Ponnu pathinettam padi: As we reach sannidhanam,we get a darshan of 18 steps. If you write side by side Eka Aksharam (i.e 1) and  ashtaksharam (i.e 8} you will get 18. Ekaksharam is aaaaaabhuvneswari mantram “hreem.” Ashtaksharam is the mantra of Vishnu. Vishnu sakthi merged with siva sakthi is these 18 steps. Our forefathers tell us that these 18 steps denote 18 Puranas, 18 chapters of Bhagavath Geetha. Where ever guarding deities are there  It is a practice to install 18 steps.

 The 18 steps in ayyappa sannidhanm represent five senses,eight ragas,three Gunas, one Gnanam, and one angnanam (ignorance).Bhatha is qualified to have a darsan of ayyappa only if he crosses these eighteen as mentioned above. Unless you attach yourself with Bhagavan you will not his blessings.

These 18 steps are made of golr leaves. Before climbing 18 steps,one should worship Kaduth swami and Karuppa swami,forgetting all the difficulities one came across, one should break cocanut and climb the steps by uttering sarana gosham.Breaking of cocanut before climbing 18 steps is based on the fact that all our sins must go away,our pride and vanity also must go away. In all these 18 steps it is belived gods such as Vinayaka,Siva,Parvathi,Murugan,Brahma,Vishnu, Ranganathan,Kali,Yama, Sun, Moon,Mars, Mercurt,Guru, Sukra, sani, Raghu and Kethu (18 gods for 18 steps) are residing in them and hence only bhakthas carrying Irumudi on their heads can only climb these steps.

THATHVAMASI: After climbing 18 steps one comes across flag staff (kodi maram).At the entrance the word thathvamasi is written. “That for which you came in search of is You only “ is the meaning of the word thathvamasi. O? Man  you need not have come by undertaking all these difficulities in search ogf God. You need not have crossed forests, hills. I am within You.You should protect all your fellow beings just as I protecting You by remaining here.Speak to them only good words. Do only good. And aspire only good. This is the philosophy remaining within this word.

ADVAITHAM IN AYYAPPA’S FORM.

The three principles of Hindu religion are Advaitham, Dwaitham, Vishistathvaidam.  Advaitham means self is Brahmam. Vishistathvaidam means Jeeva and brahmam are two different entities. Dwaidham says though Jeeva and Brahmam are different entities at one level they merge. Ayyappa Bhathas are the embodiment of these principles. From the day of wearing mala and start observing as per advitha principle  AHAM BRAHMASI  Self is God. Hence he is called swami and say saranam to him. Next after the vratam is over, and on goin to ayyappa darshan, Jeeva is different and Brahmam is different and through efforts Jeeva can see Brahmam. This represents vishishtathvaidam. Seeing swami Ayyappa and at the time merging in Him because of his blessing this stage tepresents Dwaitha principle. Thus ayyappa bhakthas epresent the three principles of Hindu religion.

SANCTUM SANTORUM OF AYYAPPAAN: Bhakthas who climbed the holy 18 steps, pass through flag staff (kodi maram) go around the temple  and pray wholeheartedly harharaputhran Dharma sastha. By the mere darshan one will attain the joy of having achieved the goal for being born as humanbeing in hs birth. Athe sanctum sanctorum,Ayyappa as kaliyugavarathan kankanda theivam,as one who bestows the boons we seek from Him in his ecstacy form. He by closing three fingers and touching thumb eith inde finger shows CHIN MUTHRA. Chith means intelligence. This word  has changed as chin.  Chin Muthra explains which is true knowledge.

O, Man, By climbing all these hillocks you came to see me. I wii not be happy because this. My closed three fingers  are your ego,jealousy,maya. My index finger is You Jeevathma. My thumb represents  ME, the Paramathma. Yes, Man, If you give up these three gunas (ego, jealousy, and maya} You will definitely wii reach me. In yoga pathasana posture with slightly opened eyes, in Dhyana posture when one have a darshan, one should see the cloth tied around his legs. This is known as YOGAPATTAM.
              
GHEE ABISHEKAM: After having the darshan of ayyappa, and after worshipping kannimoola ganapathi and Naga one should reach the courtyard of the temple.  After worshipping the Irumudi in the company of guruswami, open the front portion of the Irumudi containing Pooja articles and break the cocanut containing ghee. Give that ghee to perform abhishegam for ayyappan. Then carry the  abhishega ghee one part of the broken cocanut to one’s home. Throw the other part (since the cocanut is broken into two parts} in the AGNIKUNDAM situated in front of the holy 18 steps.

Ghee cocanut[Nei thengai): Ghee separately or cocanut separately should not be the offering. Why then nei thengai is offered neivedyam? The three eyed cocanut represents Lord Siva and cow’s ghee represents Mahavishnu i.e Lord Krishna also called gopala.  The joint blessing power of siva and mahavishnu is considered as joint blessing power otherwise known as sastha alias ayyappa. Hence both cocanut and ghee should be given as offering to ayyappa.

IRUMUDI: While undertaking the pilgrimage to sabarimalai, Bhathas will carry irumudi on theie head. It has two parts(mudi). The front portion of the irumudi will contain pooja articles. In the back portion or part(mudi)we will have necessary food items for our journey.  As  we proceed to sbarimala,this portion will get reduced and when we are nearing God’s sannidhi,that portion or part of the irumudi containing would have reduced considerably in size. Only the eront portion or part of the irumudi will remain intact.

This represents the stage every Athma(soul)reaches.
                               Being born as humanbeings,when we start searching God ihe Bhakthi we have is one mudi, our wordly requirements is another part(mudi). We search for God with these two aspects.  In that search as we start getting our consciousness of Self(meignanam) our interest in wordly affairs gets reduced and finally disappears. Our bhakti towards God will only remain. At that point of time we get a glimpse of God’s feet.

MANJAMATHA: On the left side of ayyappa temple Manjamatha has separate shrine. Here by throwing Manjal,rotating cocanut in the floor while come around the sannidhi,lit camphor, and do pooja for Her. In the Mani mantapam  here Ayyappa’s box containing His jewels(aaparanam) is kept and poojas are performed for it. Next to Her sannidhi, are the sannidhis for Naga, and Navagrahas. It is a practice here to sing kodikatti songs. Those having sani thosam as per their horoscope will ask the singers to sing kodikatti songs on their behalf and pray Manjamatha.

JYOTHI DARSAN: Ayyappa who is always in the state of a saint every year on the makara sankaranthi day only,wll bless his bhakthas by wearing his jewels. On that day after 6 pmopposite ayyappa’s sannidhi on the fifth mountain will appear in the form a Jyothi.