The Palliyarai contains two
oil lamps (
kuthuvilakku), an
elunetru, and a large mirror. On a raised pedestal and covered with kavi cloth, the temple also preserves some articles believed to have been used by Ayya Vaikuntar. This includes a
rattan cane (
perampu) and a pair of wooden sandals. Inner corridors surround the Palliyarai. There is a fifty-five-foot-tall flag mast at a distance of 50 feet from
Palliyarai. North of the flag mast is an Unpanpurai. Here, they cook food and distribute it to devotees. In addition, there is Paal Kinaru in the extreme east,
Vatakku Vasal in the north, and Sivaye Medai (also called Karuda Medai) in the west. The outer corridors surrounded all these. There is also a Sivalinga and an Amman Sannathi near the outer corridors. About 300 metres from the main path, there is a shared well.
Akilattirattu Ammanai states that all eighteen castes take baths in that well. It was considered sacred to bathe in and drink the water from that well. There is a bell tower above the spot where
Vaikundar performed the
Tavam. On the door of the
Swamithoppe Palliyarai is a carving of the
ten avatars of Vishnu. The main celebration of Swamithoppe includes
Kodiyettru Thirunal, which is celebrated three times a year during the Tamil months of Vaikasi, Aavani, and Thai. It starts with Kodiyetrru (flag hoisting) and ends on the eleventh day with a car procession. People from different parts of
Tamil Nadu and
Kerala participate in this festival. Then there was
Thiru Eadu Vasippu, a seventeen-day festival during which the whole contents of Akilattirattu Ammanai were read melodiously. It was celebrated during the Tamil month of Karthigai, the month in which Hari Gopalan Citar wrote it.
Nitham Thirunal Palliyarai with the
ten avatars of Vishnu carved on it As per the instructions in
Akilam, the
Swamithope Pathi conducts a daily festival, and every day is considered a festival day. The ritual practices conducted during festival days are conducted here throughout the year, though not on a grand scale as during the other festivals. The daily
Panividai starts very early in the morning. Every day, around 3a.m., the Dharmagharttas and the people staying at the temple go to
Muthirikkinaru and take a holy bath. They return to the
Pathi and start the panividai. The
Payyan chants
Ukappatippu, and the devotees repeat it. Then they open the door of the sanctum sanctorum. Witnessing this scene with the sound of a dozen temple bells and conch is considered sanctifying. Then there is the
Vahana pavani. Vahana Pavani comes around the temple and along the four-car streets, first through the Santhana Veethi and then through the
Ratha Veethi. The
Nithiyapal is prepared daily and offered to
Ayya Vaikundar ritually. It was the only food Ayya believed to be eaten when in human form at Swamithoppe. Thavanaipal, a gruel prepared with rice and green gramme, is distributed to the devotees. The noon
Panividai starts around 11a.m. Daily
Ucchipatippu is chanted. The devotees will repeat it, and Thavanaipal is distributed to the devotees. On Sundays, many people from far and near come here to participate in the Ucchipatippu. In the evening, panividai starts around 5p.m. The sanctum sanctorum door is opened amidst the sound of the temple bells and
conch. Then, the Payyan would chant ukappatippu. Those followers who congregate for the evening panividai would repeat this. Then, there will be vahana panividai. The Vahana is taken around the temple and the four-car streets. After this, there will be
Annadharmam. This is the daily routine of
Swamithoppe Pathi. One can worship at any time of the day in this temple. to
Swamithope.
Ayya Vaikunda Avataram The most important festival is
Ayya Vaikunda Avataram, or Vaikunda Jayanthi, the day on which
Lord Vaikundar incarnated from the sea at
Tiruchendur. Though many worship centres, including other
Pathis, conduct celebrations during this festival, it is considered sacred to visit Swamithoppe on this day. So on this day, Swamithoppe will get populated with the nationwide
Ayyavazhi followers. This is the largest festival conducted in Swamithope Pathi. Several processions were held on the day, which started from different places, including Thiruchendur and Thiruvananthapuram, and ended at
Swamithoppe. ==Location==