The Silent Truth Behind a Costly Illusion

Every year millions of people come and visit Sabarimala to get rejuvenated with the blessings of lord Ayyappa. The recent Stampede occurred yesterday at Pulmede, I think should make a bench mark to the illusions happening at sabarimala.

I assume most of the pilgrims are unaware of what is happening at the "Makara Jyothi" effect happening every year right after the "Deeparadhana" at Sabarimala on Jan 14th every year. Typically every year this day the Lords Ornaments ("Thiruvabharanam") are brought from the Pandalam palace to the Sabarimala temple on this day and are wared to the Lords Idol. After the "Deeparadhana", the magic light of "Makara Jyothi " Lights up and down three times concurrently at a hill slightly far from Sabarimala. Hundreds of thousands of people gather at Sabarimala, Pulmede and Pampa to watch this magical light every year on this day. This had been happening for years from now and the original starting is not known (at-least for me).

Now the situation has come like the "Makara Jyothi" is attracting people in huge numbers and the facilities has become insufficient to manage the pilgrims gathering in and around Sabarimala on the same day. The number of pilgrims visiting Sabarimala is rising at a rate of 30% every year according to some resources. Accidents are happening every year in different forms. Major accidents happened at Sabarimala four times during Makara Jyothi killing a large number of people. This could again repeat if the pilgrims are not properly guided and informed about the actual belief behind "Makara Jyothi".

 People mostly believe the light glowing at "Ponnambalamedu" after the "Deeparadhana" at Sabarimala is as a result of the Lord Ayyappa blessing the Hundreds of people watching the Makara Jyothi. But from some reading and hear abouts, what I could understand was, the "Makara Jyothi" is beleived to be light up by the "Devas" leaded by "Devendra" as a celebration to the victory over the "Mahishi" (The bad guy of the story), it can also be considered as victory of Good over bad. Traditionally the "Makara Jyothi" is believed to be light up by the local inhabitants of "Ponnambalamedu" every year as a part of their celebrations in a local temple at "Ponnambalamedu".But now the entire things have changed and the lighting up is done totally in secret and is done by a joint operation by the state Police, Devaswom and Electricity Departments of Kerala. People are not allowed to go to Ponnambalamedu at any costs, another reason is that the path to Ponnambalamedu is consisting of dense forests and there are chances of being attacked by wild animals(and even plants). This silent truth is entirely kept hidden up by the media and the government itself, which has been costing hundreds of lives in different accidents relating to the Makara Jyothi event. I don't totally deny efforts by at-least some people to bring out the truth. But this is what I believe to be the actual truth behind the Makara Jyothi event.

I think by reading this at-least some people could realize the truth and avoid an accident.

I don't intent to tamper the belief in Lord Ayyapan, I am a believer also and quite surprised to see the "SreeKrishna Parunthu" (Lord Krishna's Eagle) coming at all major ceremonies relating to Sabarimala. ( At Pandalam, Erumely and at Sabarimala, Even the Eagle is seen following the procession of Thiruvabharanam upto Sabarimala ) This is a wonder and makes Lord Ayyapan higher. The temple inside the dense tropical evergreen forest in South India and the rituals to go to Sabarimala is so good to get spiritual happiness and would make a believer happy in all forms. You can find more details about Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala from other sources like Wikipedia and other websites of Pandalam, Sabarimala, Devaswom Board.