Pampa Ganapathy Temple — Attraction in Kerala

Pampa Ganapathi Temple is the first shrine encountered on the sacred trek from Pampa to Sabarimala Sannidhanam, and it holds deep spiritual and ritual significance for Ayyappa devotees.

Here’s a detailed look at its history, traditions, and role in the pilgrimage:

🛕 Historical and Spiritual Significance Pampa Ganapathi Temple, also known as Pampa Ganapati Kovil, is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. It is located at Pampa, about 8 km from the Sabarimala temple and 60 km from Pathanamthitta town. The temple is believed to have been established to bless pilgrims before they begin the steep and spiritually intense climb to Sannidhanam. Devotees offer prayers here to seek protection and success in their pilgrimage. It is customary to break a coconut at this temple as a symbolic act of surrender and purification.

🌿 Rituals and Offerings Main offering: Devotees carry an extra coconut specifically to break at this temple before ascending the hill. The temple also houses subsidiary shrines dedicated to: Nagarajavu (serpent deity) Parvati Devi Adimoola Ganapati Hanuman and Sri Ram. The riverbank in front of the temple, known as Arat Kadavu, is a sacred spot where pilgrims wash their feet in the Pampa River as part of the purification ritual.

🧘‍♂️ Role in the Pilgrimage This temple marks the starting point of the final ascent to Sabarimala and is considered the first spiritual checkpoint. The Irumudi Kettu, the sacred twin bundle carried by pilgrims, is often tied here under the guidance of temple priests. Even dignitaries like President Droupadi Murmu have performed rituals at this temple before proceeding to Sannidhanam, highlighting its national and...

Pamba Ganapathy Temple is the important "starting point" or base camp for the 4 km long arduous trek to the most holy temple of Sabarimala Ayyappa Swami Temple through dense forests of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR). Lakhs of ardent Devotees, mostly from the southern States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telegana, Karnataka and Kerala, undertake the annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala during the 65 day pilgrimage season that commences in mid November on the first day of the Malayalam month of "Vrishchikam", after following the rigourous "vratham" for 41 days.

The temple follows the unique and centuries old custom, whereby only male devotees and women devotees below the age of 10 years and above the age of 50 years are permitted to visit the temple. This practice is followed based on the concept that the Deity in the temple, Lord Ayyappa, is a Celibate or "Brahmachari".

A recent order of the Supreme Court of India against this centuries old custom, on the grounds that it discriminates against women, has caused considerable heartburn to lakhs of Ayyappa Devotees from all over the World.

Review Petitions have been filed against this Supreme Court Order and the final verdict on the Review is expected by...

A Wow place....!!

This is the first temple on the way from Pamba to Sannidanam. Devotees pray here for their safe trekking to Iyappan sannnithaanam..

Devotees break a coconut here before climbing the mountain.

There are also separate sannithis for Lord Hanuman, Lord Sri Rama, serpent deity and also for Goddess PARVATHI..

In front of the stairs of This Temple, beautiful sculpted Iyappan statue with a tiger is present..

The river bank in front of the Ganapathi Temple at Pampa is the spot where the utsava murti of Ayyappa from Sannidanam is taken for ceremonial purification at the end of 10-day Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple festival (March – April).

On the same day after the purification ritual, the utsava murti or procession idol of Lord Ayyappa is taken to the namaskara mandapam of the Pampa Ganapathi Temple to enable devotees to...