What is the Connection between Makara Jyothi and Makara Sankranti?
On January 07, 2025Sabarimala, located 4,000 feet above sea level in the Western Ghats, is steeped in mythology and spirituality. The renowned temple here is the abode of the bachelor god, Lord Ayyappa. Millions of Ayyappa devotees observe rigorous penance for 41 days before making the arduous trek to the Sabarimala temple each year.
Makara Jyothi is an important festival at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala. It is celebrated on the evening of the first day of Malayalam month Makaram (Jan-Feb). It is at this time, called Makara Sankrama Sandhya, that the Dakshinayana Punyakalam comes to an end, and the Uttarayana Punyakalam begins. It coincides with the Sun’s transit in the sign of Capricorn (Makara).
Dakshinayana is the nighttime of the gods, while Uttarayana is the dawn in heaven. The latter marks the Sun’s journey northward.
Lord Ayyappa is the son of Lord Shiva and the Mohini avatar of Lord Vishnu. He was born to kill the demoness, Mahishi, who was causing a lot of problems. Legend has it that the king of Pandalam, who was childless, found an infant in the forest and raised him as his foster son. The king called him Manikandan, and he would become revered later as Ayyappa.
After killing Mahishi, Ayyappa merged with the Dharma Sastha Murti at the Sabarimala Temple on the day of the Makara Jyothi festival. Makaravilakku is the light or Jyothi that shines on the hilltop at Ponnambalamedu three times on Makara Sankranti after the evening Pooja. Makara Jyothi is the star that devotees see in the sky during the Pooja.
According to another legend, Parashurama, an avatar of Vishnu, first lit the Makaravilakku after installing the idol or Murti of Ayyappa. When the murti installation was happening. Lord Indra and Sage Narada Maharishi lit Makaravilakku at Ponnambalamedu.
People also believe that the tribals who were tormented by the demoness Mahishi first lit the light to celebrate her death at Ayyappa’s hands.
On Makaravilakku day, there is Deeparadhana in the evening, which is the most important Pooja on that day. During the ritual, devotees can have darshan of Ayyappa wearing the Thiruvabharanam or gold ornaments, brought from the Pandalam Palace.
An eagle can be seen hovering above the temple before the evening deeparadhana on the day of Makaravilakku. Then, the Makara star (Sirius) also appears in the sky, and it’s called Makara Jyothi. Following this, one can see the Makaravilakku – a light that shines three times on the distant hill at Ponnambalamedu.
Makaravilakku
Makaravilakku occurs during Makara Sankranti (Sn’s transit into Capricorn), which falls on January 14th or 15th. After the Pooja in the evening, a bright light appears in Ponnambalamedu, a mountain 8 km east of the temple’s Sannidhanam. It supposedly represents the meeting between Lord Rama and Ayyappa at Sabarimala.
The Makaravilakku tradition existed earlier, right from the time when tribals inhabited the forest. The tribals dwelling in Ponnambalamedu and nearby areas used to light the fire in the ancient days. Even after they left, the ritual continued. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) began to perform the ritual after the tribals’ departure. The board also built a square cement pedestal to facilitate the ritual in the 1990s.
Makara Jyothi
Makara Jyothi appears in the sky on the first day of Makaram (Jan-Feb), which is usually on January 14th or 15th. It corresponds with the auspicious Makara Sankranti. At sunset, after the Deeparadhana ceremony witnessed by millions of devotees, the star appears in the southern sky near the temple’s sanctum.
The ornaments of Ayyappa are also taken ceremoniously to the temple on the first day of Makaram. People believe that Makara Jyothi or the star symbolizes Ayyappa, and they worship it.
Makaravilakku
After the Makara Jyothi appears, a bright light can be seen in the mountains across the temple. It supposedly originates from the realm of sages and holy beings and is considered as offering Arti to Ayyappa. This is called Makaravilakku.
However, Makaravilakku is not a supernatural event. It is the handiwork of humans. Its origin is Ponnambala Medu, around four kilometers from the Ayyappa temple. The light comes from a fire lit by tribals living in the area. They use ghee and camphor to light the fire and offer Arti to the idol three times. It coincides with Makara Jyothi when the Sirius star appears in the sky.
Lord Ayyappa is the son of Lord Shiva and the Mohini avatar of Lord Vishnu. He was born to kill the demoness, Mahishi, who was causing a lot of problems. Legend has it that the king of Pandalam, who was childless, found an infant in the forest and raised him as his foster son. The king called him Manikandan, and he would become revered later as Ayyappa.
After killing Mahishi, Ayyappa merged with the Dharma Sastha Murti at the Sabarimala Temple on the day of the Makara Jyothi festival. Makaravilakku is the light or Jyothi that shines on the hilltop at Ponnambalamedu three times on Makara Sankranti after the evening Pooja. Makara Jyothi is the star that devotees see in the sky during the Pooja.
According to another legend, Parashurama, an avatar of Vishnu, first lit the Makaravilakku after installing the idol or Murti of Ayyappa. When the murti installation was happening. Lord Indra and Sage Narada Maharishi lit Makaravilakku at Ponnambalamedu.
People also believe that the tribals who were tormented by the demoness Mahishi first lit the light to celebrate her death at Ayyappa’s hands.
On Makaravilakku day, there is Deeparadhana in the evening, which is the most important Pooja on that day. During the ritual, devotees can have darshan of Ayyappa wearing the Thiruvabharanam or gold ornaments, brought from the Pandalam Palace.
An eagle can be seen hovering above the temple before the evening deeparadhana on the day of Makaravilakku. Then, the Makara star (Sirius) also appears in the sky, and it’s called Makara Jyothi. Following this, one can see the Makaravilakku – a light that shines three times on the distant hill at Ponnambalamedu.
Makaravilakku
Makaravilakku occurs during Makara Sankranti (Sn’s transit into Capricorn), which falls on January 14th or 15th. After the Pooja in the evening, a bright light appears in Ponnambalamedu, a mountain 8 km east of the temple’s Sannidhanam. It supposedly represents the meeting between Lord Rama and Ayyappa at Sabarimala.
The Makaravilakku tradition existed earlier, right from the time when tribals inhabited the forest. The tribals dwelling in Ponnambalamedu and nearby areas used to light the fire in the ancient days. Even after they left, the ritual continued. The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) began to perform the ritual after the tribals’ departure. The board also built a square cement pedestal to facilitate the ritual in the 1990s.
Makara Jyothi
Makara Jyothi appears in the sky on the first day of Makaram (Jan-Feb), which is usually on January 14th or 15th. It corresponds with the auspicious Makara Sankranti. At sunset, after the Deeparadhana ceremony witnessed by millions of devotees, the star appears in the southern sky near the temple’s sanctum.
The ornaments of Ayyappa are also taken ceremoniously to the temple on the first day of Makaram. People believe that Makara Jyothi or the star symbolizes Ayyappa, and they worship it.
Makaravilakku
After the Makara Jyothi appears, a bright light can be seen in the mountains across the temple. It supposedly originates from the realm of sages and holy beings and is considered as offering Arti to Ayyappa. This is called Makaravilakku.
However, Makaravilakku is not a supernatural event. It is the handiwork of humans. Its origin is Ponnambala Medu, around four kilometers from the Ayyappa temple. The light comes from a fire lit by tribals living in the area. They use ghee and camphor to light the fire and offer Arti to the idol three times. It coincides with Makara Jyothi when the Sirius star appears in the sky.