Meaning of Shabarimala 18 steps!

Swamiye Saranamayyappa! 
One of my Friends wanted to know, thought of sharing with all!

Eighteen is considered as the code number to break into the soul of the Nature. The significance of 18 can be traced back to the Vedic age. The first Veda, believed to be protected by Lord Brahma himself, had 18 chapters. Later, Veda Vyasa divided it to create the four vedas: Rigveda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharava Veda. Each of these vedas had 18 chapters.Veda Vyasa also wrote 18 puranas and 18 upa-puranas. The Bhagavad Gita has 18 chapters and the Kurukshetra war lasted 18 days!(And my blessed child was also born on 18th!) There are lot of school of thought i have heard.

I. One school of thought says 
Pathinettapadi (18 divine steps) to the sanctum sanctorium is divine in all aspects. 

• The first three steps depict "Bhoomi, Agni, Vayoo & Akash", 
• 6 to 9 steps for Karmendriya, 
• 10 to 15 for Jhanandriya,
•  16th for mind 
• 17th Intelligence and 
• 18th Jeevathma Bhava. 
• Those who cross all these steps are believed to achieve "Punyadarshan". The steep steps are so important and holy that no one can climb them without fasting for 41 days and carrying the holy irrumudi on ones' head.There are many mythological stories associated with the holy Patinettampadi. Some believe the eighteen steps denote the 18 puranas. Some say that 18 weapons with which Lord Ayyappa destroyed the evil denotes the 18 steps. Others are of the belief that the first five steps denotes the indriyas (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin). The next eight steps signifies the ragas (tatwa,  kama, krodha, moha, lobha, madha, matsraya, and ahamkara. The next three steps signifies the gunas (satwa, rajas and thamas). The seventeenth and the eighteenth denotes vidhya and ignorance.

II. another school of thought says

• 1st step- Getting knowledge and consciousness to make think is called first step.
• 2nd step- The bhakters ultimate consciousness is second step. Dvaita & advaita are same. Advaita means God & Dvaita means soul.
• 3rd step- vision or insight, imagination, understand, act, excercise, law to be connected with intellect.
• 4th step- pure consciousness image of knowledge it refers.
• 5th step- not in pure form & enlightened like bhagavathi gods form.
• 6th – past several births (purva janam) goodness if we climb sixth step and we can see lord shiva.
• 7th step- will-power, we will have will-power to get god blessing
• 8th step- yaga inner form, rahoyagam.
• 9th step- supreme celestial light , “paramjyothis” in order today also “makara jyothi” is seen.
• 10th step- meditating and knowing universal supreme lord.
• 11th step- ascetic meditating. God and devotee uniting.
• 12th step- samadhi non dualistic state of consciousness.
• 13th step- atma, soul changes happens.
• 14th step- supreme brahma, indicates knowledge person god subramanian. Ultimate supreme brahma is also called this step.
• 15th step- nadabrahma means ecstasy continues.
• 16th step- jyothiswarupa- illumination of god. A supreme effulgence, the proper form of god.
• 17th step- trigunathitha means tri characters of god
• 18th step – which is considered as parama feet- the ultimate supreme feet of lord ayyappa swamy

III. Another school of thought says:

It is assumed that after climbing up these eighteen steps reverently, one symbolically detaches oneself from all the worldly ties that bind one physically and mentally to the world . It is only then that a person will be in a receptive condition to be `one' in consonance with the concept of 'The Ultimate Creator.  

• The first five steps symbolise the five human senses (Panchendriyas) i.e. visual (vision), auditory (hearing), olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste) and tactile (touch). These signify the `mortal' nature of one's body.
• The next eight steps symbolise the eight Ashtaragas viz, Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha, Maltsarya, Asooya, Dhumb (Love, Anger, Avarice, Lust, Pride, Unhealthy Competition, Jealousy and Boastfulness).
• The next three steps stand for three Gunas or Thrigunas (nature-born qualities) i.e. Satva, ( perspicuity, discernment) , Rajas (activity, enjoyment) and Thamas (inactivity, stupor).
• The last two steps represent Vidya (Knowledge) and Avidya (Ignorance).                                                                    The details given above represent the most prevalently accepted version of the significance of the Holy Pathinettam Padi. Other versions are:-
  • Ayyappa was a master of 18 weapons and the steps signify these.
  • Ayyappa before merging into the idol at the Sanctum Sanctorum, surrendered his 18 weapons, one at each step of Pathinettam Padi.
  • The steps represent the 18 hills existing in and around the region of Sabarimala.