Swami sharanam
The list of Do’s and Don'ts for Sabarimala Vratham
· Take bath with un heated water daily at least twice a day, early in the morning and in the evening.
· Soaps and detergents should not be used. Bathing powders like Green gram dhal powder / Bengal Gram dal powder / Besan or other natural homemade bath powders can be used to scrub yourself out. You should be clean to start and to end the day.
· Perform pooja twice a day and participate in bhajhans as many times as you can during the vratham.
· Sleeping on the floor is a must without pillow while you are on the Vratham, you can use a bed sheet or a blanket to cover yourself.
· You should wear only black coloured cloths.
· Elderly ladies who are going to sabarimala can wear similar coloured sari & blouse.
· Follow brahmacharya life all through the 41 days. This has been brought in by the elders to keep the concentration in God.
· You have to practice / chant Saranu Ghosha as much as you can. It will help you to concentrate and keep you away from mischief. Practising Saranu ghosha will also help you keep animals away while trekking or climbing through the forests of sabarimala.
· Eat only vegetarian food . The person who cooks the food for the ayyappa swamis should also follow the daily bath rules. They have to take bath and then start cooking.
· The food should be freshly made and eaten. Should not waste and throw the food.
· One main meals a day, you can have fruits and snacks in the evening.
· You are supposed to talk less and make others happy as well.
· Do Annadhanam whenever you can, help out others when possible.
· Annadhanam is said to be Ayyappans favourite ritual.
· For helping others and making people happy we do not need a Deeksha from a Guruswamy. We can follow that all your life.
· A mandalam means 41 days, don't accept half a mandalam deeksha or instant Deeksha.
· Mandalam means 41 days and so please do take full mandalam Deeksha to reap the good benefits.
· This is actually detoxifying of one self, like in ayurveda, when they give medicines for a mandalam. It is said that to cleanse one's mind and body, one has to complete one mandalam vratham or fasting. If he is following a good Guruswamy and goes through the correct way of vratham one can see the difference in them after the prescribed time.
· If you are the kanni swamy you have to follow certain rules while you go for the pilgrimage. Those steps have to be followed. You have to go to Erumely to pray before you embark on the trek. You have to get an arrow from Erumely to get the arrow stuck at the saramkuthi. So only the correct Guruswamis will be able to tell you what to do and what not to do while trekking over the hills.
· Don't accept high end / luxury Deeksha.
· Clipping nails, cutting hair, shaving, etc. should be avoided during vratham.
· Do not take part in any violence.
· Don't make others unhappy or hurt their feelings.
· Don't consume alcohol and don’t smoke.
· Do not wear foot wear, go barefoot to all places. You have to get used to walking barefoot because at the hills of Sabarimala you will find the climbing slippery and difficult, if you wear slippers or shoes. Barefoot is the best.
· Don't be proud and think that you are way above other mortals, that all of them all falling at your feet when you have that irumudikettu on you. They are not falling at your feet, they are falling at Lord Ayyappas feet. Think of that, be humble and reply 'let God Ayyappa look after you and bless you' to them.
Bath & Pooja:
1. Do the bath in early morning with normal water. Yes. You can use Soap & Shampoo. If you can take bath with cold or luke warm water.
2. Do the pooja. Do your regular daily pooja followed by Ashotharam (108 namas) to Ganesh, Subramanyam, Durga & Ayyappan. (If time & health does not permit, do 108
names for Ayyappan and 16 names for others. All the 16 and 108 names are posted in this site.
3. Do the bath in evening with normal water and do the pooja as you did in the morning.
4. Chant Hairivarasanam only after evening Pooja.
5. No need for cooked Prasadam every day. Fruits as Naivedyam for Ayyappan are OK.
6. Do the pooja in the morning (before sun rise) and evening (after sunset).
7. Take bath as soon you come home in the evening from work.
Dress Code:
1. Try wearing black or blue or orange dress.
2. Not supposed to shave your beard or comb your hair (reason being you are not supposed to think abt beauty of the body).
3. Yes. you can apply moisturizing lotion as not doing in winter may not be good for health.
4. To the extent possible, men should wear Dhothi at home. Again, it may not be possible during winter here for us in USA.
5. You should never take the mala out.
6. USe fresh clothes every day. So, have two pairs of black or blue dress and wash them every day.
Food & Diet:
1. No Breakfast.
2. Lunch: Take lunch before noon. Should be freshly cooked. No left overs from previous day.
3. Dinner: Palaharam like chapathi, upma etc. No rice. Rice items like Tamarind rice / coconut rice are OK.
4. No onion, egg or meat products.
5. Eating in restaurants is prohibited.
6. If any one calls you for Annadanam, they should have prepared the meal after taking bath etc.
7. Coffee and juices: you can take any # of times. As you know it is not healthy to take coffee many times a day.
8. When you or your spouse is preparing meal, make sure you clean the stove before cooking.
CELIBACY: Follow celibacy to the core. Idea is to be far from 'kama, krodha, moha, lobha...'
1. Sleep on ground without pillow and bed.
2. NO Entertainment. (means no partying, no watching TV, listening to film music etc, no playing games)
3. Control Anger.
4. Call all women (including wife) as 'Matha' and men as 'Swamy'
5. Brhamacharyam: Can not even touch your spouse.
6. During monthly cycle for women, husban taking Deeksha is not supposed to see the wife at all. (Some say, it is not needed, but lot of people try to follow this rule
too). If it is not possible in the house/apartment you are living, that is OK. But we might see women who are in their monthly cycles outside in shops or may shake
hands with them (at work or shop). That is the reason it is recommended to take bath immediately you reach home from outside)
7. Of course No Smoking, Drinking
8. No footwear. (this is not possible in cold weather in US). So, it is OK, if you do not follow this rule.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT:
Idea is to follow these rules with utmost discipline and dedication, so we can control & overcome inherent human bad qualities one by one like anger, lust etc. By doing it for 18 years, it is hoped we overcome all our bad qualities and become a SWAMY ourselves (or saints). Some people say that is one of the reason for 18 steps at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.
It is also believed by Hindus and many other people that, if we practice any thing for 40 days, we get used to it and continue it. That is the reason most of the deekshas are for 40 days and so is Ayyappa Deeksha
. So, if you can, take Deeksha for 40 days or at least 21 or 11 days. Try not to take for 1 or 2 days.
One thing any Sasthras say is: Follow rules to the best of abilties, considering the environment we are in. So if you can't wear black dress to work or if you can'
The source of the information this link
https://www.facebook.com/160767333942818/posts/pfbid08K1VJ3mjQQUY9M2onJB9VypPGhTZr6cv8S6cMYb72ubpVvFiggkSDXFxR5V6ayrFl/?mibextid=Nif5oz
