Makara Jyothi is man-made, says temple board president

Seeking to downplay the debate over the Makara Jyothi of the Sabarimala temple, Travancore Devaswom Board said it was known to most believers that it was a man lit-fire, but there was a Hindu belief behind it.

"It is known to everybody that Makara Jyothi is a fire lit up by men at Ponnabalamedu and TDB also recognises this',TDB president M Rajagoplan Nair said.

However, he said the board was not going to run a campaign to propogate that it was man-made as there was a belief behind it into which the temple board did not intend interfere , he said.

The Kerala High Court had recently asked TDB to clarify whether the Makarajyothi is man lit light or celestial phenonemon, in the wake of the Pullumedu stampede in which 102 devotees died on Janauary 14 while returning after witnessing the jyothi.

Nair was briefing media after the discussions the board had with high priests, members of the Travancore and Pandalam Royal Houses and authorities on temple rituals and architecture.

The TDB president said it was not the Makara Jothi question which was the main topic of discussion of the meeting, but other issues like whether the temple should be opened for throughout the year for deovtees to offer prayers and avoid huge rush during the two-month pilgrimage season starting from mid-November.

The unaimous opnion of the meeting was that keeping the temple open all through the year as it was against the unique traditions and customs of the Hill shrine of lord Ayyappa.

The authorities concerned were also against the proposal to broaden the " holy 18 steps" leading to the shrine since altering it was against principles of temple design.

It was pointed out by authorities concerned that the "18steps" itself has divinity attached to it and making any alteration would not be right.

The views that emerged out of the meeting would be discussed and finalised by the board, and, based on it, a report would be submitted the high court.

The high court had also sought the opinion of the TDB if the temple could be opened throughout the year to reduce the rush. According the custom followed by the forest temple, the shrine opened only five days every month of Malayalam calendar besides the November- January 'mandala pooja' and 'makaravilakku' pilgrimage season.

Temple high priest Kandararu Rajivaru and Vasthu expert Kannipayur Narayanan Namboothri were among those present atthe meeting.