Makara Sankranti

07-01-09 Every day is Holy for those who utilise it for holy purposes, but these are some days set apart as specially significant and Makara Sankranthi is one such. Sankranthi, is so called because the day takes you from darkness to light; the path of light is open from today. On this day, the Sun starts on His northward journey by entering the Makara sign of zodiac. Change for good is Sankranthi. It reveals not only the beauty of the Divine. This day exhorts to glorify the occasion by new aspirations. It calls for the installation of God in your hearts, so that you may achieve victory in the game of life.

In a year, Sun passes through the twelve house of the zodiac in twelve months. The Sun's entry into each house of the zodiac is described as a Sankramana. 'Kranthi' means 'change'. Sankranthi means a secured change. The Sun's entry into each house of the zodiac is not considered equally holy. What, then is the reason for giving special importance and sacredness to 'Makara Sankramana' the entry of the sun into 'Makara' (Capricorn)? Besides the physical qualities associated with the sun's movement into each house of the zodiac, there is an inner spiritual significance related to the 'Makara Sankramana'. The sun's takes its entry into Capricorn between the months of Margasira and Pushyam. In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna has declared, "Among the months, I am the month of Margasira". The Margasira month is the crown among the twelve month. What is the reason? Among the planets of the solar system, the sun is the presiding deity. Without the sun, the life process in the world will cease. During the month of Margasirsha, the world experiences the abundance of the harvested food grains, which sustain and confer joy on the people.

Every farmer’s granary is filled with grain. The weather during the season is cool and pleasant. It is an appropriate time for enjoying peaceful rest. It is the time when man is free from the burdens of daily toil and can devote his time to enjoy with his children and his cattle.

The Uttarayana punyakala or the Makara Sankranthi is a holy occasion to pray to the Lord. As the Vedas instruct us to pray : Asatho maa sath Gamaya (lead me from unreal to real); Tamaso maa jyothi Gamaya (lead me from darkness into the Light); Murthyor maa Amritham Gamaya(Lead me from death to Immortality). Use this day to address this prayer, sincerely to your Ishta devatha (chosen deity) or to your Aaraadhya-devatha (the form of the Lord you like most). Festivals connected with the moon and the sun are celebrated in our country, in order to drive into the minds of men the importance of mind control,(chandra or moon is the deity of the mind) and of clarifying the intelligence (Surya or the sun is the deity of intelligence). When the sun moves northward that is God-ward, the Intelligence too must pursue Godward. That is the significance of Uttarayana.

In the Dwapara Yuga the cowherds and cowherdesses used to experience boundless joy in the presence of Krishna, forgetting themselves in their devotion to the Lord. They demonstrated the inner significance of the Sankranthi celebrations. They placed three balls of cow dung in front of their house, fixing three pumpkin flowers on their top and went round singing and dancing in adoration of Krishna. What is the significance of these three bolls of cow dung? People are inclined to despise cow dung. But in the eyes of the gopikas they were sacred. Among the three cow dung balls the first cow dung ball represented Krishna, who was worshipped as Gopala (the protector of the cows). Krishna was adored as the bestower of joy and health. The second cow dung ball was placed as a symbol of Govardhana hill which Krishna lifted and thereby demonstrated his divinity. The third cow dung ball symbolised the Cow, the giver of milk. Gopala, Govardhana and Govu (cow) were worshipped in his manner.

Also read