Uttarayana Punya Kala and Sankranti.

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Dear Folks,

 

The following has been translated from an article in Sadachara Vybhavam. Any

errors in meaning or typo are to be excused and corrected.

 

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 till

" dakshiNaayanam " comes. The word 'sankrAnti' or 'sankramaNa' literally

means 'crossing', and refers to the sun's crossing of the tropic of Cancer

(makara). A sankramaNa marks the beginning of every solar month in the Vedic

calendrical system. This date falls on or around January 14th of every

year.

 

Lord Surya on His dazzling chariot that has thousands of spokes and

magnificent wheels, and driven by seven horses (seven colors 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 moksha.

 

On this day, devotees prepare a dish made of green grams, rice

and jaggery - representing Lord Narayana, Laxmi and the 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.

 

In Mahabharata, 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 life and death, if dies on this day. The uttarAyaNa was traditionally

considered more auspicious than the dakshiNAyana. 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.

This belief is cast aside in the Brahma-Sutras that the time of death is

immaterial in the case of the jnAni. In Sutras 4.2.19-20, it is established

that one who has knowledge of Brahman can die during any time; the

exaltations of uttarAyaNa are merely to praise meditation on the path to

Vaikuntha, which the jnAni's 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 culminates in

Vaikuntha, the state of moksha, and should be meditated upon daily by the

yogi.

 

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 " ...).

 

 

Regards

Sudhir

 

 

 

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