The Importance of Neyyabhishekam

The Importance of Neyyabhishekam
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The Ayyappa devotees after reaching Sabarimala and having darshan, they undertake is making preparations for Neyyabhishekam. Neyyu or ghee abhisheka is the most important offering to Lord Ayyappa at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple. Devotees bring ghee to the temple by filling it inside a coconut. This coconut is known as Neythenga or the coconut filled with ghee. This coconut is carried from home in the Irumudi kettu. The ritual involves pouring of sacred ghee brought by the devotees in their Irumudi on the Lord Ayyappa idol.After showering the ghee on the idol, half of the broken coconut is thrown to the fire place called the homa kunda located below the steps leading to the sannidhanam
The devotees carry the most essential items required for the puja in a bag called Irumudi on their head. The ghee which is stuffed into the coconut will be carried on the head of the devotee all the way to the hill top temple while chanting the name of Swami Ayyappa. This invokes the devotional element of the devotee into the irumudi and when this coconut is offered to the Lord by way of pouring the ghee on the idol and then putting half of the coconut into the homa kunda, it merges the element of the devotee with the Lord. This is the significance of this ritual Neyyabhishekam.
During the pilgrimage season the Neyyabhishekam begins early at 03.15 am in the morning and continues till 11.00 am . Every year Travancore Devaswom Board make elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims to perform Neyyabhishekam.