Chapter 6 - '18 Golden Stairs'

I heard a lot about 'Sabrimala Temple'. I wished to be there once. I planned my trip. I discussed with my office colleagues that I would be visiting 'Sabarimala Temple' on the coming Friday. There were some Kerala people in my team. One person told me that I wouldn't be allowed to climb the '18 Golden Stairs'. There is a ritual which people need to follow.

I had a mindset that I would visit till the point I was allowed. I would fold my both hands and come back from the allowed point.

I started my journey on Friday and reached 'Kottayam' district. I enquired about how I could reach 'Sabarimala Temple' from there. Local people guided me. I took a bus to 'Pampa'.

On the bus, I tried to understand the rituals and customs from the people traveling with me on the bus. I questioned if there was anything which I could do to climb the '18 Golden Steps'. People said, "No." 

I reached 'Pampa.' I was very excited. It was one of my dream places. I was not able to communicate with people. It was a challenging situation. I got help from some people.

I was asked by a priest to have a bath in the 'Pampa' river. The 'Pampa' river is like the 'Ganga' river for locals. According to them, I became pure after taking a bath and was ready to start my journey. I needed to wear a black colour lungi and I needed to carry the 'Irumudi' on the top of my head. The 'Irumudi' should be carried carefully. It should not touch the ground.

I started my padyatra (trek) barefoot. I covered some 1 KM distance. There was a security check point. My turn came. They asked me to show my ticket. I didn't have a ticket. I was not aware of the same.

I came back down. I was a little upset. I couldn't understand from where I can get the ticket. I found the counter. But I couldn't interact with them because of the language issue.

There was a policeman. He helped me. I got the ticket finally. I started my padyatra again.

It was a 6 KM padyatra.

I reached at the top of the hill at around 6:30 PM. I was waiting for my turn. I got to know that the temple will be closed at 11 PM. I was wishing to have my darshan on the same day.

There was a guy ahead of me in the queue. His 'Irumudi' fell from his head. But luckily I caught it. It didn't touch the ground. That person's yatra could have been spoiled.

He blessed me.

I also realised the importance of the 'Irumudi'. Because it was not easy to carry it on the top of your head and reach the top of the hill after so much effort.

It was 10:30 PM. My turn still didn't come and the temple was about to be closed. It was a cold night. I was not carrying any warm clothes.

I was about to cry.

People got to know that I had come to have darshan of 'Sabarimala Temple' from almost more than 3000 KM away.

Some of the people were not able to understand Hindi and English language. I saw a senior police officer. I requested him for help. He promised me that he would help. But he asked me to wait.

They released my queue at 10:50 PM. I ran for having darshan quickly. I reached near the '18 Golden Stairs'.

I was about to fold my hands, because I knew that I wouldn't be allowed to climb up.

One priest pulled my hand and asked me to climb up.

I climbed the '18 Golden Stairs' and had my darshan at 10:57 PM.

After my darshan I turned back. There was no one. I was probably among the few last people who had darshan. It was 11 PM by my watch now.

GOD is there. I got help at every step of my journey.

स्वामीये शरणम् अय्यप्पा ।।।