The day of Sankranti is dedicated to Lord Surya (i.e. Sun God) and this day is considered significant to worship Surya Deva. Although there are twelve Sankranti in Hindu calendar but Makar Sankranti is the most significant among all Sankrantis due to its religious significance. Due to the popularity of Makara Sankranti, most of the time people call it just Sankranti.
Makara Sankranti Origin | Significance
Makara Sankranti is a significant day as the Sun enters Makara Rashi (i.e. Capricorn zodiac) as per Vedic astrology. In Hinduism the Sun is worshipped and known as Surya Deva who nourishes all living beings on the Earth. Although all twelve days in Hindu calendar when Surya Deva transits a Rashi are considered significant for worshipping Surya Deva, taking religious bath in holy water bodies and performing charity activities but the day when Surya Deva starts moving into Makara Rashi is considered the most auspicious day of the year to worship Lord Surya.
Many people wrongly assume and observe Makara Sankranti as the day of Uttarayana. Makara Sankranti and Uttarayana are two separate astronomical as well as religious events. However thousands years before (precisely in year 285 C.E. as per Lahiri Ayanamsha) the day of Makar Sankranti was coinciding with the day of Uttarayana. The Uttarayana is combination of Uttara and Ayana which mean north and six months duration respectively. Hence, by the definition of Uttarayana, it occurs on the day of Winter Solstice.
Makara Sankranti is significant due to the transit of Surya in Makara Rashi and Uttarayana is significant due to Surya beginning Northern journey (i.e. start moving into Northern hemisphere) after completing His six months Southern journey. In modern India, people have stopped observing Winter Solstice for any religious activities however Bhishma Pitamah chose Uttarayana i.e. Winter Solstice to leave his body even the day of Uttarayana was not coinciding with Makara Sankranti during Mahabharata era. Hence the day of Winter Solstice is also religiously significant to worship Surya Deva as per Vedic astrology.
History of Makara Sankranti
Sankranti is considered a Deity. According to a legend Sankranti killed a
demon named Sankarasur. The day followed by Makara Sankranti is called
Kinkrant or Karidin. On this day, the female deity (devi) slayed the demon
Kinkarasur.
Methods of celebration of Makara Sankranti
1. Benefit of highest merit acquired by a Holy dip on the day of Makara Sankranti
The time from sunrise to sunset on Makara-Sankrantiis auspicious. A Holy dip
during this period carries special significance. Those who take a Holy dip
in the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krushna and Kaveri at the Holy places
situated on the banks of these rivers acquire the highest merit.
2. Makara Sankranti Offering
Importance of making an offering during an auspicious period: The period from
Makara Sankranti to Rathsaptami is an auspicious period. Any donation and
meritorious deeds in this period prove more fruitful.
Substances offered on Makara Sankranti
An offering of new vessels, clothing, food, sesame seeds, pot of sesame seeds,
jaggery, a cow, a horse, gold or land should be made depending on the capability.
On this day, married women also make some offering. They take things from
unmarried girls and give them sesame seeds and jaggery in return. Married
women organise a ceremony of haldi-kumkum (applying vermilion and turmeric to the forehead) and gift articles to other married women.
Importance of haldi-kumkum ceremony performed by married women on
Makara Sankranti :Performing haldi-kumkum (Turmeric powder and vermilion)
ceremony is in a way invoking the waves of dormant Adi-shakti in the
Universe to get activated. This helps in creating impression of Sagun
(Materialised) devotion on the mind of an individual and enhances his bhav (Spiritual emotion) unto God.
Steps in haldi-kumkum ceremony
1. Applying haldi-kumkum : Applying haldi-kumkum to a suvasini (A married
woman whose husband is alive) activates the dormant Principle of Sri Durgadevi
in her and bestows well-being to the appliersuvasini.
2. Applying perfume : Fragrant particles emitting from the perfume please the
Principle of the Deity and bestow well-being to the applier suvasini within a
shorter period.
3. Sprinkling rose-water : The fragrant waves emitted by the rose-water
activate the waves of the Deity and purifies the environment, and the suvasini who sprinkles it gets greater benefit of the activated Sagun Principle of the Deity.
4.Offering a gift : A gift offered is always supported by the end of the
pallu of the sari. Offering a gift to another suvasini amounts to surrendering to the divinity in her, through sacrifice of body, mind and wealth. Giving support of the end of pallu of the sari means leaving attachment to even the clothes worn on the body and thus learning to overcome body awareness. Since the period of
sankranti is favourable for sadhana, a gift given during this period pleases the
Deities quickly and they bestow the donor suvasini with the desired fruit.
Small mud pots
The festival of Sankranti requires small mud pots called sugad (in the Marathi
language). Vermilion and turmeric powder is applied to the pots and a thread is
tied to them. They are filled with carrots, jujube fruits, sugarcane pieces, pods,
cotton, chickpeas, sesame seeds with jaggery, vermilion, turmeric etc. Five
pots are placed on a wooden seat, rangoli is drawn around the seat and
worshipped. Of these, three are gifted to married women, one is offered to the
tulsi plant and one is retained.
Importance of sesame seeds
Using sesame seeds eliminates sins : As per Hindu scriptures, on this
day those who apply sesame seed oil and utane to the body, bathe
in water mixed with sesame seeds, drink water mixed with sesame
seeds, perform a sacrificial fire, make an offering of sesame seeds and
make similar use of sesame seeds, are liberated of all sins.
Importance according to Ayurveda: Since Sankranti falls in winter,
consuming sesame seeds is beneficial.
Importance according to Spirituality:
1. Since sesame seeds have a greater ability to absorb and emit sattva
frequencies, consuming tilgul helps improve spiritual practice.
Distributing tilgul to one another results in an exchange of the sattva
component.
2. Using sesame seeds in shraddha prevents demons from bringing
obstacles during the rite.
Festival Celebrated In Karnataka
In Karnataka, the festival is marked by visiting one’s friends and relatives to
exchange greetings, and by the preparation of a dish called Ellu(made with
sesame seeds, coconuts, sugar blocks, etc). A common custom found
across Karnataka is the exchange of sugarcane pieces and Ellu with one’s
neighbors,friends and relatives. In Karnataka, Pongal is known as ‘Sankranti’,
and cows and bullocks are gaily decorated and fed ‘Pongal’- a sweet
preparation of rice. Special prayers are offered. In the evening, the cattle are
led out in procession to the beat of drums and music.In the night a bonfire is lit
and the animals are made to jump over the fire.
Makara Sankranti is marked by men, women and children
wearing colorful clothing; visiting near and dear ones; and exchanging pieces of
sugarcane, a mixture of fried til, molasses, pieces of dry coconut, peanuts and
fried gram. On this auspicious day, people in Karnataka distribute Yellu and bella (Sesame seeds and Jaggery) and greet with the words ” “Ellu bella thindu, Olle Maathu Aadu” (Eat sesame seeds and speak only good). The significance of
this exchange is that sweetness should prevail in all the dealings.
- Sankranti in Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, Sankranti is known as Pongal and it is celebrated for four days. - Sankranti in Gujarat
In Gujarat, Sankranti is celebrated as Uttarayana. - Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh Sankranti is known as Pedda Panduga and similar to Tamil Nadu it is celebrated for four days. - Sankranti in Assam
In Assam, Sankranti is known as Magh Bihu. - Sankranti in Punjab
In Punjab, Sankranti is celebrated as Lohri and is observed one day before of Makara Sankranti.
However, in all regions Sankranti is observed as the day of thanksgiving to Surya Deva, the Lord of the light and energy who nourishes all living beings on the Earth.
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