Thursday, January 17, 2008

The mystique of Makarajyothi continues....

While watching the live telecast of 'Makaravilakku' celebration at Sabarimala, I was really wondered to see the crowd there. Millions of pilgrims from far and wide are reaching there every year, only for witnessing the celestial light called 'Makarajyothi' appering on Makara Sankaranthi.

Staunch believers of Swamy Ayyappan believe that the jyothi appears miraculously for blessing the devotees. They believe that witnessing this light brings them good luck and divine blessings. I saw it appearing 3times in the forest, with a few seconds interval between each appearance.

A divine star is believed to appear on the sky, just before sighting Makarajyothi. The whole thing lasts for a maximum of 1 minute!! And for that, how many people, ranging from small kids to aged ones reach there!!

Another argument is that 'Makara Jyothi' is an artificial fire lit by Sabarimala officials and Devaswom board, for their monetary benefits. Are they cheating these all millions of devotees?? It is said that they are lighting camphor, taken in large quantity, inside the forest and lifting it thrice. And the most important thing is no Puranas have mentioned anything about this 'celestial miraculous Jyothi'. So, it should be true.. right?? What you all say about this?

Some others believe that the Jyothi is the Arati performed by the rishis and devas residing in the hills!!! Happened to see an article in 'Kalakaumudi'. Here is it..

Is this a reality or cheating?

Signing off,
Hailstone.

PS: I'm not an atheist. No personal interests to hurt the feelings of believers.

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well lets get it this way:- Among the million odd piligrims, those who vist this place, (infact i have gone there 3 times), atleast some percentage of them are educated.

Now given the common sense we get from our minuscle stint with modern world and technologies and ofcourse our so called "education system", we might be going for the scientific rationale behind this "light". Infact there are some "enlightened" people who have already found out what is going on by going there. This is from my experience with a brief "chat" with a DYFI guy + a reporter.

And then most of us think that it is real . Every year the same people go there. This is because, when it comes to god we always play "safe"... Hmm we do believe that he exists (bcoz we pass in exams that we almost believed that we are going to fail ..one reason atleast for students :)))

Even if it is artifical, let it be. Bcoz atleast this belief is good enough to maintain some "orderliness" in our society. BCOZ "PEPOLE ATLEAST FEAR GOD, IF NO ONE ELSE".

Hailstone said...

Pls dont misunderstand me. I'm not questioning the existence of God. I do believe in God. I'm not an athiest.

Doubting only about this Makarajyothi.. And wrote abt this matter, since having more significance during these days, having lot of controversies.

Btw, who's this -ex gec cse'ian- ?

Nivil Jacob said...

People tend to be of different beliefs. And divine phenomenon like this are best left unexplained i guess. Some may call it meek submission in the face of crisis, but will any one benifit from knowing that it is a fake?
And also accusations like, the officials are lighting camphor are in my belief, are absurd. wit the kind of stinking 'governence and coordination' in levels of the board, i feel any ploy like that would be out in seconds. had they had such coordination or guts to pull that kind of stunt, then what they could not have done? as in it would simply be awesome. just think people. with all the infight going on, hearing such a thing is like seeing a jim cary movie.

Bristow said...

Makara jyothi is realy a mystery. I too 've thought of the scientific reason behind this famous phenomenon(as we are all science and technology students), at times, when I read about this in news papers and even more astonished to see the live telecast.

I've heard some stories about this phenomenon from the poojari of our near by temple.
Still it's a mystery and if it's artificial!! let us hope it's not because lakhs of people sees it as their sole hope...

Asha said...

It's cheating that is happening. I have first hand info on this, that's why I am so sure. My FIL who is a retd SP had been on Sabarimala duty for a lot many years. He says that it is people from the police force itself who set fire on tyres and throw it up three times. This is done from a forest part where common folk doesn't go.

Sands | കരിങ്കല്ല് said...

@ ex GEC CSE-ian
"If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed." - Al.Ei.. There should be better ways to maintain "orderliness".

@Hailstone
Entammee!! enthuttu alakka alakkane!

@ej
Truth always benefits. (Any doubts?)

@Asha
Yes, you nailed it! :)

Nivil Jacob said...

@ asha
i fell it's jus another ploy.. it doensn't add up i feel. there's a lotta things left unexplained.

Anonymous said...

Kidilam topic aanallo!!!

Whatever it is... If it helps someone, somehow it is not a bad thing... :)

-Vivek

Anonymous said...

@nly and vivekettan
frankly i agree to what vivekettan said. if its of some good to anyone let it be so.
devidas

Rohith Rajesh said...

ya I too go with asha n others..
Mayb, its like this.. the star is infact a true one..
Now this fire thing dint start today or y'day.. it has been carried out for centuries. And it is infact called "Jyothi ". Over the period of time, and the myths prevailing in our society may hav made it 'divine'. Who knows, when this ritual wuz done for the first time, maybe it wuz intentionally .....

And honestly, if u look at the TV telecast, u can see it go up n down very clearly, like somebody waving it....

Anonymous said...

the jyothi thing started only a 100 or so years ago...
read the article priya has left the link to...
i have been doin more reading on this and all the facts mentioned by others as suspicions are the actual rumours regarding the supposed light from the mountains.
but no one can give the exact explaination to the sighting of an eagle around three p.m which hovers in the sky for three times before vanishing!!
why is it so?? any ligical explaination?? anyone ?? Asha??
devidas

Anonymous said...

the jyothi thing started only a 100 or so years ago...
read the article priya has left the link to...
i have been doin more reading on this and all the facts mentioned by others as suspicions are the actual rumours regarding the supposed light from the mountains.
but no one can give the exact explaination to the sighting of an eagle around three p.m which hovers in the sky for three times before vanishing!!
why is it so?? any ligical explaination?? anyone ?? Asha??
buzzing off
devidas

p.s: priya remove the visual verification stuff from commenting page
it is really irritating!!

Hailstone said...

Word verification has been included to avoid crap comments..

Anonymous said...

you are one with lots of mystries..
take care.....

Anonymous said...

trash button has been provided to delete crap comments

buzzing off
devidas

Sands | കരിങ്കല്ല് said...

Word Verification is to avoid SPAM. I know you meant the same, but as long as you don't use the proper terminology, the arguments wont end. Anyway that's ok. You know about "night train".

It's time for another post.

Chettan

Naveen Kalakat said...

athu sherui ithu nee aayirinno!!!

Hailstone said...

Athe athe. ithu njan thanne aayirunnu.
By the way, who's this??

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Makara Jyothi - people generally speak of Makara Villaku, which is a man made light. But there is a star that appears during this time - Makara Jyothi.

We should not confuse between the two.

Sina said...

Well, atleast for sometime, we have something to get fascinated for the timebeing ... although it is man-made, it wud take sometime for "MAN" to dispel this belief of paranormal happenings..... Nice article and plz do post more ...

- Sri menon

Unknown said...

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………………..

Anonymous said...

whatever it may be, think about the hope of the people who go there every year!!.. It's all for good, beleive in God!.

Anonymous said...

Great Rohin, I agree with you completely!.
You said it right, than anyone...

Anonymous said...

lemem tell ma view point...if Makarajyothi is a hoax..then what is the explanation for eagle flying around the procession...exactly on the same day?pls dont temme people trained them...it is visible to us..flyign aroun in the sky.secondly the three stars that appears...in this century where technology has developed liek anything...why cant non-blivers shoot the so called hoax.give some proof na...

Unknown said...

Hello,

Everyone,

This is Rohin again,its been half an hour,I reached home from Sabrimala,it was a great experience as I was hoping it to be.But the crowd was much much more than anticipated.Sabrimala was buzzing on the Jan 14.I trekked all the way from Erumeli through forest to Pampa and then to Sannidhanam.Then,the in the evening everyone eagerly waiting for Jyothi to be seen,suddenly we saw it,a feeling of joy,satisfaction and could hear lakhs of people chanting Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.I am happy I could experience and see Lord Ayyappa on that divine day.Hope God blesses everyone.

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa

Rohin.

Unknown said...

there is no god in d universe.its simply superstitious.we have to find anything according to science.believers ar really stupidious.every one uses science and technology.even though they dont believe science.this is not a problem of atheism or believism.it is a matter of scientific temper

Unknown said...

there is no god in d universe.its simply superstitious.we have to find anything according to science.believers ar really stupidious.every one uses science and technology.even though they dont believe science.this is not a problem of atheism or believism.it is a matter of scientific temper

Anonymous said...

grrtgtrg

Unknown said...

this is all fake the govt only light a fire on hill top and make people to belive some power exists.this is a cheap way to attract tourists in my view.

Anonymous said...

Makara jyothi still remains a mystery for years... because during that particular day n time there is also a 'garudalvar' n a star which appears in the sky... Both these cannot b seen on any other ordinary days... God exists for people who believe!

Anonymous said...

The star that appears on 14th Jan every years is lord Aiyappan himself giving darshan to the world. How sad he goes unnoticed. Makaravillakku is only a ritual performed by who ever you call it may be, but it is for Lord Aiyappan appearing as a star in the Sky. BTW, he is not that stingy to give darshan in installments and for seconds only. BTW, for those who still searching for GOD, or who is God.. try to understand the word "Thathvamasi" You will get the answer.

SREE said...

makara jyothi, ayappa, gods temples etc; are the best money making institution in the world.Nobody can save the peoples who believes in it.Let them continue.

Truth said...

Proud to be indian and produ to be hindu. Everything said on our vedas and all is true. Makara jyothi star which appears on makara sankranthi is our god. Simple example i will say that in our ramayana we know that there is a bridge between srilanka and india. Fortunately that was discoverd and named as Adams bridge by NASA. we call it as Rama sethu. Though NASA knows that is rama sethu it will not let all the world since it may think that hinduism may popular. NASA may identify that the makara star which appears on the sky is a mystery. I know it will not agree with us since the reason is same. So guys don't think too much about and believe GOD. its true.

Anonymous said...

hailstone is right

Anonymous said...

devil u rock.....u r absolutely correct these pupil never stop dis superstitions

Jith Thomas said...

Albeit the fact that I am reading this article after 3 years, I found it informative. Except the fact that government and media are trying their best to distinguish between Makarajyothi and Makaravilakku. But when it comes to laymen worshipers, they think both are same.

Manish said...

Its pretty disturbing to see people simply accepting hoaxes without even doing any basic background study.... The Kerala Yuktivadi Samajam had proved beyond any doubt that this was a drama..... So much evidence is available........yet!!!!!!!