KOCHI: The ongoing debate about the significance of Makaravilakku reminds us of an old question often put forth by rationalists. ''If God is everywhere, why go to temple, church or mosque?''. A counter argument, "If air is everywhere, why do you switch on the fan?", can be raised as a reply. God is universal, but he is worshiped in different styles by different groups in different regions. In order to feel and make their devotion comfortable for them, they discover and create rituals. That is how many of the rituals have evolved over time.
As a proud secular Indian, I respect all religions and their rituals. In rituals, all religions, including Christianity and Islam, use their own poetic, symbolic expressions.
I believe that Makaravilakku is a poetic and devotional expression. It is not right to call the symbolic expressions scientifically wrong, hoax or fraud. Makarajyothi is the celestial star while Makaravilakku is the symbolic lighting (deeparadhana) at Ponnambalamedu.
In all religions, they do have a belief that those who have left us will come as stars. The historic person called Ayyappa merged into puranic deity Sastha around 950 years ago (Malayalam Era ~ 280).
Makarajyothi is symbolising that and Makaravilakku is the deeparadhana that is lit at Ponnambalamedu. The deeparadhana at Ponnambalamedu had been a tribal custom. Later, when the KSEB took over the land there was an unwritten condition that the ritual would continue as such. That is why every year the officials make all arrangements to facilitate the smooth conduct of this ritual.
Former Devaswom Minister G.Sudhakaran had a very balanced view on this. "Makarajyoti is like seeing moon in the Ramadan month and all spiritual diversities should be respected," he had said. As per the records available from British Govt (1812, Ward Conner, Memoir of the Survey of Travancore Cochin States; page no 136, para 4), two centuries ago, Sabarimala had ten thousands of pilgrims from the remotest corners of India when there was no steam engine, bus or train. It has been such an important pilgrim centre for centuries. The truth about Makaravilakku has been clarified by the Sabarimala Thantri himself. But still the controversy lingers as some sections want it be so.The tragedy is the loss of 102 lives and our focus should be on how to avoid it.
Statistics say, "More deaths happen in road accidents, in terrorist attacks, starvation etc". So should we oppose roads and stop traffic, rather than focusing on how to improve the road safety?
(The author is the grandson of the thantri of Thazhamon Madom, the traditional thantris of the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala)