Wishes
You and Your Family
Happy Makara Sankranti
The Sun enters the
Makara raasi (the zodiac sign of Capricorn - the goat), on Sankranti day,
signifying the onset of Uttarayana Punyakalam.
The
following has been translated from an article in Sadachara Vybhavam of the
great Vaishnava devotee Sripad Madhwacharya.
Today is
"Makara Sankranti" -- which is celebrated when the Sun begins the
northward journey, marking the beginning of the "uttaraayaNa
puNyakaalam". Sun enters the sign of "Makara", (Capricorn) from
Cancer at this time. (This is also called equinox, when the day and nights are
exactly the same). Starting this day, the duration of day starts to increase
until "dakshiNaayanam" comes. Makara Sankranti signifies two things.
One is the changing path of Sun and other is the beginning of "Uttarayana
Punyakaala" Makara literally means "Capricorn" and sankranti
means "change" or 'sankramaNa' literally means 'crossing'. On this
day, it is said that Sun passes from one Zodiac sign to another. A sankranti or
sankramaNa marks the beginning of every solar month in the Vedic calendrical
system when Sun passes from one sign to the other, it's the cusp of the months
as astro-wallas call. But, being solar based the change of January 14th or 15th
of every year is considered more sacred than any other month, as it is the
beginning of Uttarayana Punyakaala.
Lord Surya on His dazzling chariot that has
thousands of spokes and magnificent wheels, and driven by seven horses (seven
colours of the spectrum) begins His journey northward into the Makara Rasi,
filling our lives with light and getting rid of the darkness. This light
not only fills our material life and helps our plants grow at seeding time, but
also gets rid of our "internal" darkness, showing the path of self
realisation - moksha.
On this
day, devotees prepare a dish made of green grams, rice and jaggery (sarkkarai
pongal) - representing Lord Narayana, Laxmi and Their Divine love. The festival
reminds us that we need to establish that Divine Love within ourselves and give
a direction to this "chanchala buddhi" and fix it our Lord Narayana,
who brings light in our lives.
This
same festival is celebrated as Pongal in the South of India. Harvest is
brought home the new rice is then boiled in milk to make the sweet called
"chakrapongali", the special cuisine of the eve. This harvest
festival is celebrated for 3 days. The delicacy is first offered to Sun God,
the chief deity under worship, that is later distributed to all as prasadam.
The harvest is celebrated as being blessed with
Dhanyalakshmi and a splendid
feast is shared by all after the Ishta Devatha pujas.
Traditionally, this period is considered an auspicious time and the veteran Bhishma of Mahabharata chose to die during this period. Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjuna. 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. Sri Bhishma Pitamaha waited on the bed of arrows till the "uttaraayaNa punyakaalam" has arrived, and then breathed once more, for the last time. It is believed that one escapes the cycle of repeated birth and death, if one gives up one's body on this day. The uttarAyaNa (norther course of the Sun) was traditionally considered more auspicious than the dakshiNAyana (southern course of the Sun). Over the years, this led some to believe that dying during dakshiNAyana, the southern path of the sun, was inauspicious and did not lead to moksha - release - liberation.
This belief is cast aside in the Brahma-Sutras that the time of death is immaterial in the case of the intelligent devotee. In those Sutras 4.2.19-20, it is established that one who has knowledge of the Lord can die during any time; the exaltations of uttarAyaNa are merely to praise meditation on the path to Vaikuntha, which the wise devotees jIva takes upon death. This divine path beginning with light, is presided upon by deities of greater and greater brilliance, with uttarAyaNa being one of them. This marga - path culminates in Vaikuntha, the state of moksha, and shastra says it should be meditated upon daily by the yogi of devotion.
Sesame oil
is used in making sweets and dishes, particularly on this day. It is believed that
sesame seeds are used for purificatory purposed (or as being auspicious -
"tila juhomi sarasaagum sapishhThaam gandhaara mama chitteramanutu
swaaha", "tila krishnaa tila shevataa tila saumyaa
vashaanugaa"...).
So
generally special offerings of til (sesame) rice and corn (first harvest) are
offered and distributed, especially preparations of rice kitcheri with sesame
and corn are a prefered offering to the Lord on this day. In different parts of
India slight variations (gauna - local traditions prevail) but the gereral
observance is much the same. In the South of India they absorb themselves in
the festival of Pongal - new harvest festival.
Some
devotees also have elaborate festivals offering six kinds of sesame preparation
in the service of the Lord on sat-tila-ekadasi.
The wide
range of festivities can better be witnessed by one along the countryside than
in the urban localities. The festivities last the whole of Dhanurmasam, ending
with Sankranti.
Gobbemmalu
– Young girls are seen to put up Gobbemmalu. These are round balls of cow dung
that are decorated with vermilion, turmeric and coloured flowers. These are
placed in the middle of the bright muggus in the front yards of the dwellings
and are worshipped with Navadhanyas (nine types of grains) to welcome the
Lakshmi, the Goddess of abundance and prosperity. Spinsters worship for good
husbands on the occasion. After this, the women folk get gathered to sing and
dance to the accompaniment around these gobbis.
Many a traditional folk form add glory to the
festive scenario. Haridasulu (Madhwas) are seen singing eulogies of the
Almighty and seeking arms from the people in the early hours of the days.
Gangireddu Ata, is another festival where trained oxen dance to the tunes of
the Nagaswaram played by their master is a great attraction - probably not too
many in Auckland. Kommudasarulu & PittalaDora are other folklore that
brighten the days with their healthy humour - we can handle that......I got
some one liners.....
Makar Sankranti is of
great significance to Indian and is one of the most important dates in the
Hindu Calendar. Lord Surya (Sun God) is worshiped on this day. Makar Sankranti
also heralds the arrival of spring.
The importance of Sun to
earth and to the living beings was understood by Indians from the very
beginning. And the importance of it can be found in the Gayatri Mantra chanted
to Sun (Surya).
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.
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.
Kites – kites are
seen soaring high in the sky on the day of Makara Sankranti. This is symbolic
of the existence of mankind, with the kites depicting the human lives and the
manza depicting the eternal bond between us and the divine self. People however
seem to correlate the soaring kites with their high spirits on the eve of
Makara sankranti. Competitions held with kites of all sizes and shapes and the
sharp edged manza draw people on the terraces and in open grounds to witness
the riot of colours - fun for the gurukulis.
In some places they have the focus on the
newly married couples who are presented with special gifts and clothes.
One month
preceding Sankranti is called Dhanurmasam and is also an auspicious period.
People wake up early, complete their morning ablutions and go around the streets
singing devotional songs. Houses are whitewashed and farmers clean their
warehouses. Colourful Rangooli / muggulu are drawn in the front yards of every
house during this month. These artistic floral designs are drawn on the floor
with rice flour or fine powder of limestone. These patterns are decorated with
colors and adorned with marigold placed on cowdung balls. Colourfully dressed
young girls go round them singing songs (gobbi patalu).
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