YOGA AND AYYAPPA SHIRINE

The month of Vrishchika (Scorpio) heralds the beginning of pilgrimage to the hill shrine of Sabarimala where 30 million devotees visit every year.

Sabarimala is the melting point of Shivite and Vaishnavite beliefs with vestiges of Buddhist rituals. A devotee can take his trekking pilgrimage only after completing 40-day of austerities. Women in their fertile age are not admitted for this obvious reason as they cannot complete this mandatory 40-day austerity.

The trekking to this temple is with chatting of “swaamiyeeee....saranamayyapppaa...” Behind this magical mantra lies a hidden physiological truth.

Like in yogic practice inspiration (pooraka) is made easier by shouting ..swaamiyee...

A expiration (rechaka) is made by chanting saranamayyappaa...

This makes the process of expiration longer than inspiration.

In this way a devotee is able to aerate his lungs along with this 'sarana' mantra thereby giving proper oxidation to get the enough energy while climbing steep mountain to Lord Ayyappa, the blessed one of 'Kali Yug.'