Sabarimala – the abode of Lord Ayyappa is a famous Pilgrimage center for millions of devotees every year. Sree Ayyappa temple is located on the picturesque Western Ghats in Pathanamthitta district. Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is a rare Hindu temple that is open to all faiths. The shrine of Sabarimala is one of the most remote shrines in southern India drawing approximately five million pilgrims each year, this number keeps increasing year on year. Devotees come from mainly all the southern states and various parts of the world. Sabarimala Sri Dharmashastha Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha Temples.
Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Lord Ayyapa meditated soon after killing the powerful demon, Mahishi. Another mythology says that its ‘Parasurama Maharshi’ who uplifted Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe, installed the idol of Ayyappa at Sabarimala.
According to a legend, the King of Pandalam found a baby lying in the banks of river pampa. As the King had no heir to succeed, the child was considered as a god-given gift and was thus named Ayyappa; the baby was brought up as a prince.
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