Sabarimala Ayyappa Swamy
Chennai Annanagar Ayyappan Temple Mandalam Pooja, Makaravilakku Utsavam.. AnnaNagar Ayyappan Temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappan in Chennai. In the year 1979, the temple construction was started and the kumbabishekam and consecration of the idol were performed in the year 1984 by the temple management. In this temple separate shrines for Lord Ganesha, Muruga, Mata Durga, Navagraha and Sri Anjenaya were also found. In the year 2005, gold coating work of dwajasthambam was made. The temple is situated near the Anna Tower also known as Visveswarayya Tower.
With the blessings of Lord Ayyappa, the Mandalam and Makaravilakku festival would be celebrated from November to January at Sri Ayyappa Temple, Annanagar, Chennai – 40. The temple Utsavam would be celebrated during that period. This year (2024), also, Ayyappa devotees who resides in and around Annanagar, eagerly waits for the divine season, in order to visit this wonderful Ayyappa Temple to take part in the Mandalam and Makara Vilakku Utsavam. Lord Ayyappan’s worship prevails since several thousands of years. The shrine receives millions of pilgrims every year in late December and early January.
The most famous festival is Makaravilakku (Makara Sankranti), observed during winter season. Before proceeding to Sabarimala, devotees can also approach Anna Nagar Ayyappan temple office authorities, for getting the irumudi(Coconut filled with ghee) from the guruswamy(senior ayyappa devotee), and to take it throughout the mountain of sabarimala and to worship Lord Ayyappa. The Guruswamy would be mostly an elderly person who would have undergone pilgrimage to the holy sabarimala Temple for several years, and he would have had the darshan of makara jyothi.
Guruswamy guides the devotee to move closer to Lord Ayyappa swamy, and he would explain the significance of visiting the Holy Sabarimala Shrine. The entire Deeksha deals with realising the supremacy of Lord Ayyappa.
Mandala Vrutham: Mandala Vrutham denotes austerity measures by followers and devotees of Lord Ayyappa for a Mandala, for a period of 41 days.
“SWAMIYE SARANAM AYYAPPA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR