 |
Previous day before starting the vritham, the devotee willcleanly
shave, clip his nails, trim his hair and make himself physically
clean. The holy mala / garland (tulsi / uthradsham) should
be cleaned and smeared with sandal paste and placed before
the portrait of Lord Ayyappa. The devotee should also buy
a new pair of coloured (black, blue, saffron) dhoti and
towel/shawl.
|
|
On
the day of starting the vritham the devotee shall raise
early, bath and offer prayers to family deity, Navagrahas
and perform pooja to the holy mala. Then he shall go to
temple with his Guru. The mala has to be received from the
Guru in midst of chanting of Saranam. After wearing the
mala the devotee becomes Lord Ayyappa himself and starts
the demands of pious life. |
|
The
devotee shall withdraw from all social activities and spend
his time by taking part in praying, poojas,
bajans, visiting temples, cleaning temples, feeding the
poor, helping the poor/sick and attending religious discourses.
|
|
He
shall take only satvic foods and refrain 100% from taking
meat, intoxicating drinks / drugs, chewing betel leaves
and from smoking. |
|
He
shall bathe twice, if possible thrice, daily and perform
pooja by at least chanting 108
Ayyappan Saranam. He shall continuously chant Saranam
Ayyappa in mind, both at work and at home. |
|
He
shall not hurt anybody verbally or physically. |
|
He
shall treat all co-devotees as Lord Ayyappan himself and serve
them in all the ways. |
|
He
shall not feel proud of the respect and privileges he gets
when he is wearing the holy mala. When others prostrate
themselves on his feet he shall not feel proud but dedicate
the same to Lord Ayyappan and say aloud 'Lord Save everybody
for their faith in you'.
|
|
He
shall not cause inconvenience to his family members on account
on observing the vritham. |
|
As
he starts his vritham every year, he shall think that he is
doing the same for first time and follow all the rules of
the vritham strictly. |
|
He
shall strictly follow brahmacharya (continence), refrain
from sex, thinking of sex, develop passion against all women
including his wife, and treat all women with motherly feeling.
|
|
He
shall not apply oil to his hair and shall not take bath
with oil smeared over his body. |
|
He
shall not attend any social function like birthdays, engagement,
and wedding, etc. and shall feast in anyone's home who have
not undertaken the vritham. |
|
He
shall avoid being in the proximity of dead body and shall
not eat anything till he bathes if he accidentally sees
one. |
|
He
shall always carry a tulsi leaf with him to prevent him
from evil feeling and from Thitu.
|
|
He
shall not sleep on bed but on floor, he shall not use pillow
but wooden block, he shall not use footwear but walk with
bear feet.
|
|
He
shall totally surrender himself to Lord Ayyappa. |
