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Astrological Significance
Makar means the Capricorn
and Sankranti is transition. There is a sankranti every month
(on the last day of every month of the Hindu calendar) 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 sankrantis as well. Each of these sankrantis 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. |
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Religious Significance
1.
The Puranas say that on this day Surya visits
the house of his son Shani (Saturn), who is the swami of Makar
Rashi. These father & son do not ordinarily get along nicely, but in spite
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.
2.
From Uttarayana starts the ‘day’ of Devatas (Gods),
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.
3.
It was on this day when Lord Vishnu ended the ever increasing
terrorism of the Asuras (demons) by finishing them off and burying their heads
under the Mandar Parvat (Mount Mandar). So this occasion also represents the
end of negativities and beginning of an era of righteous living. |
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4.
The great savior of his ancestors, King Bhagirath, did great Tapasya (meditation,
followed by austerity) to bring Goddess Ganga (river, that washes off all sins)
down on the earth for the redemption of 60,000 sons of King Sagar, who were
burnt to ashes by the great sage Kapil at his own ashram (monastery), for their
misdoings. The 60,000 brothers and alleging the great hermit as the thief, stealing
the horse of the Ashwamedha Yajna (but this was actually done by the king of
the demi gods in heaven, Indra, who stole it and hid the same at the ashram
of the sage), near the present day GangaSagar. After the severe meditation of
Bhagirath was over, the Gods granted him his prayer, and Goddess Ganga descended
on the earth. Her vigorous force was absorbed by Lord Shiva, as Ganga descends
on the "jata" (huge hair locks, heaped and piled up on the head by
the sages) of Lord Shiva, and trickles down on the earth. It was on this day
that Bhagirath finally did tarpan (offering holy water for the soul of the dead)
with the Ganges water for his unfortunate ancestors and thereby liberated them
from the curse. After visiting the Paataala (the world underground) for the
redemption of the curse of Bhagirath’s ancestors, Goddess Ganga finally
merged in the Sagar. Even today a very big GangaSagar Mela is organized every
year on this day at the confluence of River Ganges and the Bay of Bengal. Lakhs
take dip in the water and do tarpan for their ancestors.
We salute such a great devotee &
benefactor of his ancestors. One who can express such gratitude to his ancestors,
work with tireless resolve to redeem the pride, pledges & resolves of his
forefathers, alone possess a personality, which the history reveals to be a
true benefactor of the world too. A person who has severed his own roots gets
soon rooted out in the flow of time. Moral of the story is to see to it that
the roots of the tree of 'our' life are not only intact but nourished well,
thereafter alone the tree blooms & flourishes. |
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There is another spiritually symbolic
aspect of this story. The 60,000 cursed son of Maharaja Sagar represent our
thoughts, who become dull & dead-like because of uncultured & blind
ambition. Redemption of such people is only by the waters of Ganga, brought
down ‘to’ & later ‘from’ the Himalayas with great
tapasya (meditation and austerity). This represents dedicated hard work to get
the redeeming Brahmna-Vidyaa (dawning of "Brahmna"- the Supreme Energy-
inside the mind and senses, and thus knowing & perceiving Him), which alone
enlightens, enthuses & enlivens the life of anyone.
5.
Another well-known reference of this day came when the great grandsire of Mahabharata
fame, Bheeshma, declared his intent to leave his mortal coil on this day. He
had the boon of Ichchha-Mrityu (death at one's own wish) from his father, so
he kept lying on the bed of arrows, struck by Arjuna, till this day and then
left his mortal coil on Makar Sankranti day. It is believed that the person,
who dies during the period of Uttaraayana, becomes free from transmigration.
So this day was seen as a certainty for good luck day to start your journey
or endeavors to the higher realms beyond.
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