Glossary for Pilgrimogue - Part 1

Minor Glossary regarding my earlier post (Pilgrimogue - Part 1)



Kettunira: (ritual where a coconut is filled with ghee, and other items such as Rice, Kaanikkai, items for Abhishekam etc. are filled into the Irumudi)


Irumudi: A special cloth bag with two portions, which is filled during the Kettunira, and knotted at the centre, in such a way, that the knot seperates the two portions of the cloth bag in the midde. The Irumudi is to be carried by the Ayyappa pilgrim on his head in such a way, that one portion of the Irumudi falls towards the front of his head, and the other towards the back of his head. The front portion is called 'Mun-Mudi' (literally translated as "Front-Knot" or the portion at the front of the knot) and the back portion is called 'Pin-Mudi' (the "Back-Knot" or the portion on the backside of the knot)



Kaanikkai: Token amount to be put in the Hundi (Boxes installed for Money collection) during the First Darshanam of the Lord, during the trip.



Abhishekam: Bathing of the Lord's idol using various special items such as Nei (Ghee), Vibhuti (Holy Ash), Kumkumam (Vermillion), Chandanam/Kalabham (Sandalwood paste), Rose Water etc. Note, that the Ghee in this case is filled into the coconut and sealed, while the other items are filled in packets or small boxes and packed into the Irumudi, along with the Ghee-filled coconut.

Shabarimala Pilgrimogue (Pilgrim's Travelogue) - Part 1

Aum Namah Shivaayah!

MahaaShivraatri ke Paavan Avsar par sabko meri Haardik Shubhkaamnaayein! :-)


Well, its a good day today, and I thought of restarting the blog. I hope this 'auspicious' restart ensures more regular postings from me here. I hope its not just the customary post for the year... :P

Which reminds me - A Very Happy 2011 to one and all...! (March isn't too late to wish, is it?)


I have had a very weird start to the year this time. As has been the case for the past 3 years, I was on Vratham (religious vow) for a period of two months, since Mid-November 2010, to undertake the pilgrimage to Shabarimala, where THE MOST popular among the major shrines dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is located. (The others shrines being Kulathupuzha, Achankoil, Aaryankaavu, Erumeli, Ponnambalamedu)

I was supposed to embark on the pilgrimage on the 6th of Jan, 2011, after the completion of the Kettunira, along with my other group members. But a couple of days before that, one of our official clients based in the Middle East, suddenly decided to pay a visit to our office, to conduct interviews. BANG! My boss called me and told me in no uncertain terms, that there was no way I could leave on the 6th, as the client was arriving on the 5th, and the interviews were scheduled at our office on the 6th itself...!

I tried my best to reason with my bosses, that it was incredibly difficult for me to change the itinerary at such a last minute. All the more, since this isn't one of the regular, casual trips; but instead is a pilgrimage, that too, one bound by lots of rules, regulations, rituals and the likes. I couldn't miss my Kettunira on the 6th, as all the group members were leaving that day, and I cannot get mine conducted the next day, since no senior Guruswamy would be available to conduct the same.

My pleadings continued till the 5th, but totally in vain. Finally, I resigned myself to the circumstances, and called up one of my group members, who comforted me saying that they could conduct my Kettunira at one of the Ayyappa temples in Kerala, and I need not worry regarding that. Finally, after making arrangements for the same, and also having a word with my family members, I went to talk to my boss, asking for permission to leave on 6th afternoon, as there was a cheap flight ticket available for Calicut (Kozhikode) for the 6th evening.

There were certain specific reasons why I preferred the 6th evening flight, rather than others available for the 7th of Jan. Those details, and the details regarding the rest of the pilgrimage and events that took place later, will be posted in the coming parts of the 'Pilgrimogue'.... This 'Part 1' has gotten quite long, and I've been smart and shameless enough to be typing out all of this, sitting at office. I shall type out the remaining parts later, now I better get back to work...!


Paramashivan Putrane Sharanam Ayyappaa!


Ellaavarkkum Sadaa Sarva Mangala Pradaayakane Sharanam Ayyappaa! :-)