Ayyappa Mandala vratham.
Forty-one days of prayer, simple food and kind words before the climb to Sabarimala.
- Length
- 41 days
- Season
- Mid-November to mid-January
- Chant
- Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa
Why keep this vratham
The Mandala vratham is a 41-day discipline kept before the pilgrimage to Sabarimala. You live simply, pray twice a day and keep your mind on Ayyappa.
Tradition holds that the pilgrimage is complete only with the vratham behind it. The 41 days prepare the body for the walk up the hill and the mind for darshan.
Pilgrims call each other Swamy and see the Lord in one another, leaving caste, wealth and status behind. Above the shrine are the words Tat Tvam Asi: “You are That”.
Five steps on your first day
- Choose your first day
Many begin on the first day of the Malayalam month Vrischikam, when the Mandala season opens. Count 41 days before your journey.
- Find a Guru Swamy
An experienced pilgrim guides your vratham, ties your Irumudi and leads your group up the hill.
- Wear the mala
On your first day, bathe and go to a temple or to your Guru Swamy. A mala of tulsi or rudraksha beads with an Ayyappa locket is blessed and put on you. From then on you are a Swamy.
- Dress simply
Wear black, blue or saffron clothes through the 41 days.
- Make your vow
In your own words, promise Ayyappa to keep the vratham until you return from Sabarimala.
First time? You are a Kanni Swamy. Your Guru Swamy will tell you which customs your group follows.
The same simple routine for 41 days
Morning
- Bathe before sunrise. A cold bath, then vibhuti or sandal paste on the forehead.
- Light the lamp. Light a lamp before Ayyappa’s picture and offer flowers.
- Chant the Sharanam. Say “Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa” 108 times, or sing the Sharanam list.
Through the day
- Eat simple vegetarian food. Home-cooked, satvik food. Many keep to one full meal a day.
- Speak gently. No anger, lies or harsh words. Call everyone Swamy.
Evening
- Bathe in the evening. Bathe again before the evening prayer.
- Evening prayer. Light the lamp again, chant the Sharanam and sing a bhajan such as Harivarasanam.
- Sleep on a mat. Sleep on the floor on a mat or a thin sheet.
Keep to
- Wear the mala day and night until you return.
- Bathe twice a day and keep your home clean.
- Eat vegetarian food, cooked at home where you can.
- Keep celibacy (brahmacharya) in thought and action.
- Walk barefoot as much as you can.
- Visit temples and join bhajans with other Swamies.
Stay away from
- Alcohol, tobacco, meat, fish and eggs.
- Cutting hair, shaving and trimming nails.
- Anger, gossip and harsh words.
- Parties and outings that pull your mind away.
Customs differ between families and groups. Where they differ from this list, follow your Guru Swamy. If there is a birth or a death in the family, ask your Guru Swamy what to do.
The Irumudi and the journey
Before you leave, your Guru Swamy ties the Irumudi, a two-part cloth bundle you carry on your head. The front holds the offerings for Ayyappa, with a coconut filled with ghee. The back holds food for the journey.
Only Swamies carrying an Irumudi climb the 18 holy steps, the Pathinettam Padi, to the shrine.
The vratham ends after you return home. The mala is taken off with a prayer, at a temple or at home.
By the temple’s custom, girls and women aged 10 to 50 do not climb to Sabarimala. Families often share the vratham’s simple food and prayers at home. Before planning a visit, check the current entry and booking information from the temple.
When Sabarimala is open
The temple opens for the Mandala–Makaravilakku season from the first day of Vrischikam, in mid-November, until Makaravilakku in mid-January. It also opens for the first few days of each Malayalam month and for Vishu. The My Shrine app shows this season’s dates on the Sabarimala temple page.
Getting there
- Where
Sabarimala is a hill shrine in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
- By air
Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram airports are the closest, about 4 to 5 hours by road to Nilakkal.
- By train
Chengannur, Thiruvalla and Kottayam are the nearest stations. In the season, KSRTC buses run from there to Pamba.
- By road
Cars and buses park at Nilakkal, the base camp. KSRTC buses take pilgrims on to Pamba, about 20 km away.
- The climb
From Pamba, walk about 5 km uphill to the shrine (Sannidhanam) by Neelimala and Appachimedu. Allow 2 to 4 hours, and rest when you need to.
- The old forest path
Some groups walk the traditional route from Erumeli through the forest over 2 to 3 days. It is open only in the main season.
- Book darshan
Book a darshan slot on the Travancore Devaswom Board’s virtual queue before you travel. Carry your ID and the booking.
- What to carry
Your Irumudi, a torch, warm clothes for the night, water and any medicines you take.
This guide follows widely kept Sabarimala customs. It is not a rule book: your Guru Swamy’s guidance comes first.
Questions people ask
Why observe 41 days?
Tradition holds that the pilgrimage is complete only with the vratham behind it. The 41 days prepare the body for the walk up the hill and the mind for darshan.
When should I begin the Mandala vratham?
Many begin on the first day of the Malayalam month Vrischikam, in mid-November, when the Mandala season opens. Count 41 days before your journey.
Who is a Guru Swamy?
An experienced pilgrim who guides your vratham, ties your Irumudi and leads your group up the hill.
What is the Irumudi?
A two-part cloth bundle you carry on your head. The front holds the offerings for Ayyappa, with a coconut filled with ghee; the back holds food for the journey. Only Swamies carrying an Irumudi climb the 18 holy steps.
What if my routine is interrupted?
Speak with your Guru Swamy about your circumstances before deciding how to continue. This guide does not prescribe a restart or a penalty.
How do I book Sabarimala darshan?
Book a slot on the Travancore Devaswom Board’s virtual queue before you travel, and carry your ID and the booking.
Free on iPhone and Android.
Your Kundali, the Panchang, temples and the Yatra planner are free. Poojas, arts and yatras are booked with the My Shrine team, and you see the price before you pay.