There is a Homakundam (coconut aazhi) close to the main shrine in front of the pathinettampadi. A Homakundam is erected toward north-east of the holy 18 steps. After removing ghee for Neyyabhishakam the pilgrims throw the remaining coconuts into this sacred fireplace. It is interesting to note that the vast Homakundam burns throughout the Mandala and Makaravilakku season. The coconut in which the ghee is brought for Abhishekam, is thrown into the homakundam. Since lakhs of devotees arrive here during the season, the homakundam will be burning continuously. The fire and the smoke arising from it purifies the atmosphere, destroying disease-causing germs, besides being an offering to Lord Ayyappa.
The next place consecreated for holy bath is Kumbalam Thodu with Urakuzhi Theertham in it. This holy canal is about one km North of Malikapuram. This place is believed to be the most sacred place where Dharmasastha revealed himself in his Viswaroopa. Here there is a waterfall and a small creek in to which the water drains. This creek is named Urakuzhi. It seems to be a small hole. But when one sits in its bosom, it appears to be spacious enough to give a cool dip. It is believed that a bath in the Urakuzhi theertham washes off all the sins.
One sacred place for bath at Sabarimala is Bhasmakulam. This is on the western side of the Sannidhanam. Pilgrims get purified by their dip in the holy water here. Legend says that Sabari entered the fire in the presence of Sri Rama and as a result her mortal remains were consumed. This pond has its name derived from this legend. The water in the pond is ever kept fresh and clean in spite of the constant use by pilgrims. Using oil and soap here are prohibited.
Neythoni
For those pilgrims who do not wish to take back the ghee they bring inside the coconut, there is a container called Neythoni(Ghee Canoe) into which they can pour out the ghee. It is placed near the Sreekovil. No payment is required for depositing the ghee in the Neythoni.
Malikappurathamma is also known as Manjamatha. In importance She is next to Ayyappaswamy. The Manjamatha kovil is situated on the northwestern side of the main Sree Kovil. It is connected to Sannidhanam by an attractive fly over. The temple of Malikapuram faces east, while the Kochukadutha Swamy shrine faces west. The Nagadevas are there in the premises of Malikappuram Temple, whereas the abode of the Navagrahas on its north western side.
The Holy eighteen steps that lead to the shrine have been figuratively called Ponnu Pathinettampadi. ''Ponnu'' as an epithet denotes the holy touch of the Lord's feet. But now the epithet ''Ponnu'' has become literally true because the steps have been covered with gold coloured Panchaloham. Only those who observe 41 days penance and carry ''Irumudi Kettu'' can climb these divine steps.Climbing the 18 steps from the foot of the temple to reach the sanctum sanctorum for holy darshan is considered an important privilege of every devotee. The Pathinettampadi (18 steps) represents the eighteen stages one has to pass through to attain ''Moksha'' (salvation).Among the 'Kshethrasankalpas' in the world, the most important is the concept of Ayyappa and the eighteen steps. It is believed to be the great gift of the Almighty. Sabarimala is surrounded by 18 mountains which are thickly forested.In the Hindu Dharma 18 has a great spiritual significance. Here 1 is 'Paramatma' and 8 is 'Jeevatma', thus 18 is the number for the realization of God. In the Mahabharatha and Bhagavad Geetha, there are 18 chapters. Likewise there are 18 Puranas also that reveal the 'Reality'. The 18 mountains around Sannidhanam, and the 18 steps to reach the abode of the Lord also reveal the 'Reality'.
Sannidhanam is the area where the Ayyappa temple is situated. At Sannidhanam, devotees climb up the holy 18 steps to reach the Sanctum sanctorum. Arrangements are made for the devotees to crack coconuts on the right side of the steps. Now cracking of coconuts on the 18 steps is prohibited for safety reasons.The Malikappuram temple complex, sub temple of Vavar, Neyyabhishekam counters, prasadam counters, information centres, telephone and post office facility etc. are visible in and around Sannidhanam.
Pathinettapadi (18 divine steps) to the sanctum sanctorium is divine in all aspects. The first three steps depict "Bhoomi, Agni, Vayoo & Akash", 6 to 9 steps for Karmendriya, 10 to 15 for Jhanandriya, 16th for mind 17th Intelligence and 18th Jeevathma Bhava. Those who cross all these steps are believed to achieve "Punyadarshan". The steep steps are so important and holy that no one can climb them without fasting for 41 days and carrying the holy irrumudi on ones' head.There are many mythological stories associated with the holy Patinettampadi. Some believe the eighteen steps denote the 18 puranas. Some say that 18 weapons with which Lord Ayyappa destroyed the evil denotes the 18 steps. Others are of the belief that the first five steps denotes the indriyas (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin). The next eight steps signifies the ragas (tatwa, kama, krodha, moha, lobha, madha, matsraya, and ahamkara. The next three steps signifies the gunas (satwa, rajas and thamas). The seventeenth and the eighteenth denotes vidhya and ignorance.The Patinettampadi can be used only twice - once for ascending the temple and once for descending below leaving the hill. Before ascending or descending the steps, pilgrims break coconut as an offering to the steps. One needs to have the sacre Irumudi on head while going up or down the 18 steps. While descending the steps the devotees climb down backwards facing the sanctum sanctorum.One who climbs the Patinettampadi for 18 times shall plant a sapling of coconut in Sabarimala. Built on a plateau about 40 feet high, the Ayyappan temple commands a lofty view of the mountains and valleys all around. The ancient temple has been rebuilt after a fire in 1950. Within the confines of the sanctum sanctorium with a copper-plated roof and four golden finials at the top, two mandapams, the belikalpura which houses the altar, the flag-staff replacing the earlier stone image of the deity, sits a beautiful idol of Ayyappa in panchaloha, an alloy of five metals, about one and a half feet tall.
Hari Guru Nathan well known and fondly called as Guru initiated the whole idea of forming the Sabai. For almost twenty years, he had a group of Murugan Bakthars, which was based at the Nagesvari Temple in Bangsar and thereafter moved to Ampang Tasik. It was then called Hari Guru Nathan Sabai.
Born as a Christian he was raised in Kuala Lumpur. During his childhood days he took the liking in Hinduism and received the irresistible divine call. He was a government servant serving the National Electricity Board of Malaysia. He performed tapas, meditations and austerities as a sanyassi at places such as Batu Caves, Bukit Gasing, Marathandavar Temple in Maran and other places in Malaysia. During this time he got acquainted with our present Spiritual Guru His Holiness Swami Krishnan Sreedharan also well known and fondly called by many as Guruji. Guruji was the pioneer in the Ayyapan Valipadee and currently oversee groups of Ayyapan Bakthars in India, Malaysia, Singapore, England and Indonesia.
Hailing from Varkala, Kerala, India and having dabbled in varied vocations while in Singapore and Malaysia, he sought to seek the Truth and submitted to the irresistible divine call. For several years henceforth he performed tapas, meditations and austerities as a sanyassi at places such as the Batu Caves, Bukit Gasing, Marathandavar Temple in Maran, the Himalayas, the seven hills of the Trupathi Vengadachalapthi Temple, Rishikesh, Badrinath and a range of other divine temples. While performing tapas atop Bukit Gasing in the sixties, at the request of several devotees he imparted the stories of Ayyapan. He performed the “Ahlee Pooja” (Big Bon Fire Prayers probably the first of its kind in this country) for Ayyapan at Bukit Gasing and installed a Sivan vikraham. He also installed an Ayyapan vikraham later in Taiping and was instrumental in giving new lease of life to the Sri Ayyanareeswarar temple at Wardieburn (Jln Genting Klang) in Setapak. The devotees at Sri Ayyanareeswarar temple were enlightened that Ayyanareeswarar was actually Ayyapan. He also started the “Irumudi Pooja”, which is held annually on 1st January for those who could not afford to go to Sabari Malai. Thus, from these records it is vividly evident that Guruji was probably the first person to have initiated Ayyapan worship and to have imparted his stories over here to the general public.
Guruji also runs his Krishna and Ayyapan Temples at Edavar, Varkala, Kerala, India. He himself has performed about 50 or more yatras to Holy Sabrimalai and is a much-respected person at the sannidhanam precincts. At the ripe age of 85 years this adorable man divinises those around him after he himself had scaled the depths of the divine. Tempered and embolden by several tapas he eschew self-proclaim and pride. Mere pretence and hypocrisy keep their distance from his aura of sincerity. They evaporate just like the morning dew upon the visitation of the solar effulgence.
When Guru reached moksha on Thaipusam Eve, 19th January 1992, a new era started with Guruji given the honour by the Murugan Bakthars to lead the group and he gladly accepted the role and merged both the Murugan and Ayyapan Bakthars groups.
The Hari Guru Nathan Sabai moved from its place in Ampang Tasik in 1995, to another place around the vicinity for a few months and again to another temporary place in Puchong. The base in Puchong for several years was made possible by courtesy of Mr. Balasingam (Kalidass) & and his family before moving to the present location.
On 18th January 2003, on the eve of Thaipusam at Batu Caves, Guruji re-named the Sabai. It was to be called OM HARI GURU VIGHNESVARA SABAI. We asked for reasons for the renaming and Guruji replied Karanam Illamal Kariyam Illai and Kariyam Illai Karanam Illamal. (There are always reasons for what we do and for what we do there are also reasons). Guruji also gave an explanation on the name of the Sabai as follows: -
OM - Is a Pranava Mantra, Universal and a very powerful sound vibration in
the Universe. It is the first holy word chanted by all during prayers.
HARI - Representing Saivism.
GURU - In honour of the founding Guru’s. i.e. Spiritual Lord Dakshinamoorthy,
Lord Krishna, Athi Shankara, Hari Guru Nathan and future . VIGHNESVARA - Supreme God or Mula Kadawal
SABAI - A place of gathering for all Bakthars.
Guruji told the gathering that it was time to own a premise and start our activities, which has been long overdue and appointed a group of members representing the Murugan and Ayyapan Bakthars, to form the Ad-hoc Committee and to officially register the Sabai with the Registrar of Societies and at the same time to look for a property.
When Guruji left Malaysia on 21st April 2003, the search began and ended at No 90, Jalan Amal 25/68, Sek 25, Sri Muda, Shah Alam, Selangor. The Ad-hoc Committee gathered at various places to meet and discuss the purchase, cash requirement, fund raising and other pertaining details.
On 6th May 2003 with the blessings of Guruji, the Ad-hoc Committee signed the purchase agreement and with the utmost cooperation’s of all the Bakthars and donations from friends the purchased was completed in August 2003.
The Sabai’s registration was officially submitted to the Registrar of Societies on 18th May 2003 and received its confirmation as a Registered Society on 8th July 2004. The Membership strength stands at 40. The entrance fee is RM50.00 and the monthly subscription is RM10.00. At the present the membership is restricted to residences in Selangor and W.P. Kuala Lumpur. The Sabai is also registered with the Malaysian Hindu Sangam since 2006.
On 19th September 2003, on his return to Malaysia, Guruji did a soft opening of the Sabai at 11.30 a.m. Thereafter Guruji himself made the planning for the main alter. Guruji decided that a new Vighnesvara vikraham should be installed in place of the old Vighnesvara worshipped by Guru Nathan. At 11.30 p.m. on 27th September 2003, the new Panchalogam Lord Vighnesvara was officially installed by our beloved Spiritual Guru His Holiness Swami Krishnan Sreedharan attended by the Sabai’s Bakthars. In the early hours of the 28th September at 1.30 a.m., Guruji with the blessings of his spiritual superiors decided to install Lord Murugan, Lord Ayyapan, Lord Karumari Aman, Lord Krishna, Lord Hanuman and performed the pooja.
On 28th September at 5.30 a.m. the Vighnesvara Homam was performed by Guruji and later at 11.00 a.m. the official opening ceremony. Guruji was allocated a room with all necessary facilities to cater his needs and all his devotees were allowed to visit him anytime of the day.
The first pooja conducted after the opening ceremony was the Ayyapan Fasting Session on 1st November 2003. It was well attended by all devotees, friends and relatives. During this pooja Guruji gave explanation on the Ayyapan fasting session and had a question and answer session.
On 2nd November 2003, the Sabai officially started one of the objects of the Sabai that is towards the needy and donated items and cash amounting to RM2, 500.00 to the Persatuan Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Klang Selangor.
On 6th November 2003, Lord Vighnesvara 41st Day Abisighem and Pooja were conducted and thereafter daily Abisighem and Pooja’s are conducted. The big scale Abisighem and Pooja’s are conducted every 3rd Friday of the month. On the eve of these days the Committee meets to discuss on matters related to the Sabai.
In February 2004 the Tevaraam, Bajan, Tamil and Religious classes were introduced and these services are provided without any fees. During Thaipusam Festival at Batu Caves the Sabai provides “Anathanam” in form of food for 5,000 devotees, Pal Kudam and Kavadis for 100 devotees are provided. During the Pangguni Utiram Festival at Maran, Pal Kudam and Kavadis services are made available. All these are made available without any charge. This is yet another object of the Sabai. The Members of the Sabai also gave its support to the Barisan Nasional candidates during the General Election and By-Election. In 2006 another Sabai in honour of Swamiji was open in Seremban and called “Pertubuhan Kebajikan Om Sri Krishnan Swami”.
2007 was very significance year that we successfully concluded the 4th Anniversary Celebration dinner on 25th August 2007 at the STC Hall, Batu Caves, Selangor
The Dinner and Show held under the patronage of His Holiness Swami Krishnan Sreedharan from Edava, Varkala, Kerala, India was attended by 800 friends and well wishers. YB SA. Vigneswaran the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Youth & Sports of Malaysia,
Member of Parliament of Kota Raja and MIC National Youth Leader honored the Sabai, in gracing the occasion as “Guest of Honour”.
All those who attended the Dinner and Show were entertained by our top local Indian artist lead by Mr. Raja Raja Cholan who also gave a ‘Chinese and Malay Song’s’ for our friends who joined us in the Celebration. As planned 29 “Lucky Draws” were given away during the dinner, which included packages to Bali, air tickets to Chennai, Bangkok and Cambodia and also door gifts. The guest extended their praises and best wishes on the memorable night.
We are very fortunate that our guests, who attended the Celebration, generously contributed cash and items on kind, which produced a cash surplus for the Sabai to settle the full bank loan. YB SA. Vigneswaran pledged RM15, 000.00 to the Sabai of which only RM5, 000.00 was approved by his Ministry.
2008 was very sad year as His Holiness Swami Krishnan Sreedharan from Edava, Varkala, Kerala, India left his mortal coil and attained “Samadhi” on Wednesday, 24th December 2008 at his birthplace Edava, Venkulam, Varkala, Kerala, India.
His Holiness was laid to rest at his Temple/Residence Complex “Sri Krishna Bavan” on Friday, 26th December 2008 alongside with his loving wife who left the world 50 days earlier on Wednesday, 5th November 2008.
The Memorial Service dedicated to His Holiness was held on Friday, 9th January 2009 at 7.30 pm attended by all members and well wishers.
Another Memorial Service was held on Sunday, 1st February 2009 at 12.00 Noon at Om Sri Krishna Swami Sabai , Lot 21383 Jalan Mambau, Port Dickson, Mukim Rantau 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
As we all know both the Sabai’s are legacy left behind by His Holiness to continue his teachings. As mark of respect the “Annual Thaipusam Annathanam” was not held. The “Annual Maran Annathanam” will be held as practice after the 100 days prayers.
The Guru Pooja prayers was held on 5th April 2009 for both Swami Krishnan Sreedharan and Guru Nathan..
Om Hari Guru Vighnesvara Sabai, Kuala Lumpur & Selangor’ will be 6 years old on 28th September 2009 with the blessings of the Universal Lord’s and Spiritual Guru’s, it is our utmost hope that the Sabai would one day be well-known all over Malaysia and the rest of the World for attaining its object and the visions of Guru and Guruji.
