Makarasankranti
Encyclopedia
Makarasankranti, Makaravillaku is a period that coincides with approximately 13 January/14 January, and is considered important for devotees of Lord Ayyappan.
During the season (late November-early January), Ayyappan devotees are able to visit Sabarimala
every day.
At the end of this period, on Makaravilakku
day (usually January 13 or 14 January), several events take place, in which an eagle
guards the temple and the thiruvabaranam (Lord's jewels) by continually circling it for days on end, even amidst the congestion.
During the night there is not a star in the sky, apart from one star, the Makaranakshatram, which devotees believe is the abode of the gods in heaven awaiting the final ceremony at the Sabarimala
temple. After the Lord's jewels have been placed on the idol, the eagle flies away, the single star in the sky disappears, and an intense white light (Makarajyoti) is seen on the hillside of Sabarimala
in the distance, which devotees believe to be the Lord himself appearing. Thousands each year come to Sabarimala to witness the event.
There were no scientific studies attempting to validate this phenomenon as of yet .
During the season (late November-early January), Ayyappan devotees are able to visit Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
every day.
At the end of this period, on Makaravilakku
Makaravilakku
Makaravilakku is an annual festival held on January 14 in Kerala, India at the shrine of Sabarimala. The festival includes the Thiruvabharanam procession and a congregation at the hill shrine of Sabarimala...
day (usually January 13 or 14 January), several events take place, in which an eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
guards the temple and the thiruvabaranam (Lord's jewels) by continually circling it for days on end, even amidst the congestion.
During the night there is not a star in the sky, apart from one star, the Makaranakshatram, which devotees believe is the abode of the gods in heaven awaiting the final ceremony at the Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
temple. After the Lord's jewels have been placed on the idol, the eagle flies away, the single star in the sky disappears, and an intense white light (Makarajyoti) is seen on the hillside of Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
in the distance, which devotees believe to be the Lord himself appearing. Thousands each year come to Sabarimala to witness the event.
There were no scientific studies attempting to validate this phenomenon as of yet .