BhaktiLoopLord Ayyappan Ashtabhishekam
Ashtabhishekam translates to 'ablution with eight sacred items'. For Lord Ayyappan, this special ritual involves performing sacred baths (abhishekam) with eight specific purifying and spiritually potent substances. It is one of the most significant and sought-after offerings to Lord Ayyappan, particularly revered in Sabarimala and other Ayyappan temples. Each substance used in the abhishekam carries unique spiritual significance and is believed to bestow specific benefits upon the devotee.
Purpose
To invoke the blessings of Lord Ayyappan, seek protection from evil forces, remove obstacles, purify the mind and body, attain spiritual merit, achieve material prosperity, and fulfill earnest desires. It is believed to bring peace, harmony, and well-being to the devotees and their families.
Key Rituals
Sankalpam (Vow/Intention): The devotee makes a solemn vow to perform the puja for a specific purpose.
Ganapathi Puja: Invocation of Lord Ganesha to remove all obstacles during the puja.
Punyahavachanam: Ritual purification of the space and participants with sacred water.
Dhyanam (Meditation): Meditating on the form and attributes of Lord Ayyappan.
Avahanam (Invocation): Inviting the divine presence of Lord Ayyappan into the idol.
Ashtabhishekam (Ablution with Eight Sacred Items): The core ritual, where the idol of Lord Ayyappan is bathed successively with eight specific items, often in a particular order. The items typically include:
1. Neyyabhishekam (Ghee/Clarified Butter): The most prominent and sacred, symbolizing purity, wisdom, and spiritual light. Often done first or after preliminary purification.
2. Bhasmabhishekam (Sacred Ash): Symbolizes detachment, purity, and the transient nature of life.
3. Vibhoothyabhishekam (Another form of Sacred Ash): Similar to Bhasmam, emphasizing purification and divine protection.
4. Chandanam (Sandalwood Paste): For cooling, peace, tranquility, and attracting positive energies.
5. Kalabhabhishekam (Sandalwood, Camphor, and Saffron Paste): A fragrant and cooling paste, symbolizing prosperity, auspiciousness, and spiritual elevation.
6. Panchamrutham (Five Nectars): A mixture of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and jaggery/sugar, symbolizing health, prosperity, and divine blessings.
7. Ilaneer (Tender Coconut Water): For purification, fertility, and fulfilling desires.
8. Panneer (Rose Water): For fragrance, beauty, love, and calming the mind.
Alankaram (Decoration): The idol is adorned with fresh clothes, garlands, and ornaments after the abhishekam.
Naivedyam (Food Offering): Offering of cooked food, fruits, and sweets to the deity.
Deeparadhana (Waving of Lamps): Waving of various lamps before the deity, symbolizing the removal of darkness and ignorance.
Aarti: A final offering of light, signifying complete surrender and devotion.
Mantra Pushpam: Offering of flowers while chanting specific Vedic mantras.
Pradakshina (Circumambulation): Circling the deity in a clockwise direction, acknowledging the divine presence.
Namaskaram (Prostration): Bowing down in reverence to the deity.
Prasada Vitaranam (Distribution of Blessings): Distribution of the blessed food and sacred ash to devotees.
Common Offerings
Ghee (for Neyyabhishekam - paramount)
Pure water (for preliminary baths)
Milk, Curd, Honey, Sugar/Jaggery (for Panchamrutham)
Tender coconuts
Sandalwood paste, Camphor, Saffron (for Chandanam & Kalabham)
Sacred Ash (Bhasmam/Vibhoothi)
Rosewater
Flowers (especially red and yellow flowers, jasmine)
Betel leaves and Areca nuts
Fruits (banana, coconut, oranges)
Incense sticks and Camphor
Oil lamps (for Deepam)
Naivedyam items: Appam, Aravana Payasam, Sarkarai Payasam (sweet rice pudding), Modakam.
Associated Mantras
Mantra 1
Mantra Text
Om Harihara Putraya Namaha
Meaning
Salutations to the son of Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva).
Benefits
Invokes Lord Ayyappan's presence and blessings, promoting harmony and protection.
Mantra 2
Mantra Text
Om Bhoothanaathaya Vidhmahe, Mahadeva Puthraya Dheemahi, Thanno Sastha Prachodayath.
Meaning
Om, let us meditate on the Lord of all beings (Bhoothanatha), the son of Lord Shiva. May that Lord Sastha enlighten and guide us.
Benefits
This is the Ayyappan Gayatri Mantra, believed to grant wisdom, spiritual insight, and divine grace.
Mantra 3
Mantra Text
Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!
Meaning
Oh Lord Ayyappa, I surrender to You!
Benefits
A powerful surrender mantra chanted by devotees, signifying complete faith and seeking refuge in Ayyappan's protection, especially during pilgrimages.
Auspicious Days
Saturdays (considered Ayyappan's day)
First day of Malayalam months (e.g., Vrishchikam 1, Medam 1 for Vishu)
Mandala-Makaravilakku season (mid-November to mid-January), especially Makara Sankranti (Makaram 1st)
Uthram Nakshatra (Lord Ayyappan's birth star, sometimes mentioned as Pooram/Uthram in specific contexts, but Uthram is more common for Sastha)
Any day chosen by the devotee with devotion, though special occasions enhance the benefits.
Regional Variations
While the core Ashtabhishekam rituals remain consistent, minor variations may exist in the specific sequence of items or additional offerings based on local temple traditions and the Agamic practices followed in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. For instance, in Sabarimala, Neyyabhishekam is uniquely prominent and often performed with ghee brought by pilgrims as part of their Irumudi (sacred bundle). Some temples might emphasize specific herbal water baths (Dhara) as part of an extended ritual.
Related Pujas
Neyyabhishekam: The most important individual abhishekam for Ayyappan, performed daily in Sabarimala.
Padi Puja: Special worship of the 18 holy steps leading to the Sannidhanam (sanctum sanctorum).
Usha Puja, Ucha Puja, Attazha Puja: Daily specific time-bound pujas performed in Ayyappan temples.
Deeparadhana: Waving of lamps, a common and significant daily ritual.
Kalabhabhishekam: A specific abhishekam with sandalwood, camphor, and saffron paste, often performed on special days.
Ganapathi Homam: Often performed before any significant puja or pilgrimage to remove obstacles.