Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa
My name is Eswaran. From a very young age, I have had immense love and devotion towards Lord Ayyappan. This deep spiritual bond has remained unwavering throughout my life. For the past *55 consecutive years, without fail and regardless of any personal obstacles, I have worn the sacred *mala on the first day of the Tamil month Karthigai and observed the 41-day Mandala Vratham with utmost devotion. With full faith, I have made the pilgrimage to seek darshan of my beloved Lord Ayyappa every year.
During one such spiritual journey, a thought arose from deep within me: Why shouldn’t I install an idol of Lord Ayyappan and worship Him in my own home? Acting on that divine inspiration, I envisioned the form of the Lord in my heart and commissioned a skilled sculptor to craft a *Panchaloha (five-metal) idol, exactly as it appeared in my mind. I named the idol *Sri Dharma Sastha.
Following sacred rituals, I consecrated the idol through Netronmeelanam (opening of the divine eyes) and performed all the necessary religious ceremonies. Over the years, I have celebrated several auspicious events such as Vilakku Pooja, Guru Pooja, and Chithirai Thiruvizha for my Swami with great devotion and joy.
One day, a special guest visited — the Melshanti (chief priest) from the holy Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. As he stood before my Ayyappa, he remained in silent awe, gazing at the idol without blinking for nearly five minutes. Then he called me and requested a betel leaf (kaavli) and a bundle of flowers. After performing a deeply moving pooja for nearly an hour and a half, he turned to me and said:
“The divine wealth and spiritual energy that reside in the Sabarimala Ayyappan are equally present in this idol. Please build a permanent temple for Him as soon as possible.”
Although I was humbled by his words, at the time I was focused on my family and responsibilities, and I did not act on his advice immediately. But as the years passed and age caught up with me, the desire to build a temple for my Lord grew stronger.
By His grace, in *2012, I laid the foundation stone for the temple. Despite facing many hardships, I surrendered all the property and assets I had accumulated over the years to Ayyappan’s service. Today, in **2025, the temple stands *90% complete, with only 10% of the work remaining.
It is said in our scriptures that *no divine undertaking is ever fulfilled by one person alone. Inspired by the words, *”May the world enjoy the bliss that I have received,” I now humbly appeal to noble souls — spiritual leaders, devout hearts, and benevolent contributors — to take part in this sacred endeavor. I request you to offer whatever financial support possible at the divine feet of Lord Ayyappan and receive His boundless blessings in return.
This year, my beloved Swami completes 41 years of divine presence in my life. With a heart full of gratitude, I continue this journey of devotion and service.
*Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa