Raja Annamalaipuram Ayyappa Temple Kumbabhishekam…
The Kumbabishekam of Ayyappa Temple in Raja Annamalaipuram took place on March 27, 2024, in the presence of thousands of devotees. The temple was established in 1981 and constructed and congregated in 1982 on the land donated to the temple by Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar.
The temple is built as an exact replica of the original Ayyappan Temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. The poojas in the temple are performed per the rules in Sabarimala, the difference being that the Sabarimala temple is open only on specific days in a year, while Raja Annamalaipuram temple is open to devotees throughout the year.
The Ayyappa idol, made of Panchaloha was made by a sculptor from Nagercoil. It was taken in a procession from the Krishnan Temple in Nagercoil to various places of religious importance in Tamil Nadu before it was installed in the Rajah Annamalaipuram temple on 25 January 1982. The first kumbabishekam was performed in the year 1982 and the second one was performed in the year 1994, and on 2008, third kumbabishegam was performed. On 27th March 2024, fourth kumbabishegam was performed with three new additional sannidhanam (Vinayagar, Navagraham and Anjaneyar)
The temple is built as an exact style of the original Ayyappan Temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. The temple was constructed in three floors similar to the Sabarimala hill. The architecture follows the Kerala style and tradition with 18 steps to the main shrine and the sanctum sanctorum. The temple is known as Vada Sabari or North Sabarimala. Methods of worship is similar to the Sabarimala temple, whereby devotees observe all fasting, carry Irumudi (the sacred baggage) and sing divine songs as they do for a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. The temple has a wonderful golden and a silver chariots taken on procession during festival days.
“SWAMIYE SARANAM AYYAPPA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR