Sabarimala temple closed after monthly rituals | The Hindu
The Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala has been closed after the five-day monthly rituals in the Malayalam month of Meenom on Sunday evening.
Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom, were the special rituals held at the Ayyappa temple prior to the Utchapuja on Sunday.
The chief priest (Tantri), Kandararu Rajeevararu, assisted by the head priest (Melsanthi), T.M.Unnikrishnan Namboodiri, performed the Sahasrakalasapuja and the Kalabhapuja.
The golden urns carrying the Brahmakalasom and Kalabhom (sandal paste) were taken out in a ceremonial procession, with the accompaniments of the sacred Marappani and other traditional temple percussion, to the sanctum sanctorum for performing the auspicious ‘abhishekom’ prior to the Utchapuja.
The sandal paste offered to the presiding deity was distributed among the devotees as prasadom.
Padipuja, Udayasthamanapuja, Pushpabhishekom and Ashtabhishekom were the other important rituals performed at the Ayyappa temple on Sunday.
