Makar
Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India.
According to the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Cancer
to the Tropic of Capricorn or from Dakshinayana to Uttarayana, in the month of
Poush in mid-January, it commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and
cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India. The movement of the earth
from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into
the Capricorn zodiac known as Makar Makar Sankranti is of great
significance to a devote Hindu and is one of the most important dates in the
Hindu Calendar. Lord Surya (Sun God) is worshiped on this day. Every living and
non-living being merges with the Brahman and Sun is the Pratyaksha-Brahman
or the Brahman that can be seen. Makar Sankranti also heralds the arrival
of spring.The importance of Sun to earth and to the living beings was
understood by Hindus from the very beginning. And the importance of it can be
found in the Gayatri Mantra chanted to Sun (Surya) daily.
Makar Sankranti signals the end of winter and the onset of spring
throughout the northern hemisphere. The period is referred to as Uttarayan
Punyakalam and is considered auspicious. For the next six months, the days are
longer and warmer. Legend has it that the Devas wake up after a six-month long
slumber during this period.
There is also a symbolic meaning to Makara Sankranti. ‘Makar’
meanscrocodile. Sankranti means ‘to cross into or change.’ The ‘Makara’ or
crocodile represents the materialistic world and ‘Sankranti’ gives an
opportunity to get away from the clutches of the crocodile or the materialistic
world.
The six month long Uttarayana begins on the Makar Sankrant day.
From this day, the harshness of winter subsidizes and the days get longer.
Symbolically, the Sun slowly removes darkness and ushers in the light of
knowledge. Uttarayana is also the daytime of the Devas and therefore auspicious
activities takes place during this period.
Religious Significance:
There are also numerous legends and myths which add to the
importance of Makara Sankranti.
One of the most important myths is the death of Bhishma Pitamaha
in the Mahabharata. Bhishma chose the Uttarayan period. (Bhisma had got a
boon from his father that he will only die when he wishes.) It is believed
that people who die during Uttarayana merges with the Brahman, thus ending the
cycle of rebirth.
Legend also has it that Lord Vishnu buried Asuras on this day
beneath theMandara Mountain. It signifies the end of evil and the dawn of
righteousness.
From Uttarayana starts the ‘day’ of Devatas, while
dakshinayana is said to be the ‘night’ of devatas, so most of the auspicious
things are done during this time. Uttarayana is also called as Devayana, and
the next half is called Pitrayana.
Another legend is that King Bhageeratha brought Ganges down
into Patala on Makara Sankranti day. This was to get salvation to his ancestors
who were cursed by Sage Kapila and turned into ashes. On this day millions of
people take bath in the Ganges. Makara Sankranti is also an
important bathing date during Kumbh Mela and
Magh Mela.
There is another
spiritually symbolic aspect of this story. The 60,000 cursed son of Maharaj
Sagar represent our thoughts, who become
dull & dead-like because of uncultured & blind ambition. Redemption of
such people is only by the waters of Gangaji, brought down ‘to’ & later
‘from’ the Himalayas with
great tapasya. This represents dedicated hard work to get the redeeming
Brahma-Vidya, which alone enlightens, enthuses & enlivens the life of
anyone.
The Puranas say that on this day Sun visits the house of his son
Shani, who is the swami of Makar Rashi. These father & son do not
ordinarily get along nicely, but inspite of any difference between each other
Lord Sun makes it a point to meet each other on this day. Father in fact
himself comes to his son’s house, for a month. This day symbolized the
importance of special relationship of father & son. It is the son who has
the responsibility to carry forward his fathers dream and the continuity of the
family. The co-relation of cosmic events with individual life and values
is one of the most astounding traits of Hindu Masters. Once this co-relation is
brought about thereafter these cosmic events become instrumental to remind us
the best which we cherish & value. Of all the cosmic bodies Sun is the most
glorious & important, thus every sun-centric cosmic event became very
important spiritual, religious & cultural events. On Makar Sankranti day
the Sun begins its ascendancy and journey into the Northern Hemisphere, and
thus it signifies an event wherein the Gods seem to remind their children that
'Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya'. May you go higher & higher - to more & more
Light and never to darkness.
Makar
means Capricorn and Sankranti is transition. There is a sankranti every month
when the sun passes from one sign of the zodiac to the next. There are twelve
signs of the zodiac, and thus there are twelve sankranti's as well. Each of
these sankranti's has its own relative importance but two of these are more
important - the Mesh (Aries) Sankranti and the most important, the Makar
(Capricorn) Sankranti. Transition of the Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn,
during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere is known as Makar
Sankranti. From this day begins the six-month long Uttarayana, considered very
auspicious for attaining higher worlds hereafter. While the traditional Indian
Calendar is basically based on lunar positions, but sankranti is a solar event,
so while dates of all festivals keep changing, the english calendar date of
Makar Sankranti is always same, 14th January. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in
the Hindu Calendar month of Magha. There is another significance of this day,
after this day the days start becoming longer & warmer, and thus the chill
of winter in on decline.
Throughout India Makar Sankrati is in a way
associated with harvest. So people pray for a good harvest on this day. Cows -
which is an integral part of agriculture – is bathed and worshipped. Another
important aspect is ‘Daan’ or Charity. Charity does not merely confirm to money
but a person donates what he/she is able to like food, Moong Dal, rice, ghee,
Til etc.
There is slight variation in the festivities in
different states
Makar
Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of
an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is said as the 'holy phase of
transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the
Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious
and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Hindu family, this day onwards.
Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared
to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season
and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.
All over the
country, Makar Sankranti is observed with great fanfare. However, it is
celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country.
In the states of northern and western India, the festival is celebrated as the
Sankranti day with special zeal and fervor. The importance of this day has been
signified in the ancient epics like Mahabharata also. So, apart from
socio-geographical importance, this day also holds a historical and religious
significance. As it is the festival of Sun God and he is regarded as the symbol
divinity and wisdom, the festival also holds an eternal meaning to it. Makar Sankranti is celebrated throughout India in different names and in
South India it is an
important harvest festival.
In 2013, Makar
Sankranti will be celebrated on 14 January 2013.