Makara Sankranti / Sankramana significance









Sri Surya Deva with his saarati / charioteer Aruna





Makara Sankranti: Let us first understand what is the meaning of the words 'makara sankranti'.

'Makara' is one among the 'rashis' and 'sankranti or sankramana' means movement of Sri Surya Deva (Sun Demi God). Means Sri Surya Deva will move from 'dhanur rashi' to 'makara rashi'. Here Sankranti / sankramana means moving from one place to another. Sankramana = san + kramana. Here kramana means movement.





When Makara Sankranti should be celebrated



If Sun doesn't moves from Dhanur rashi to Makara rashi during the sunrise time , we shouldn't be considering this day as the festival day of Makara Sankranti, but the next day festival should be celebrated.





The day Sri Surya Deva moves from 'dhanur rashi' to 'makara rashi', on that day if this movement does not happen at the time of 'Sunrise' according to Bharatiya Panchanga, we cannot consider it as a festival day.



According to Bharatiya samskruti, if something happens at the time of sunrise, only then we should consider it as more auspicious occasion and a right occasion to celebrate.



During the sunrise time, if Sri Surya Deva moves towards Makara Rashi, then on that day everyone should celebrate 'Makara Sankranti or Makara Sankramana' (probably we need to consider the next day - please consult your local pandit to know about this).





Apart from India, Makara Sankranti is also celebrated in some other countries.





Nepal celebrates it as Maghe Sankranti, in January, as per their calendar, which marks the beginning of the month of Magha and end of the Pausha month. The traditional Thai New Year Day Songkran, is derived from Sankranti bhasha. Thingyan in Myanmar, Pi Ma Lao in Laos and Moha Songkran in Cambodia are also different variants of Sankranti in their respective cultures.



Basically on Sankranti day, what happens here is that as the Earth orbits the Sun, the hemisphere that was facing away from the Sun, experiencing winter, will now face towards the Sun, marking the start of summer. Basically on Sankranti day, what happens here is that as the Earth orbits the Sun, the hemisphere that was facing away from the Sun, experiencing winter, will now face towards the Sun, marking the start of summer.





For farmers, it is a crucial time, as it marks the end of the long winter, and beginning of the summer, and a new harvest season. As per Hindu belief, the Dakshinayana (Southern journey) of the Sun ends here, and it’s Uttarayana (Northern journey) towards the Tropic of Cancer, begins. This could be the reason why unlike other Hindu festivals, Sankranti usually falls on a fixed date, January 14 or 15. One more factor is that Sankranti marks the end of a rather inauspicious phase (sometimes in mid-December), and the start of an auspicious time. Bheeshma in the Mahabharat was believed to have passed away on Uttarayan, and therefore it has a religious significance too. While it is celebrated as Makar Sankranti in most Indian states, including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, there are slight regional variations in other states. Tamilians celebrate it as Thai Pongal, while Gujaratis observe it as Uttarayana. In Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana it is celebrated as Maghi, while for the Assamese it is Bhogali Bihu. In Kashmir this is called as Shishur Saenkraat, and Karnataka observes it as Makara Sankramana.





Other significances on Makara Sankranti day



1. Today is the day when Sri Bhisma concludes that he should give away his life after the battle of Sri Kurukhshetra (this he does as he gets confidence that Hastinapura is in the right hands, that with Sri Yudhistira). 1. Today is the day when Sri Bhisma concludes that he should give away his life after the battle of Sri Kurukhshetra (this he does as he gets confidence that Hastinapura is in the right hands, that with Sri Yudhistira).



2. Sankranti is the day when Sri Surya Deva moves from 'dakshinayana' (south) to 'uttarayana' (north). 2. Sankranti is the day when Sri Surya Deva moves from 'dakshinayana' (south) to 'uttarayana' (north).



3. Sankranti is that day, when the day of the Devatagan (demigods) starts. From dakshinayana to uttarayana (six months) it is night for Devatagan and similarly from uttarayana to dakshinayana it is day time for Devatagan according to their graha / planet(s). It is exactly like our earth in which evening 6pm to morning 6am is raatri (night) and from 6am to 6pm it is divasa (day). 3. Sankranti is that day, when the day of the Devatagan (demigods) starts. From dakshinayana to uttarayana (six months) it is night for Devatagan and similarly from uttarayana to dakshinayana it is day time for Devatagan according to their graha / planet(s). It is exactly like our earth in which evening 6pm to morning 6am is raatri (night) and from 6am to 6pm it is divasa (day).



4. With this, it is today that both day and night will be of same and exact time. That is, earth's day time is equal to earth's night time. Day time = Night time. 4. With this, it is today that both day and night will be of same and exact time. That is, earth's day time is equal to earth's night time. Day time = Night time.





Also here a very important point to be noted is that, since aadi time (unknown time), we had already known about the movement of Sri Surya Deva (Demi God Sun).



Bharata has always provided greatest scientists to the world since the aadi / unknown time. We have been moving in vimaana / aeroplane since ages. We were knowing the different grahas / planets since ages. Bharata has always provided greatest scientists to the world since the aadi / unknown time. We have been moving in vimaana / aeroplane since ages. We were knowing the different grahas / planets since ages.



ONLY RECENTLY THE EUROPEANS FOUND ABOUT THESE THINGS.



JUST THINK WHO IS FORWARD IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY???





We should have great respect and pride about our country, culture and Sanatana Dharma.





Shubha Makara Sankranti / Sankramana to all





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Sri Gurubhyo namaha

Sri Krishnaaya namaha