Makara Sankranti Heartfelt Greetings

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Makara Sankranti is a time of cosmic transition, celebrated across Bharat with devotion and joy. It marks a Sankramanam, a transition that holds profound spiritual and practical significance.

Throughout the year, every month brings a Sankramanam. These transitions are moments of Parvam, which means Kanupu, a time of Sandhi. Sandhi is that period of change, much like twilight, where one phase ends, and another begins. This is a powerful time for Sadhana (spiritual practice), as it symbolizes the journey to Turiya—a state of oneness (Kaivalyam), where dualities such as happiness and sadness dissolve, and the mind attains steady bliss.

Happiness and sadness are cyclical, constantly alternating. The state of Kaivalyam transcends this cycle, allowing one to experience an eternal state of equanimity and peace.

The Importance of Sandhis

In the Vedic tradition, Sandhis are sacred moments that amplify spiritual benefits. Daily rituals like Sandhya Vandana, Pujas, and other observances are centered around these transitional times.

Sandhi is a time when energies blend, making it the ideal moment to perform rituals and practices. Similarly, Sankramanam—the transition of the Sun from one Rashi (zodiac sign) to another—offers spiritual significance. The sky is divided into 12 segments, each represented by a Rashi. These serve as markers of celestial movement, impacting both nature and human life.

Prominent Sankramanas

Among the 12 monthly Sankramanas, two are especially significant:

1. Makara Sankranti

  • The Sun enters Makara Rashi (Capricorn), marking the start of Uttarayana, the Sun's northward journey.

  • This transition leads to longer days and shorter nights, symbolizing rejuvenation and hope. Nature awakens, and life becomes vibrant again.

2. Karkataka Sankranti

  • The Sun enters Karkataka Rashi (Cancer), beginning Dakshinayana, the Sun's southward journey.

  • During this phase, days shorten, nights lengthen, and the time is better suited for introspection, spiritual practices, and Pitru Devata (ancestor) worship.

Of the two, Uttarayana is considered more auspicious due to the opening of divine energies, symbolizing light and progress.

Uttarayana: A Gateway to Divinity

Uttarayana is a time of spiritual and material auspiciousness. It is believed that divine forces are most accessible during this period. This makes it the ideal time for:

  • Punya: Performing virtuous deeds yields greater rewards.

  • Sadhanas: Meditation, chanting, and other spiritual practices are more effective.

  • Resolutions: Initiating new endeavors or making life changes is highly supported during this time.

In the Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah, a symbol of Dharma, chose to leave his body during Uttarayana, signifying its importance. Those who pass away during this time are believed to attain Sadgati (liberation or a better state of existence).

Scriptural Importance

The Vedas and scriptures emphasize the significance of transitional periods. Even times like Purnima (full moon) and Amavasya (new moon) are considered Parva Kalams, as they amplify the spiritual benefits of rituals and virtuous actions.

Essential Rituals for Sankranti

1. Sacred Bathing (Snanam)

  • Bathing in a Teertha (sacred river) is highly recommended, as it purifies both body and mind. Prominent rivers include Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, and others.

If visiting a Teertha is not possible, invoke the divine presence of rivers at home while bathing. Chant:
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गङ्गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति ।  

नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् संनिधिं कुरु ॥  

  • (O Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri, please reside in this water.)

2. Black Sesame (Til)

  • Use black sesame in bathing water, food, or donations. Sesame is believed to aid digestion, especially during the cold season, and holds spiritual significance.

3. Worship of Surya Bhagawan (Sun God)

  • Surya is worshipped as Pratyaksha Devata (the visible deity). Offer Arghyam in a copper vessel with Kumkum, Garika grass, and turmeric. Chant the Sun's names:

    • Om Mitraya Namah: The friend of all

    • Om Ravaye Namah: The one who roars

    • Om Suryaya Namah: The brilliant one

    • Om Bhanave Namah: The bright one

    • Om Khagaya Namah: The one who moves in the sky

    • Om Pushne Namah: The one who nourishes all

    • Om Hiranyagarbhaya Namah: The golden source

    • Om Marichaye Namah: The lord of the dawn

    • Om Adityaya Namah: The son of Aditi

    • Om Savitre Namah: The stimulator

    • Om Arkaya Namah: The one who is fit to be praised

    • Om Bhaskaraya Namah: The enlightener

4. Offerings to Devathas

  • Vishnu: Dhyeyaḥ sadā savitṛ-maṇḍala-madhya-varti nārāyaṇaḥ sarasijāsana-sanniviṣṭaḥ.

  • Shiva: Saura maṇḍala madhyastham saambam samsara bheshajam neelagreevam virupaksham namami shivam avyayam.

  • Devi Lalita: Invoked as Bhanu Mandala Madhyastha.

Cultural Unity in Diversity

Makara Sankranti is celebrated differently across Bharat:

  • Punjab: Lohri

  • Tamil Nadu: Pongal

  • Assam: Bihu

  • Karnataka: Sugi Habba

  • West Bengal: Poush Sankranti

  • Uttar Pradesh & Bihar: Khichdi

  • Odisha: Makara Chaula

  • Jammu & Kashmir: Shishur Sankrant

Each celebration reflects local traditions while maintaining the central theme of nature worship and gratitude.

Gratitude and Daanam

  • Giving Daanam (charity) uplifts those in need and enhances personal virtues.

  • Gift exchanges, including new clothes, strengthen familial bonds.

Go Parva (Cattle Worship)

Cows and cattle, essential for agriculture, are worshipped on Kanuma, the third day of Sankranti. This tradition acknowledges their invaluable contributions and expresses gratitude to the Gopalas (cowherds).

Sun Worship Across the World

The Sun, the most visible and life-giving entity in the cosmos, has been revered as a deity across cultures throughout history. Its influence on life, agriculture, seasons, and well-being makes it a natural and universal symbol of divinity. Surya Bhagawan (the Sun God) is one of the most direct manifestations of the Parabrahma (Supreme Reality), worshipped in various ways across Bharat and the world.

Sun Worship in Bharat

In Bharat, the Sun is considered the Pratyaksha Devata (visible deity). He is revered as the sustainer of life, the remover of darkness, and the ultimate witness (Sakshi) to all actions. The Vedas, Puranas, and Itihasas are replete with references to Surya Bhagawan, who is invoked in different forms:

  1. Vishnu

    • Dhyeyaḥ sadā savitṛ-maṇḍala-madhya-varti nārāyaṇaḥ sarasijāsana-sanniviṣṭaḥ.
      (Meditate on Narayana, seated on a lotus, residing at the center of the Sun’s orb.)

  2. Shiva

    • Saura maṇḍala madhyastham saambam samsara bheshajam neelagreevam virupaksham namami shivam avyayam.
      (I bow to Shiva, who resides in the solar mandala, who is the cure for worldly suffering, the blue-necked one, the eternal and unchanging.)

  3. Devi Lalita

    • Lalita Tripura Sundari is invoked as Bhanu Mandala Madhyastha (She who resides in the center of the Sun’s disc).

The Gayatri Mantra, one of the most sacred Vedic chants, is dedicated to the Sun:
Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah | Tat Savitur Varenyam | Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi | Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat ||
(We meditate on the divine radiance of the Sun, the illuminator of life, who inspires our intellect.)

Sun worship in Bharat also finds its expressions in festivals like Makara Sankranti, Chhath Puja, Ratha Saptami, and Pongal, each celebrating the Sun's life-giving and transformative powers.

Sun Worship Across the World

  1. Egypt

    • The ancient Egyptians worshipped the Sun as Ra, the king of the gods and the creator of life.

    • The Sun was believed to travel across the sky in a celestial boat, symbolizing the cycle of life and death.

  2. Mesopotamia

    • The Babylonians and Sumerians worshipped Shamash, the Sun god associated with justice, truth, and law.

    • Shamash was depicted as seated on a throne, holding the rod and ring of authority.

  3. Greece and Rome

    • The Greeks worshipped Helios, the god who drove the chariot of the Sun across the sky daily.

    • The Romans revered Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun), a prominent deity celebrated during the winter solstice.

  4. Native American Tribes

    • Many Native American cultures worshipped the Sun as the ultimate life force, conducting elaborate ceremonies such as the Sun Dance.

    • The Hopi people honored the Sun during planting and harvest rituals.

  5. China and Japan

    • In Chinese mythology, the Sun was personified as a bird or the eye of a dragon.

    • In Japan, the Sun goddess Amaterasu is one of the most revered deities in Shinto belief, symbolizing light, order, and the imperial lineage.

  6. Persia (Zoroastrianism)

    • The Sun was associated with Mithra, a god of covenant and light. Mithraic traditions influenced many later sun-related rituals in Europe.

  7. Norse Mythology

    • Sol, the Sun goddess, was believed to ride a chariot across the sky, pursued by the wolf Sköll, whose eventual catch would signal the end of the world.

  8. Mesoamerica

    • The Aztecs worshipped Huitzilopochtli, a Sun god requiring human sacrifices to ensure the Sun’s daily journey.

    • The Mayans conducted solar observances aligned with their advanced astronomical calendars.

Prominent Global Celebrations of the Sun

  1. Winter Solstice Festivals

    • Celebrations marking the Sun's return to prominence after the longest night are found across cultures, including Yule (Norse), Dongzhi (China), and Sol Invictus (Rome).

  2. Inti Raymi (Peru)

    • The Inca festival dedicated to Inti, the Sun god, celebrated during the winter solstice to ensure agricultural abundance.

  3. Chhath Puja (India)

    • A festival dedicated to Surya Bhagawan, where devotees offer Arghyam to the rising and setting Sun, praying for health, prosperity, and the well-being of their families.

  4. Makara Sankranti (India)

    • Marks the Sun’s transition into Makara Rashi, symbolizing the Sun’s northward journey (Uttarayana). This day celebrates the Sun as the source of all life and energy.

  5. Ratha Saptami (India)

    • A festival honoring Surya Bhagawan’s chariot, marking his ascent in the sky to nourish and sustain the world.

The reverence for the Sun as a life-giving force transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. Across the world, the Sun has been worshipped as a god of creation, sustenance, justice, and renewal. In Bharat, this worship finds its highest expression in the Vedas, Puranas, and festivals like Makara Sankranti, where Surya Bhagawan is celebrated as the ultimate source of light, life, and energy.

May the divine radiance of Surya Bhagawan bless us with wisdom, strength, and prosperity, guiding us toward the light of spiritual enlightenment.

Final Reflections

Makara Sankranti is more than a festival—it is a celebration of life, nature, and cosmic rhythms. By aligning with these rhythms, we invite health, prosperity, and spiritual growth into our lives. Let us honor this auspicious day with gratitude and devotion.

May Surya Bhagawan bless us all with wisdom, light, and abundance.


Samvad Bharati

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