Sabarimala pilgrimage is never an individual journey. Every year, millions of devotees trek up Holy Hills of Sabarimala to seek divine grace of Swami Ayyappa. Having completed my 67th pilgrimage recently, I feel deeply humbled. Even after visiting so many times, desire to return only grows stronger with each passing year.
Divine Grace and Master’s Guidance
First and foremost, any successful yatra is possible only through blessings of Swami Ayyappa. Equally crucial is guidance of Spiritual Guru. For me, grace of Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living, has been guiding force throughout this spiritual path. His presence in my life gives inner strength to undertake this arduous trek time and again and most importantly to lead my life in a manner that is supposed to be lived.
Power of Sangha in Spiritual Journey
Apart from divine blessings, what truly makes pilgrimage remarkable is power of Sangha, community of fellow pilgrims. Trekking up Sabarimala is not getting any easier with age. This time, trek was physically exhausting. I suffered from terrible headache caused by dehydration and lack of proper sleep for two consecutive nights.
Yet, physical strain faded away because of my co-pilgrims. I am blessed with an enthusiastic, supportive, and cooperative group of devotees who have accepted me as their Guru Swami. Their dedication, selfless service, and continuous encouragement kept energy alive. When co-pilgrims trek together with single-minded devotion, tough climb becomes joyful celebration.
Privilege, Responsibility, and the Illusion of the ‘Karta’
When co-pilgrims begin to thank me as a Guru Swami for making their long-awaited pilgrimage possible, a calling they waited years for, I am filled with immense humility. But I gently remind them, no Guru Swami has the power to pull this off. No human being possesses the power to stand against nature and its mighty forces. I have never seen myself as the sole guardian or the karta (doer) of these yatras. At best, we can only be faciliators, do what a human can do – scheduling, bookings, arranging transport and other such logistics. Even after the most meticulous planning a safe and successful pilgrimage can work only if HE wills.
I am constantly reminded of our 2018 pilgrimage. For reasons entirely unknown to my non-discerning mind at the time, we advanced our regular August schedule to July. Four of us (Friends from Art of Living, Swamis Subhash, Ramkumar, Suresh Koppad & Myself) made the pilgrimage in our car amidst bad rains, but we returned safely. Just weeks later, in August, catastrophic floods hit Pamba. Structures along the banks were flattened, and all human movement was completely halted. Firstly to advance the pilgrimage and then the realisation post the floods reinforces the belief that “WE ARE NOT THE DOERS“
That experience etched an eternal lesson in my heart, we do not control the journey. The credit never belongs to an individual. It is always a sacred triad, the collective power of the team’s Sankalpa, the blessings of Spiritual Guru, and ultimately Grace of Swami Ayyappa.
Being recognized by team as Guru Swami is a deeply humbling experience. Over time, I have realized that when people look up to you as guide, it brings far more responsibility than privilege. It demands that I act, and visibly act, with complete accountability to be worthy of their trust. When devotees place blind faith in my decisions, my absolute duty is to ensure I never do anything that undermines their belief or credibility. Carrying this trust forward with humility and devotion remains my sacred duty, knowing fully well that we are merely instruments in His grand design.
Continuous Pull of Ayyappa
Trekking to Sabarimala is test of physical endurance and mental strength. However, when devotion combines with supportive Sangha, every hardship transforms into spiritual bliss. Through grace of Swami Ayyappa and blessing of Gurudev, journey was completed smoothly. I already look forward to stepping on holy path once again.
Gratitude to Team
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our incredible team of over 100 pilgrims who joined us across different pilgrimages. From threats of floods enroute to heavy rains and massive crowds, no obstacle could deter their spirit. They showed unwavering belief, blindly trusting every decision I made and jumping in without a second thought. Their dedication and devotion are true backbone of our successful yatras.
Lessons from the Path
Strict penance (vrata), discipline, and understanding demanded by these yatras have profoundly shaped my outlook beyond Sacred Sabarimala. Undertaking a journey rooted in deep austerity teaches invaluable lessons in patience, resilience, and emotional balance. Facing unpredictable challenges on the trek, whether severe fatigue or harsh weather, trains the mind to stay calm under pressure and adapt without hesitation. In professional life and day-to-day interactions, this discipline translates into stronger focus, composed decision-making, and a deeper sense of empathy. Above all, learning to lead a group through shared hardships with humility has taught me that true leadership, both in work and in life, is about serving others with patience and keeping faith intact no matter the terrain.
Team Pictures from our Past Pilgrimages
And Finally to this amazing Lady for constant support across major number of my pilgrimages and now my co-pilgrim for the past 3 pilgrimages
🙏🏻Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa🙏🏻
