11. Significance of Makar Sankranti

- By M. M. Divakaran

Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious day for the Hindus, and is celebrated it in almost all parts in India with great devotion. The time when the sun changes direction from one constellation (of the zodiac) to another is known as Sankranti. The transition of the Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere (Uttarayana i.e Makara Raasi) is known as Makar sankranti. From this day begins the six-month long Uttarayana, considered very auspicious day that falls on 14th January every year. Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the Hindu Calendar month of Magha and it is also known as Makara, or Uttarayana, Sankranti, or Lohri in the North, and as Pongal in Telugu and Tamil in the South.

In Kerala Sabarimala Makaravilakku festival is celebrated on this day. Sri Dharma Sasta (Lord Ayyappa) had his Avataaram (birth) on Saturday, Maargazi Panchami in Uttara Nakshatram. On the day of Makara Sankranti after the Deeparathana in the evening an unique flame appears three times on the horizon in the north-eastern side of the Ponnambalamedu an adjacent mountain top called Kantamala. This is called Makara Jyoti. At that time an unique Star glitters in the sky as well. This is known as Makara Nakshatra or Makara Star.

There is a Sankranti every month when the sun passes from one zodiac to the next zodiac. Accordingly there are twelve signs of the zodiac, and thus there are twelve sankrantis as well. Each of these sankranti has its own relative importance but two of these are more important - the Mesh (Aries) Sankranti and the most important on Makar (Capricorn) Sankranti. At Sankranti time great significance is attached to Ganga Snaan (bathing in river Ganga) and Surya Puja (worshipping the Sun God).

The grandfather Bhishma of Mahabharata chose to die during this Uttarayana period. Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjun. With his boon to choose the time of his death, he waited on a bed of arrows to depart from this world only during this period. It is believed that those who die in this Uttarayana period will go to heaven.

According to Hindu mythology the Sun stands for knowledge, spiritual light and wisdom. Makara Shankranti signifies that we should turn away from the darkness to light and begin to joyously let the light within us shine brighter and brighter. We should gradually begin to grow in purity, wisdom, and knowledge, even as the sun does from this day.

On this day as per the legends Sun visits the house of his son Shani, who is the devotee of Makara Raasi. This father and son do not get in good sound, but inspite of any difference between each other the Sun makes it a point to meet each other on this day. In fact, father himself comes to his son's house for a month. This day symbolised the significance of special relationship of Sun and Shani. It was on this day when Lord Vishnu ended the ever increasing terrorism of the Asuras by finishing them off and burying their heads under the Mandara Parvat so that this auspicious occasion represents the end of negativities and beginning of a good era of righteous and living happily.

Bhagirath did great Tapasya to bring Ganga down on the earth for the redemption of 60,000 sons of Sagar, who were burnt to ashes at the Kapil Muni's Ashram. It was on this day that Bhagirath finally did tarpan with the Ganga water for his ancestors and thereby liberated them from the curse. After visiting the Patala for the redemption of the curse of Bhagirath's ancestors Ganga finally merged in the Sagar. Every year on this day a grand Ganga Sagar Mela is organised at the confluence of River Ganges and the Bay of Bengal. Lakhs of devotee take snaan and do tarpan for their ancestors.

From Makar Sankranti onwards when the sun is travelling northwards, too many auspicious things start happening. Climate and atmosphere improve. It is believed that the Children born during this period are naturally progressive, well mannered and pleasant. Also it is believed that the people who expire during the period of Utharaayan their departed soul will go to Heaven.
==========================================================