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For those who are unable to visit the Sabarimala Ayappan temple, the Madipakkam and Nanganallur Ayappan temples are an alternative.
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THE MADIPAKKAM Ayyappan temple, with its traditional nadapandal, was the second Ayyappan temple after Sabarimala to be consecrated with 18 holy steps (pathinetampadi).
The sanctity of the 18 steps is strictly maintained here — only devotees leaving for Sabarimala are permitted to climb them. Women are not allowed inside the Ayyappan shrine but can visit other parts of the temple.
One of the main features of this temple is the paraedipu held during the annual utsavam in November. During this utsavam, the deity is taken in procession and grains left by devotees in front of their homes are taken for temple use.
Another event is the maha annadanam conducted on New Year's Day. Says C. Radhakrishnan, secretary, Sri Ayyappan Mandali, Madipakkam, "During the annadhanam, meals are provided to each person."The Mandali was registered as a society with 1,300 members in 1978. The Ayyappan temple, with shrines for Devi, Nagaraja, Vinayakar, Murugan and Kannimoolaganapathy, was constructed on a half-ground plot donated by a devotee.
The kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1978 and the Ayyappan vigraham was brought from the Siva-Vishnu temple in T. Nagar.
Devotees gather in large numbers during the festive season in November (karthigai), December (marghzhi) and January (thai). Padivilakku pooja is conducted every evening and nithya kattlai (a form of abhishekham) is performed every Saturday.
The Mandali later acquired the adjacent plots of land and today, the temple extends across more than seven grounds with staff quarters, kitchen, canteen, and four mandapams. The Trust distributes books to 350 students of the panchayat school every year and organises blood donation and health camps. "Although we provide devotees irumudikettu and kettunira facilities, we are interested in tying up with the Travancore Devaswom Board," says Radhakrishnan.
Plans are on to construct a community hall by the end of 2004.
Less than two kilometres away is the Nanganallur Ayyappan Temple wherethose who are unable to visit Sabarimala gather to witness the makkarajyothi. . Devotees flock to the temple during the festivities that start in December. Special poojas are also performed during the rest of the year. The temple was constructed in the early 1990s and has shrines for Ganapathy, Maligaipuruthamma, Nagaraja, Kochukaduthaswamy, Valliyakaduthaswamy, Karuppuswamy and Karuppayi Ammai.
The temple's Sree Dharma Sastha Bhaktha Jana Sabha also conducts annadanam during mandala pooja and makkara utsavam.
The sabha helps orphans, the physically challenged and the aged.
An annadhanam mandapam is also under construction near the main temple. The Sabha plans to construct staff quarters for the temple priests and priests visiting from Kerala, a meditation centre and a library.
For details, contact 22325897 or 22244033.
SASHI NAIR
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