Thursday, May 29, 2008

The truth behind "Sabarimala Makara Jyothi"



Makara Jyothi appears at dark on the day of Makara Sankaranthi,14th January on the Kantamala hills facing to the Sabarimala temple, a popular Hindu pilgrim center in Kerala, India.It is widely believed by the devotees that this Jyothi appears miraculously at Ponnambalamedu and is the celestial manifestation of the god Ayyappan. Some others believe that the Jyothi is the Arati performed by the rishis and devas residing in the Kantamala hills. The Makara Jyothi marks the climax of the Makaravilakku season of Sabarimala pilgrimage lasting 41 days.

Even though it is a miracle or not the comments from various people are as follows.

  • Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham

Makara Vilakku was being stage-managed by the Trvancore Devaswom Board to deceive devotees to increase its revenue.

  • Sabarimala High Priest Kantaru Maheswararu

He said that 'Makara Jyothi' was a celestial star and 'Makara Vilakku' was lit at Ponnambalamedu, a tradition followed for centuries. 'Makara Vilakku' of the hillshrine was just a 'Deeparadhana,' (lighting of lamps for worship).

  • In 1980, the Yukthivadi (rationalists) Sangham had enquired and exposed the fraud on devotees in the name of 'Makara Jyothi,' Dhanuvachapuram Sukumaran, Sangham vice president told reporters as follows:
    The 'fraud' was being committed using the organs of the government like Doordarshan and All India Radio conducting live commentaries on the Makara Vilakku day.
    Yukthivadi Sangham activists who had gone to Ponnambalamedu to know the truth behind the 'Jyothi' years back had revealed the findings through photographs.
    Former Devaswom Board president G Raman Nair
    He said that the 'Jyothi' was being lit on the 'Makara Samkranthi' day. Devaswom Minister and its president should apologise to the people for this.
    The Truth behind Makara Jyothi by activists of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham, they had witnessed the event in 1981
    Makara Jyothi is created by burning a large quantity of camphor cubes kept in a silver platter lit by the officials of Kerala Forest Department, Kerala State Electricity Board, the authorities of Sabarimala temple and the Travancore Devaswam Board in connivance with the Police Department of Kerala State and the Government of Kerala.

The government should inform the people the truth behind the lighting of 'Makara Jyothi'.

3 comments:

  1. It was the outcome of the strenuous task of Kerala Yukthivadi Sanghom over the years to reveal the truth behind the Makaravilakku, which was believed as the handiwork of god, by devotees, that now the authorities concerned were compelled to tell the truth in public.

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  2. Hello,

    Swami,

    I know all people talk about Makara Jyothi and want to make a statement in Blog sites that they know the reality,which may be or may not be.Its speculation,no one is ever met the person,who saw the camphor being lit or who was trying to perform Jyothi.I dont disagree,neither I agree.There should be an evidence,its been so many years,that people throng to experience divine Jyothi,there is always a probability of getting to know the truth.The priest who agreed that it was artificial is also only in Blog sites,no one has ever seen the interview in papers or tv.Me being a doctor,educated,blah blah but I believe in Lord Ayyappa,I would not agree neither disagree with Jyothi,I would just wait for an evidence,till then,I am happy believing its divine Jyothi and I dont think its going to harm me or the nation.I dont think so,civil swami,should also crib about it.Its a good thing,swami,with all their mind,body and soul devote to lord for 41 days,its tougher than any other religious practice.It helping the person who is doing it in everyway,why to disturb a belief which is doing good and spreading the message of brotherhood.I am happy being a sincere devotee of Lord Ayyappa,I would encourage others also to experience the joy of this spiritual experience.You will not know,till you don't do it.You only live once and this is the time.

    Lastly,I would ask one question,how would anyone explain about the star,Uttiram,which is seen minutes before Makara Jyothi,is not there normally,not man made,cannot be artificial.......any answers???

    Swamiye Saranam
    Saranam Ayyappa.......................Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa..........

    God bless all....................

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  3. all the strs in sky hav their own time to glow..uttiram star is no glowing on the day of makara jyothi..actually we r glowing jyothi on that day star glows.its just artificial.my father worked sabarimala for years and was a staff of electy board.he lightened jyothi as a crew member @ ponnambalamedu 4 makara jyothi.jyothi is a huge factor of income of sabarimla devaswom board.u like people are their target to make their followers.old days jyothi was created by native adivasees by the help of devaswam.now a days its quite official.if u dont hav evidence to belive its man made, do u hav any evidence for "its made by god"?

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