The customs of the pilgrims to Sabarimala are based on five worshipping methods; those of Shaivites, Shaktists and Vaishnavites.
At first, there were three sections of devotees – the devotees of Shakti who used meat to worship their deity[citation needed], the devotees of Vishnu who followed strict penance and continence, and the devotees of Shiva who partly followed these two methods.
Another name of Ayyappa is Sastha. All these can be seen merged into the beliefs of pilgrims to Sabarimala. The chain the pilgrims wear comes from the Rudraksha chain of the Shaivites. The strict fasting, penance and continence is taken out of the beliefs of the Vaishnavites. The offering of tobacco to Kaduthaswamy can be considered to be taken from the Shaktists.
At first, there were three sections of devotees – the devotees of Shakti who used meat to worship their deity[citation needed], the devotees of Vishnu who followed strict penance and continence, and the devotees of Shiva who partly followed these two methods.
Another name of Ayyappa is Sastha. All these can be seen merged into the beliefs of pilgrims to Sabarimala. The chain the pilgrims wear comes from the Rudraksha chain of the Shaivites. The strict fasting, penance and continence is taken out of the beliefs of the Vaishnavites. The offering of tobacco to Kaduthaswamy can be considered to be taken from the Shaktists.
