam Royal Family. The temple is located at Pandalam in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala. It is situated within the Pandalam Palace premises. The main deity is Ayyappan. Procession of the Thiruvabharanam towards Sabarimala shrine starts from the...
- SabarimalaSabarimalaSabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
- Temples of KeralaTemples of KeralaThe list of the Temples of Kerala, district wise.-Thiruvananthapuram:* Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple* Pazhavangady Maha Ganapati Temple* Sreekanteswaram Shiva Temple* Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram Temple* Kurumkalam Bhagavati Temple* Kovilvila Bhagavati Temple...
- Pathanamthitta DistrictPathanamthitta districtPathanamthitta district is the youngest district located in the southern part of the state of Kerala, India. The district headquarters is in Pathanamthitta town. The district is surrounded by Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha and Kollam districts. It has a border with the state of Tamil Nadu in the east...
- GurunathanmukadiGurunathanmukadiGurunathanmukadi Sri Ayyappaguru temple is situated on a hill gifted with beautiful landscape, near the banks of Achankovil River, on the opposite side of Pandalam Sri Valiyakoickal Dharma Sastha temple...