Makara Jyothi
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[[Image:Makara jyothi.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The disputed light that appears three times on the hills on every [[January 14]] during the [[sunset]]]]
'''''Makarajyoti''''' is the celestial star which is worshipped by the pilgrims. 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 devotees believe that this is a miracle and that witnessing the light brings them good luck and divine blessings.
The ''Makara Jyothi'' marks the climax of the ''[[Makaravilakku]]'' season of [[Sabarimala]] pilgrimage lasting 41 days.
== Origin ==
{{Cleanup-remainder|date=July 2008}}}}
The Devasom Minister of Kerala clarified Makara Jyothi and Makara Vilakku as two different phenomenon. The Makara Jytohi being the celestial light and Makara Vilakku symbolically being lit as 'deeparadhana'. He told [[Kairali]] News that it is a misunderstanding in the minds of some people.
== Popularity ==
The huge crowd who witness the favourable event has been on the rise every year. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/14/stories/2006011406820500.htm |title=Sighting of `Makarajyoti' brings good luck and blessings |publisher=The Hindu Online}}</ref> In [[2008]], it is believed that [[one million]] devotees witnessed ''Makarajyoti'' light. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentId=3449548&programId=1073754912&pageTypeId=1073754893&contentType=EDITORIAL&BV_ID=@@@ |title=Pilgrims witness Makar Jyoti |publisher=Manorama Online}}</ref> Compare with previous year, the revenue collection during the Makaravilakku period is also higher. In 2008, the total [[donation]]s was [[Indian Rupee|Rs]] 72.52 [[crore]] against previous year’s Rs. 72.35 crore. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/15/stories/2008011553760400.htm |title=Sabarimala revenue put at Rs.72.52 crore |publisher=The Hindu Online}}</ref>
== Controversy ==
The [[News media|Media]] and individuals who are sceptical 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070000611 |title=Sabarimala miracle claims disputed |publisher=NDTV}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iheu.org/node/2343 |title=Scandal in "God's Own Country" |publisher=IHEU}}</ref>
=== Sceptics' 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. {{Fact|date=January 2008}} In 1980, a group of [[Rationalism|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-kilometre 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 sceptics 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, disappears, 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 (newspaper)|Deepika]] daily, 15 January 1981)
===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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20080111012203&Title=Kochi&rLink=0 |title=Yukthivadis want to visit ''Ponnambalamedu'' |publisher=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
===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 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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keralanext.com/Kerala/read.asp?id=134262279 |title=Chief priest of Sabari temple clarifies on 'Makara Vilakku' |publisher=Keralanext}}</ref>
== 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. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990115/01550715.html |title=25 Killed and 100 injured in landslip |publisher=The Indian Express}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
== Further read ==
# ''Makara Jyothis Enna Thattippu'' (Makara Jyothis : A fraud) : [[Pavanan]] - Published by [[Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham]], 1981
# ''Makara Jyothi'' - A.V.Jose (''Yukthivicharam'', February 1981)
# ''Makara Jyothikku Purakil'' (The secret of Makara Jyothi) - Unni Kakkanad (''[[Yukthivadi]], February 1981)
# ''Vyajagni'' (The Fake-flame) : T.N.Gopakumar ([[Kalakaumudi]] Weekly, Issue No: 1638, 2007) (Republished in [[Yukthirekha]], January-February 2007)
# ''[[Illustrated Weekly of India]]'', February 15,1987
# ''[[Indian Express]], [[Cochin]] edition, January 10, 1988
# [http://www.malayalavedhi.com/wbboard/thread.php?threadid=4573&boardid=14&sid=ece4683e1fd632f1ebe2de2c55a2006e&goto=nextoldest Makara Jyoti – the miracle light in Sabarimala] Discussion at www.malayalavedhi.com (Weblink accessed on May 28, 2007)
# [http://makarajyothi.com/?q=node/40 Photograph of the Makara Jyothi as it appears from ''Sabarimala'']
== External links ==
*[http://www.sabarimala.org/ The official website of Sabarimala temple]
*[http://www.travancoredevaswom.org/ The official website of Travancore Devaswom Board]
*[http://www.makarajyothi.com More mythological detail about Lord Ayyapan]
*[http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1167382 Clarification of the matter by Minister]
*[http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEO20080528225043&Page=O&Title=Thiruvananthapuram&Topic=0 - Media reports on Makara Vilakku/Makara Jyoti]
*[http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080051548 - Minister G.Sudhakaran on Makara Vilakku / Makara Jyothi]
[[Category:Fire deities]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Kerala]]
[[Category:Pilgrim Centres]]
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