Here we are, standing before the Mini Sabarimala. It’s a sight unlike any other, a shrine for devotees of Lord Ayyappan, a deity known for his wisdom and his power. The Mini Sabarimala, perched on a hillock in Kanjurmarg, Mumbai, stands tall amongst the surrounding hills and valleys. It’s the first ancient Ayyappa temple outside Kerala, a testament to the faith’s reach beyond its homeground.
Legend has it, the spot where the Mini Sabarimala stands today was once home to a Devi temple and a smaller Ayyappa shrine. Invaders, as fate would have it, destroyed both of them. They even killed the priests! The remnants of these ancient structures can actually be seen even today, if you know where to look.
The devotees, undeterred, continued to worship Lord Ayyappan at the site in its ruined state. But it was only in 1960, after the foundation of the temple trust, that they decided to rebuild the shrine. From 1980 onwards, they poured their heart and soul into reconstructing the temple. Today, the central shrine is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, with the Devi Bhuvaneshvari and Shri Ganesha temples standing on either side.
The construction was a painstaking process, completed with devotion and adhering to the ancient traditions of Kerala, following rituals and principles passed down through generations. The temple’s beauty is further enhanced by the presence of a Nagadevatas shrine in the Northeastern corner. It offers a serene and spiritual sanctuary for devotees seeking solace and blessings from the deity. With each visit, you can almost hear the whispers of the past echoing through the walls of this sacred place.