Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, becoming the first woman head of state to offer prayers at the renowned hilltop shrine.

ABOUT THE TEMPLE

  • Located in the Western Ghats in the Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.
    • Ayyappa, also known as Dharma Shasta, is the son of Shiva and Mohini, the feminine form of Vishnu.
  • The temple is situated on a hilltop amidst 18 hills at an altitude of 4,134 ft above sea level.
  • It is surrounded by mountains and dense forests that are a part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
  • It is not open throughout the year.
  • It is one of the largest annual pilgrimage sites in the world, with an estimated 40 to 50 million pilgrims visiting the temple every year, especially during the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku season.
  • It is said that the pilgrims have to follow a 41-day vratham (austerity period) before going to Sabarimala.
  • It is one of the few Hindu temples in India that is open to all faiths.
  • There is a place near the temple, east of Sannidhanam (the abode of Lord Ayyappa), dedicated to Vavar (a Sufi and a close friend of Lord Ayyappa) which is called Vavaru Nada, an epitome of religious harmony.
  • Architecture:
    • It showcases a beautiful blend of traditional Kerala and Dravidian architectural styles.
    • The main temple stands on a 40 feet high plateau and consists of a sanctum sanctorum with a copper-plated roof and four golden finials, two mandapams, and a flagstaff.
    • The main staircase to the Sabarimala Temple is made up of 18 sacred steps.

THE SABARIMALA CASE

  • Women in their ‘menstruating years’ (between 10 to 50 years) were customarily prohibited from entering the temple.
  • In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that the Sabarimala temple's exclusion of women aged 10 to 50 was unconstitutional.
  • The verdict triggered widespread protests and remains under review by a larger bench.