The Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala has been closed after the five-day rituals in the Malayalam month of Thulam followed by the day-long Chithira Aattakkalasom festival on Thursday evening.
For the first time, a Kalabhabhishekom was performed at the Malikappuram Devi Temple at the holy hillock prior to the Utchapuja on Thursday.
The Tantri, Kandararu Rajeevararu, assisted by the Malikappuram Melsanthi, Manoj Embranthiri, performed the Kalabhabhishekom ritual.
Special ritualsAt the Ayyappa Temple The Tantri, Kandararu Maheswararu, performed the special rituals -Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom at the Ayyappa Temple too prior to the Utchapuja.
Mr. Rajeevararu performed the auspicious Brahmakalasapuja and Kalabhapuja before taking out the Brahmakalasom (holy water) and Kalabhom (sandal paste) in a customary procession to the sanctum sanctorum for the Abhishekom in the forenoon.
The Tantri, assisted by the Melsanthi, P.N. Narayanan Namboodiri, poured the holy water and sandal paste over the Ayyappa idol, marking the culmination of the ritualistic Abhishekom.
The sandal paste offered to the presiding deity was distributed among the devotees as prasadom.
Ashtabhishekom, Pushapabhishekom, Padipuja, and Udayasthamanapuja were the other important rituals performed at the Ayyappa temple on Thursday.
The temple was closed with the Melsanthi singing the sacred lullaby, Harivarasanam, Viswamohanam ,after the Athazhapuja in the evening.
The Ayyappa Temple will reopen on November 16 afternoon for the 41-day Mandalam pilgrim season that begins on November 17.
