Makara Jyothi

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The disputed light that appears three times on the hills on every January 14 during the sunset
The disputed light that appears three times on the hills on every January 14 during the sunset

Makarajyoti is a light that appears on the hills of the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, India on Makara Sankaranthi (every 14 January) day. It draws the second largest number of pilgrims in the country. The devotees believe that this is a miracle and that witnessing the light brings them good luck and divine blessings. It is believed by some that the Jyothi is the celestial manifestation of the God Ayyappan himself.

The Makara Jyothi marks the climax of the Makaravilakku season of Sabarimala pilgrimage lasting 41 days.

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[edit] Origin

The light of Makarajyothi is quite recent in origin and it was not reported in the early decades of 20th century. There is no mention of Makara Jyoti in any of he Hindu Purnas, folklores or Ayyapa Charithams.

One possible explanation is that the tribal people who were residing at the hill areas might have regularly lighted fire to keep themselves warm in the winter season or to keep away the wild animals. This might have appeared to the devotees standing near the temple as a Jyothi. Though this might have happened not only on 14 January but on other days too, the devotees might not have given any attention to it. [1]

[edit] Popularity

The huge crowd who witness the favorable event has been on the rise every year. [2] In 2008, it is believed that one million devotees witnessed Makarajyoti light. [3] Compare with previous year, the revenue collection during the Makaravilakku period is also higher. In 2008, the total donations was Rs 72.52 crore against previous year’s Rs. 72.35 crore. [4]

[edit] Controversy

The Media and individuals who are skeptical of the Makarajyothi have disputed it. According to them the light is an artificial fire clandestinely lit by the officials of Sabarimala temple, the Travancore Devaswom Board and Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) in connivance with some of the forest and police officials. It is created by burning a large quantity of camphor cubes kept in a silver platter. Several correspondents have visited the hill station where the camphor-fire is lit is claimed to be in the control of the forest department of the Government of Kerala.[5] [6]

[edit] Skeptics' explanation

A number of attempts have been made by rationalists, other individuals, and Media to find out the truth behind this miracle and to give a natural explanation to it.

In 1973 about 24 persons from the Kollam district of Kerala reached Ponnambalamedu hills where the light appreared and bursted fire crackers. They were later taken into custody by the police after a complaint ("defiling the sanctity of Ponnambalamedu") was lodged by B. Madhavan Nair, the then chairman of Travancore Devaswam Board. Since they did not commit any crime under the Indian Penal Code, they were to be released unconditionally.[citation needed] In 1980, a group of rationalists from Trichur also visited Ponnambalamedu and reported about it.

One of the best documented attempts at revealing the truth behind Makarajyoti was made in the year 1981, when the activists of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham went to the hill station and took a number of photographs which were later published in various Malayalam magazines, such as Mathrubhoomi, Janayugam, Yukthivicharam, Yukthivadi etc. They also published a widely circulated Malayalam pamphlet "Makarajyothi Enna Thattippu" (Makarajyothi: A fraud) written by Pavanan, the well-known literary critic and rationalist.

The following is a brief account of what happened on 14 January 1981 at the hill as alleged in the above-referred brochure:

Ponnambalamedu is a flat grass-land spotted with a few trees. About half-a-kilometer away from there was stationed a Jeep belonging to temple authorities. A crowd of about 500 persons including women and children (mostly relatives and friends of employees of Kerala State Electricity Board, who manages the nearby Sabarigiri Hydroelectric Project) had come to the site to witness the lighting of the Makara Jyothi (Page 14). At about 6.30 PM, a driver of Kerala Electricity Board, and his accomplices filled a vessel with camphor. And when they received a signal from temple authorities, he lit the camphor and raised the vessel thrice facing Sabarimala. Interestingly, the rationalists who assembled there also lighted some crude torches and firecrackers (Page 20). The media reports on the following day brought to light, unknowingly though, the presence of skeptics in Ponnamblamedu.

  • Malayalam all India radio reported on 14 January 1981 that "There it raises the Makrajyothi; first as a lightning, then as a lamp or star and now as a camphor light!...there it raises, disappers, and then appears again..!"
  • "Makarajyothi appeared, not once but many times" (Mathrubhumi daily, 15 January 1981)
  • "Next to Jyothi, there also appeared a number of small lights" (Deepika daily, 15 January 1981)

[edit] Writ Petition

  • In 2008, rationalists filed a writ petition in court requesting to direct the Government to grant permission to the petitioners and a selected team to visit Ponnambalamedu hill area during the Makarajoythi day on January 14, and to provide adequate police protection to the team during the visit. [7]

[edit] Latest Media Reports

On the month of May in 2008, a controversy started in Kerala's media about Makara Vilakku. Cherian Philip, the chairman of KTDC initiated the debate regarding it .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 worshiped 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. [8]

[edit] Fatalities

On January 14, 1999 at least 25 Ayyappa devotees were killed and over 100 injured in a landslide at Sabarimala. 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. [9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Tribals demand share of Sabarimala revenue. The Times of India.
  2. ^ Sighting of `Makarajyoti' brings good luck and blessings. The Hindu Online.
  3. ^ Pilgrims witness Makar Jyoti. Manorama Online.
  4. ^ Sabarimala revenue put at Rs.72.52 crore. The Hindu Online.
  5. ^ Sabarimala miracle claims disputed. NDTV.
  6. ^ Scandal in "God's Own Country". IHEU.
  7. ^ Yukthivadis want to visit Ponnambalamedu. The New Indian Express.
  8. ^ Chief priest of Sabari temple clarifies on 'Makara Vilakku'. Keralanext.
  9. ^ 25 Killed and 100 injured in landslip. The Indian Express.

[edit] Further read

  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)
  8. Photograph of the Makara Jyothi as it appears from Sabarimala

[edit] External links

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