Rituals and Beliefs of Kanni Ayyappan

 Kanni Ayyappan or the first time devotee to Sabarimala is one of the defining and unique features of the Sabarimala pilgrimage. There has been a story behind the Kanni Ayyappan. It is said that Lord Ayyappa has given his word to Malikappurathu Devi that he will marry her if Kanni Ayyappans fails to come to Sabarimala in a year. Unfortunately, such a thing never occurred and still Malikappuram Devi is waiting here for such a year. Those who coming first to Sabarimala should follow certain rituals and first of its kind is to find a guruswamy. One comes to treat guruswamy should have completed his eighteen years of coming to Sabarimala. The Kanni Ayyappan should wear the mala or rudraksha mala. He should follow strict penance of 41 days and should stick strict to it. He should fill the irumudikettu with the help of guruswamy and raise the Sarana slogans before heading to Sababrimala. He also should take a divine dip at the Holy River Pampa and should enact the pettathullal at Erumeli temple. He also should stick the arrow at Saramkuthy, so as to help Malikappuram Devi to find that Kanni Ayyappans have visited this year also. If a devotee coming to Sabarimala for the first time have followed this strict penance could be allowed to step in the holy golden eighteen steps to Sannidhanam.