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Home > Temples of Kerala > Sabarimala Temple > The importance of Black Dhoti and the Mala The importance of Black Dhoti and the MalaThe dressing and appearance of the pilgrims for Sabarimala is a different one from the other. The dhoti in dark or dark blue, tulasimala (necklace made of tulasi or basil), obligatory marking on the forehead with sandal paste or bhasma (ash) and uncut hair and beard, this is the common appearance of a devotee of Ayyappa. The colours can impose some kind of impact on the spiritual life, especially in the periods of vows and other spiritual activities. There are five basic roots of signs of creations, according to Tantricism, are Niram (Colour), Gunam (feature/quality), Rupam (figure), Bhavam (Nature), Kriya (Action). Each and every creation in this universe has a colour or mixed colours and gunas will also be along with colours. Everything has a rupa (shape or figure). All the bhavas come out of the above factors, all the actions are depending upon the bhavas. All the creations project their own gunas and they may be understood by us. When we look at a baby deer and a snake, for example, we will feel the nature of both the creatures. If all the creation have all these kinds of signs, the creator has no such features, and he is Swayambhu (originated without any cause) he has not niram, rupa, bhava or karma and he is out of all these characteristics. When we think about colours there are five of them as basic in the creations, which are white, yellow, red, blue and green. These colours represent respectively sky, air, fire, water and earth. But the Tantricism declares the basic important colour is black. The black may be considered as colourlessness like night. The real colour of the universe is deep black. The blackness is the symbol of eternity and spirit. Kali is black and Krishna is also black. The light revels the things. We see differences of things in the light. The jivatma and the Brahmam become one in advaita. The servant and the God become one in bhaktiyoga; moksha and karma unite in upasana and all these factors unite in Sabarimala. There is not any difference of reigion, race, caste, colour and the wise and the lay, the unification of humanity is the result of this pilgrimage. It is to reveal the Saiva – Vaishnava relation by a devotee of Ayyappa by wearing rudrakshas as necklace, the necklace of basil and the markings of bhasma – chandana on the forehead. The bhasma awakens the self realization and the chandana helps to keep dharma. Rudraksha makes virakti (repudiation) and self control, and the tulasi retains the thinking of God. Not ot cut the hair and the beard is the reflection of total renunciation of bhoga. The thinking of body denies bhakti. To be pious, we have to renounce body consciousness.
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