AIMS Medical Unit at Pampa, Sabarimala
27 November 2003 — Pampa, Sabarimala, Kerala
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On 17 November, 2003, on the bank of the
Pampa River, two journeys began: one towards
spiritual health - the great pilgrimage to Lord
Ayyappa at Sabarimala, wherein over the next
41 days, millions of Swami Ayyappa devotees from
all over India will walk the hour and a half
uphill trek to the Sabarimala Temple, carrying
offerings such as coconuts and ghee, and maintaining
vows such as eating only vegetarian food, and
abstaining from negative habits such as smoking
and drinking. |
The men traditionally dress entirely in black and
chant the mantra of Swami Ayyappa, while seeing in
everyone and every deity the form of Swami Ayyappa
alone. The men are addressed as "Swami" and
the women as "Devi", which is meant to invoke
the presence of the Lord in all. It is one of the largest
and most sacred pilgrimages in Kerala.
In connection with this pilgrimage
season, the second journey is one towards physical
health: For the duration of the 41 day festival,
AIMS, Amma's celebrated super-specialty hospital
in Kochi, has created a special emergency medical
centre, complete with a Telemedicine facility
provided on 6 December. Swami Turiyamritananda
Puri inaugurated this year's medical unit.
Between 17 November and 26 December, the Unit
tended to 8468 patients - which translates to
over 200 a day! Of the 188 inpatients, 10 were
sent to AIMS, and another 31 treated at the on-site
ICU. This Medical Unit is a great boon to the
pilgrims, assuring them of the highest standard
of physical care while they tend to the care
of their spirit. |
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This is the second year that AIMS has had a presence
at the sacred site. Last year, AIMS performed a successful
heart surgery here for one of the pilgrims via Telemedicine.
The M.A. Math set up both 'Green Friends' and Bookstore
stalls as well.
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