WHY SELECT GHEE AND COCONUT

Why a devotee selects only GHEE and COCONUT for filling the same for the Abhishekam for Ayyappan?

Coconut tree is a Kalpak (a sacred) tree.  There are three eyes for coconut whixh we get from that tree.  We think of Lord Shiva has three eyes.  Out of the said coconut eyes, one will be focused inwards and through which the root also comes out.  One has to open this particular eye only for filling it up with ghee.  Besides the above reasons, the coconut is having three parts such us the shell, the coconut (white coloured substance that we use for cooking purpose) and the water, which will be very sweet.  The above three parts are compared to Thames, Rajas and Samantha guineas.  A devotee has to offer all the above guineas (as Jeevaathma) to lord Ayyappan (the Paramaathma).  The shell of the coconut will be very rough and too hard when compared to our life.  Our heart should be so pure just like the inner part (white part) of the coconut shell.   Just to bring our mind under good control, a devotee (who goes to Sabarimala) should be under Nonbu (fasting) for 48 days as detailed earlier. 

After completing such 48 days’ Nonbu, a devotee shaves the coconut shell very well just like how we are removing our problems in life.  We are filling up the same with Ghee, which is much liked by Ayyappan.

Now let us think of the Ghee. The cow is related to Kaamadhenu (sacred cow).  We believe that Goddess Lakshmi lives in cow.  We get many things from the cow i.e., Milk from the cow, Curd from Milk, Ghee from Curd and Ghee from the Butter.  The ghee only will last long.  It is not like oil or any other thing.  And it is liked by Ayyapan. This is reason as to why we select the Ghee for filling up the coconut.

This procedure is continued for years together.  Hope, by now you are very clear on the above.

Ghee represents devotion or love (oneness or non-dual vision). This comes with time by constant effort and understanding.  Devotion comes though the process of purification, like obtaining ghee  by processing milk, churning curd to form  butter and finally melting it to ghee. The ghee is the fruit that one obtains after following strict disciplinary practices.