Irumudi Kattu

Irumudi the important component before a swamy begins his sabari  yatra and an important compent to allow a swamy to climb the holy 18 steps (padunettambadi). The devotee swamy has to have the belief that he is carrying the Swamy on his head and with love and devotion he need to carry the irumudi on his head.

Basically IRUMUDI means two packing, the MUNMUDI (Front packing) belongs to the Lord and PINMUDI (Back packing) belongs to the devotee.

Before starting the process the devotee or the swamy going for sabari yatra has to get blessing from his parents and Guru.

STRICTLY FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY THE GURU or guruswamy

In MUNMUDI we carry:
Pure ghee in an eye opened water emptied Coconut.  Before filling the ghee, has to put a leaf of Thulasi, this is to preserve the purity.

Should close our Nose and Mouth with a towel so that our breath or saliva does not get inside the ghee.  Both the devotee and Guru has to do this.

Should pray well before filling the ghee and it is said that those wishes will surely get materialized.

Has to seal the coconut opened eye with a cork and Arakku seal.

Also should carry the abhishekam items like – Bashmam, Aval, Vellam, Nel Malar, Kalkandu, Mundhiri, Dry grapes, honey, paneer (rose water),  pacharasi (non boiled rice)

Public who wants to put dakshina to sabarimala can deposit in the mun mudi only.

The mun mudi after tying has to be sealed by the Guru or guruswamy and can be opened back only by him and no other person has the right to open mun mudi.

 In PINMUDI we carry:

The basic items, food items for the devotees – Rice, Dhal etc..,  The devotee can open the pin mudi where ever he wants.  It will be better if we can restrict the number of opening to a limited numbers.

While carrying the devotee has to take care that munmudi is in front and should carry only on his head and should not carry it in other body parts.

While urinating or during any other natural calls, ensure the irumudi is kept in a safe place and the devotee should not hold the irumudi in his head or hand during that time.

It is also told that, once the IRUMUDI is being tied, except the Guru or guruswamy, Devotee or senior devotees, no other person should touch the IRUMUDI (especially ladies).

Different devotees have different personal experiences with irumudi, somebody felt heavy, somebody felt light while carrying irumudi during their climb of sabari hill. Having irumudi on the head and moving is a divine experience which cannot be explained in words and has to be experienced.

Om Sri Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa

Titles of Swamy's taking deeksha

The following are the various titles given to persons who are taking ayyappa swamy deeksha depending on the number of times they are taking the deeksha. The titles are symbolic for the 18 steps indicating the 18 years. Once the cycle completes the nineteenth year onwards it is counted from one again i.e the nineteenth year swamy is a kanne swamy again.

The Swamy who takes Ayyappa Deeksha first time is called as KANNI SWAMY or KANNE SWAMY.
2nd year or 2nd time Swamy is called KATHI SWAMY,
3rd year Swamy is called as GANTA SWAMY,
4th year Swamy is called as GADA SWAMY.
5th year Swamy is called PERU SWAMY,
6th year Swamy is called as JYOTI SWAMY,
7th year Swamy is called as SURYA SWAMY,
8th year Swamy is called as CHANDRA SWAMY,
9th year Swamy is called as TRISHULA SWAMY,
10 th year Swamy is called as VISHNU CHAKRA SWAMY,
11 th year Swamy is called as SHANKADHARA SWAMY,
12 th year Swamy is called as NAGABHARANA SWAMY,
13 th year Swamy is called as SRIHARI SWAMY,
14th year Swamy is called as PADMA SWAMY,
15th year Swamy is called as SRI SWAMY,
16th year Swamy is called as SRI SABARI (RATHIGIRI) SWAMY,
17th year Swamy is called as OMKAARA SWAMY, and the
18th year Swamy is called as NARIKELA SWAMY (Guruswamy)


Who is a Narikela swamy? What he has to do?

Those who wear mala for 18th time is called as Narikela Swamy. This swamy has to plant a coconut tree in Sabarimala during his sabari yatra. This is the tradition. Another dimension is that the 18 steps are considered as the 18 hindrances between us and the swamy, each year as we do sabari yatra by taking deeksha and visiting swamy, we cross each hindrance or rather remove that hindrance quality from us. By the 18th year we are crossing the 18th hindrance (usually considered as ego) or removing the last hindrance, so we become one with swamy or rather there are no more bad qualities left in us and we are pure so swamy sits in our heart and uses us as his instruments in making others realise swamy, so henceforth we are called guruswamy. A person who has thus realised swamy and can guide other swamy's taking deeksha. A coconut is a usually offered as purna phala when ever a yagna is performed, also offered in any diety puja. The breaking of coconut symbolises breaking of ego. The coconut also symbolises purity and is symbolically considered as ganesha. 

So considering that right now I am becoming a complete fruit (purna phala), am offering myself at your lotus feet, just like a coconut is offered in a yagna, hence forth there are no traces of ego and any other bad qualities left in me, I am just like the camphor which has burnt and left no traces, showing light to many people. I am right now an instrument in your divine hands and work according to your divine plan my lord. This entire process symbolises the "Tatwamasi" written in the sanctum sanctorium of Sabarimala. With this sense the 18th year narikela swamy plants a coconut tree at sabarimala.

Keralites / Malayalies think  coconut tree as KALPAVRUKSHAM (Wish Fulfilling Tree)  and  they pray the coconut trees.

Om Sri Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa