There is something about sabarimala!!

There is something about sabarimala that makes us want to go back there again and again. Other than the fact that we get to see ayyappaswami only once an year, he seems to have a magnetic influence on the devotees. After the difficult climb and the darshan for a few seconds in the jostling crowd, when you climb down the hill and reach pampa, the feeling in your mind is NOT "Whew, i need to get back home as soon as possible", BUT, "Swamiye, i will come back to see you next year" and THAT is the magnetic appeal of the manikandan.For me, ayyappaswami is the embodiment of all the good things in the world. He is the god that i can relate to and who gives me a sense of being "real". A god, who did not perform miracles which cannot be fathomed by human beings, but again was not a mere mortal.His life had a meaning, to destroy an embodiment of an evil and he had as a friend, a muslim, which was a strong social message during the old times. Thousands and thousands of disciples go to sabarimala every year and on the way they visit the curch of "Vavar" who was ayyapas close muslim friend. The famous playback singer yesudas is an ardent disciple of lord ayyappa and everyday night at the sannidhanam, lord ayyappa is put to sleep by singing "Harivarasanam", which is the recorded song of yesudas. Where else can we see such a strong sense of unity of all the relegions? This is one of the things that make sabarimala a unique experience.http://www.manoramaonline.com/advt/sabarimala2004/index.htm