‘Makara Jyothi’ is man-lit,TDB says

The Kerala High Court had recently asked TDB (which administers the hill temple) to clarify if Makara Jyothi is man lit or a celestial phenomenon,in the wake of the Pullumedu stampede in which 102 devotees died on January 14 while returning after witnessing the jyothi.

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

He said the Makara Jyothi issue was not the main topic of discussion,but others like whether the temple should be opened for prayers throughout the year to avoid huge rush in the two-month pilgrimage season,starting mid-November.

The unanimous opinion was that keeping the temple open all through the year was against the unique traditions and customs of the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa,he said.

The authorities concerned were also against a proposal to broaden the “holy 18 steps” leading to the shrine since doing so was against principles of temple design. They were of the opinion that the steps have some divinity attached to it and making any alteration would not be right.

Nair said the views of the meeting would be discussed and finalised by the Board,based on which a report would be submitted to the high court.

The court had also sought TDB’s opinion on whether the temple could be opened throughout the year to reduce the rush.

According to custom,the shrine is opened only five days every month of the Malayalam calendar,besides the November-January ‘mandala pooja’ and ‘makaravilakku’ pilgrimage season.

Temple high priest Kandararu Rajivaru and Vasuthu Expert Kannipayur Narayanan Namboothri were among those present at the meeting.