Sabarimala Temple
| Sabarimala Sree Ayyappan Temple
ശബരിമല ശ്രീ അയ്യപ്പൻ ക്ഷേത്രം சபரிமலை ஐயப்பன் கோவில் శబరిమల అయ్యప్ప ఆలయం শবরীমালা আয়াপ্পান মন্দির सबरीमाला अयप्पा मंदिर ಶಬರಿಮಲೆ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ | |
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The temple of Ayyappan in Sabarimala, Kerala | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Pathanamthitta |
| Deity | Ayyappan |
| Festivals | Makaravilakku, Makara Sankranti (14th January) |
| Governing body | Travancore Devaswom Board |
| Status | Only open during certain occasions |
| Location | |
| Location | Sabarimala |
| State | Kerala |
| Country | India |
| Geographic coordinates | 9°26′04.6″N 77°04′53.0″E / 9.434611°N 77.081389°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Kerala Architecture (Traditional Kerala Vastu Shastra) |
| Creator | As per tradition Vishwakarma,Pandhalam King Rajasekhara, (sculptor) is believed to be Parashurama |
| Completed | 11th century; the temple site is older |
| Elevation | 1,260 m (4,134 ft) |
| Website | |
| sabarimala | |
The Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple (Malayalam pronunciation: [ʃabəɾimala]) is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Ayyappan, who is also known as Dharma Shasta and is the son of the deities Shiva and Mohini (female avatar of the god Vishnu).
The temple is situated atop the Sabarimala hill in the village of Ranni-Perunad, within the Ranni Taluk, Thiruvalla Revenue Division of Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India. The temple is surrounded by 18 hills in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It is one of the largest annual pilgrimage sites in the world, with an estimate of over 10 to 15 million devotees visiting every year.
The temple is open for worship only during the days of Mandala Pooja (approximately 15 November to 26 December), Makaravilakku or Makara Sankranti (14 January), Maha Thirumal Sankranti (14 April), and the first five days of each Malayalam month. The Sabarimala Temple serves as a prime example of the amalgamation of several religious traditions within the Indian context.
The temple practices prohibit women between the ages of 10 and 50 years from accessing the temple premises.