Makara Jyothi

The makaravilakku light that appears three times on the hills on every Makara Sankranthi after the Makarajyothi has disappeared from the sky

Makarajyoti is a star which is worshipped by the pilgrims. This star disappears as the final thiruvaabharanam (divine ornaments) are brought into the sanctum sanctorum and are placed on the Lord. The main worshipping rituals are performed at the day of Makara Sankaranthi (every 14 January) day. It draws the second largest number of pilgrims in the country. The makarajyoti (star) is often mistakenly used to refer to the light appearing thrice on the hill next to the sanctum sanctorum, which is in fact the makaravilakku (Lamp/light).

Popularity and debate

The huge crowds who witness the favourable event has been on the rise every year. In 2010, it is believed that 1.5 million devotees witnessed Makarajyoti light. Compared with previous years, the revenue collection during the Makaravilakku period is also higher. In 2008, the total donations was Rs 720 million against previous year’s Rs. 723 million.

In May 2008, a controversy started in Kerala's media about Makara Vilakku. Cherian Philip, the chairman of KTDC, started the debate. Former Devasom Board President G.Raman Nair said in an interview that Makara Vilakku is ritualistically lit, and later the Chief Priest of Sabiramala and the Devaswom Minister of Kerala clarified that Makara Vilakku and Makara Jyothi are two different things. One is the celestial star which is worshipped, and other is symbolically lit in a place called Ponnambalamedu. They clarified that there is nothing supernatural and it is misunderstanding that led to the controversy.

Fatalities

On January 14, 1999 at least 25 Ayyappa devotees were killed and over 100 injured in a landslide when a large number of devotees climbed a hillock to have a view of the Jyoti, a portion of the hillock caved in, resulting in the tragedy. on jan 15th 2010 more than 150 devotees died in a stampede with many more being injured.

Further reading

• Aranmula Palace

1. Makara Jyothis Enna Thattippu (Makara Jyothis : A fraud) : Pavanan - Published by Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, 1981
2. Makara Jyothi - A.V.Jose (Yukthivicharam, February 1981)
3. Makara Jyothikku Purakil (The secret of Makara Jyothi) - Unni Kakkanad (Yukthivadi, February 1981)
4. Vyajagni (The Fake-flame) : T. N. Gopakumar (Kalakaumudi Weekly, Issue No: 1638, 2007) (Republished in Yukthirekha, January-February 2007)
5. Illustrated Weekly of India, February 15, 1987
6. Indian Express, Cochin edition, January 10, 1988
7. Makara Jyoti – the miracle light in Sabarimala Discussion at www.malayalavedhi.com (Weblink accessed on May 28, 2007)

1. http://expressbuzz.com/states/kerala/for-god%E2%80%99s-sake-end-this-fraud/239858.html indian express

External links

• The official website of Travancore Devaswom Board
• More mythological detail about Lord Ayyapan
• Clarification of the matter by Minister
• - Media reports on Makara Vilakku/Makara Jyoti
• - Minister G.Sudhakaran on Makara Vilakku / Makara Jyothi
• An amateur experience of makarajyothi