Srikovil or the sanctum sanctorum at Sannidanam - Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple
is plated using gold. The life story of Ayyappa from His birth on earth to His
disappearance at Sabarimala is written on copper sheets and is superimposed on
the Sreekovil.
The punar pratishta or murti reinstallation was performed in
1951.
The gold plating of the sreekovil was completed in 1997 –
around 32 kilograms of gold and 1904 kilograms of copper were used for the
purpose.
The murti of Ayyappa worshipped at Sabarimala Ayyappa
Temple is that of
Brahmachari. He is also referred as Shasta.
There is a belief that the murti was created by Parashurama
and Ayyappa merged in it.