MAKARA JOTHI

Makara Jyothi - The Sacred Light of the Lord

The Union is symbolized by the Makara-Jyothi (light) sees amidst the mountains say on Kanthamala on 14/15 Jan. say on makara sankrama day or makara sankranthi.  All our Journey ends on seeing this sacred light only. The evolutionary life which we took for millions of years culminates with this Jyothi (light).  As I said earlier after the jewels are put on Ayyappa, the Uthram star (birth star of Saastha and also Ayyappan) will come out first in the sky near a place called Pulmedu which can be seen by everybody assembled there.  Both the Star and Jothi can be seen by devotees standing near Sabarigiri project side, Saramkutri aal and at Sannidhanam also. Jothi will be seen on the said mountain for three times normally.  Some years back Jyothi has come only once and there were many comments on that.  Recently there are some comments that this is only man-made.  I am not ready here to comment anything on this and I am sure so many will join me on this. 

Nowadays even many TV channels are capturing the Light in their camera due to science improvement and telecasting.

Difference between Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku

There is misconception about the terms Makaravilakku and Makarajyothi. Many of the devotees coming to Sabarimalai still don't know what the difference between Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku. They still believe that both are same. On the light of the recent tragedy in Sabarimalai respected high court of Kerala has asked the Govt to bring out the truth behind Makaravilakku and Makarajyouthi. Same question was aroused in 1999 when a similar tragedy in Pullumedu was happened in hill top near Sabarimalai. Several responsible authorities including Devaswam board and thanthri Rahul Easwar clarified Makaravilakku is man made, but it is a matter of faith.

What is Makara Jyothi?  
 

Makarajyothi is nothing but the Cyrus star that appears in the Sky, Makaram the 6 month of Malayalam calendar and Jyothi mean star, Makara Jyothi is the star that appears in Makaram 1st of Malayalam calendar. Makara Jyothi appear after the Deeparadhana in Sabarimalai in south of the sreekovil (Sanctum Sanctorum) on the 1st of Makaram month of Malayalam calendar. It has nothing to do with the religion Cyrus star appears every day after the sun set, but on this day in which the Panthalam royal family brings Ayyapan's Ornaments ( Thiru abharanam )to the Sabarimalai temple, the star symbolises the presence of Lord Ayyappa the star symbolising ayyappa is called Makara Jyothi .

What is Makaravilakku?  
 

Makaravilakku is a part of a religious ritual that is practised by the tribes in the forest of Ponnambalamedu (the place where Makaravilakku appears). There is nothing inhuman in the Makaravilakku,, no God or goddess is performing this. It has been a practise for more than 100's of year by the tribes. Actually there is a temple in the Ponnambalamedu; the place is not open to the public it is under the control of Forest department of Kerala. When the Cyrus star appears in the sky on Makaram 1st, these tribes too perform their rituals in that temple. Like in the temple of Sabarimaal they also perform Arathi encircling the fire around the Idol. It is performed by lighting camphor and ghee in a vessel and is circled around the idol 3 times. This lamp or fire is what we see from the Sabarimalai temple and call it Makara Jyothi but the fire in the Ponnabalamedu is the actual Makaravilakku

Makarajyothi:    The Cyrus Star which is powerfull and it is by god/nature.

Makaravilakku: The Arathi that performed by the tribes

But most devotees believe that Makaravikakku only is Jothi.  However faith only is the reason for everything.

It was about 25 years ago rationalist (Yukthi vadhi sangam) Kerala set out to prove the truth behind the Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku, they claimed that that saw police assisted with the KSEB official is lighting the Makaravilakku. They filed an affidavit before the commission that was enquiring about this in 1999 to visit the Ponambalamedu and to find the truth but the plea was rejected by the high court in same year.

According to them it is this misconception about Makara Jyothi and Makaravilakku is the reason why the disaster happened. They accuse that the devotees from outer Kerala believed Makaravilakku as something done by God, which is a miracle and that is why the people are gathering in places like Pullumedu to see the Makaravilakku not Makrajyothi. You can see Makara Jyothi sitting any were since it is the UTHRAM star, the birth star of Ayyappa & Sastha that appear in the Sky. 

Since Devaswam board has made the differences clear and presented the facts, it is the responsibility of everyone to respect the faith. The government of Kerala should take every possible to steps to ensure the safety of the devotees and avoid such tragedies in future.