Irumudi Kettu

Irumdi kettu had certain ratinale and tradition in the old days. The trek to Sannidhanam was through wild forests where no form of assistance was available. The trek also involved some night halts. So the irumudi was divided into a two pouched compartment.

The front compartment contained all the offerings to be made at enroute temples and the temples at the Sannidhanam. The rear pouch contained sustenance materials such as rice, 'Chammandi Podi', Pappad, Malar' 'Aval' etc. The pilgrims used to carry even their cooking containers attached to the rear portion of the irumudi. For overnight halts, one needed a blanket and bedding. This was also carried on the head and was used as a soft cushion on which the irumudi could rest comfortably.

The front portion is meant for stocking pooja articles such as coconuts filled with cow ghee, camphor, unboiled rice, plantain (kadali), aval (flattened rice), pori, sandal paste incense sticks, vibhuti (sacred ash), kumkum (vermilion), turmeric powder, jaggery, kalkkandom (candied sugar)and coins for dakshina. The front pouch, for identification, is marked with the symbol `OM'.

With changing nature of times, rapid access to the temple, commercial arrangements enroute and the availability of human forms of intervention at every stage along the trekking path, the whole composition of the irumudi has undergone a change.

No pilgrim, except the Royal Family of Pandalam, is permitted to ascend the `Pathinettam Padi' without carrying an irumudi on the head. Those without irumudis can only enter the temple precincts through the side entrance.

Prior to leaving home for Sabarimala, the irumudi is filled at the temple or in ones own pooja room. The ceremony is conducted with the assistance of a guru/peria swamy amidst the chanting of 'Saranam Ayyappa'. Irumudi is carried on the head with due reverence.

When the pilgrims leaves his home for Sabarimala, he breaks a coconut on a stone near his door step. A lit oil lamp is generally placed on this stone. Till the pilgrim returns home after the pilgrimage, one of the family members ritually lights this lamp at dusk, and allows it to remain lit for a couple of hours, in a gesture of prayer for the well being of the pilgrim and his safe return. When the pilgrim returns home, he breaks a coconut at the same spot to signify the end of the pilgrimage and then moves on to the pooja room to unload the irumudi and remove the mala which he had worn at the time of beginning the austerities. That signifies the last ritual of the pilgrimage.

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