Every December, Viveik Oberoi dons black robes, wears tulsi beads around his neck and walks bare-feet. He withdraws himself from all kinds of social activities and indulges only in religious discourses.
An ardent follower of Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa the actor has been following the ritual of 41-days of fast before Makar Sankranti for the past four years that culminates in a pilgrimage to Mount Sabari (3000 feet above sea level) in Kerala.
This year he shouldered the responsibility of a guru swamiye and initiated friend Sonu Sood in observing severe austerities. Says Oberoi, "I have been following the rituals and have been a part of this festival since my Company days. I have strong faith in Swamiye Ayyappa and meticulously abide by all the religious practices."
Surviving on fruits
The 40-days long preparations saw the actor surviving on satvic food and refraining from eating meat, drinking and smoking. Other rituals include not shaving, and sleeping on the floor. Also any form of contact with a woman is forbidden. The actor could not even shake hands with any woman, as the Lord is a chaste yogi.
"A lot of planning goes before the 40 days of religious atonement begins, so that it doesn't affect the directors and producers of my films. This year I have been thriving only on fruits," says Oberoi. We hear that the actor is quite popular among the priests and takes to shopping before his annual visit every year.
Viveik at Makar Jyoti
The actor participated in the festival of Makar Jyoti, an annual (January 14) event when lakhs of pilgrims would gaze at the sky to get a glimpse of a flash of light that lasts for 30 seconds during the dusk. He adds, "It's through this flashes that Ayyappa Swamiye makes his presence felt."
The legend
About thousands of years ago, lived a youth by name Ayyappan known as Ayyan whose uncle was Perisseri Pillai of Erumeli, Kottayam district, Kerala.
Ayyan became the army chief of the Pandalam royal family. He was instrumental in the defeat of Udayanan, who had attacked Sabarimala and tried to demolish the ancient Sastha temple located in the forest of present Pathnamthitta district.
During a clash Ayyappan was killed and this lead Perissery Pillai to construct the old small Sastha temple at Erumeli.
After the demise of Ayyappan people considered him as the avatar of Lord Sastha and began to worship him. Since then, Sabarimala has turned out to be the most favourite and significant temple in Kerala.
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