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+The 18 Holy Steps - Patinettampadi
The Patinettampadi can be used only twice - once for ascending the temple and once for descending below leaving the hill. Before ascending or descending the steps, pilgrims break coconut as an offering to the steps. One needs to have the sacre Irumudi on head while going up or down the 18 steps. While descending the steps the devotees climb down backwards facing the sanctum sanctorum. One who climbs the Patinettampadi for 18 times shall plant a sapling of coconut in Sabarimala.
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Pathinettapadi
(18 divine steps) to the sanctum sanctorium is divine in all aspects.
The first three steps depict "Bhoomi, Agni, Vayoo & Akash",
6 to 9 steps for Karmendriya, 10 to 15 for Jhanandriya, 16th for
mind 17th Intelligence and 18th Jeevathma Bhava. Those who cross
all these steps are believed to achieve "Punyadarshan".
The steep steps are so important and holy that no one can climb
them without fasting for 41 days and carrying the holy irrumudi
on ones' head.There are many mythological stories associated with
the holy Patinettampadi. Some believe the eighteen steps denote
the 18 puranas. Some say that 18 weapons with which Lord Ayyappa
destroyed the evil denotes the 18 steps. Others are of the belief
that the first five steps denotes the indriyas (eyes, ears, nose,
tongue and skin). The next eight steps signifies the ragas (tatwa,
kama, krodha, moha, lobha, madha, matsraya, and ahamkara. The next
three steps signifies the gunas (satwa, rajas and thamas). The seventeenth
and the eighteenth denotes vidhya and ignorance.
Built
on a plateau about 40 feet high, the Ayyappan temple commands a
lofty view of the mountains and valleys all around. The ancient
temple has been rebuilt after a fire in 1950. Within the confines
of the sanctum sanctorium with a copper-plated roof and four golden
finials at the top, two mandapams, the belikalpura which houses
the altar, the flag-staff replacing the earlier stone image of the
deity, sits a beautiful idol of Ayyappa in panchaloha, an alloy
of five metals, about one and a half feet tall.