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January 19, 2008
This Evening FEATURE ARTICLES
General News
Editorial SIGNIFICANCE OF MAKARA SANKRANTI
Voice of the Reader
Abracadabra City-based Maharshi Man-dara, Scientific Astrology and Vastu Consultant, a Ph.D. holder in Astrology and Vastu from AIFAS (All
India Federation of Astrologers Society), Delhi, speaks to Star of Mysore on the importance and significance of Makara Sankranti.
Hocus Pocus Mandara is the daughter of novelist S. Mangala Satyan and Originator of Kannada crosswords S. Satyanarayana. Excerpts
Feature Articles
In Brief SOM: What is the significance of Makara Sankranti?
News Sparklers
Sports News Maharshi Mandara (MM): According to the solar calendar, a month is determined based on the movement of Sun from one rashi
(zodiac sign) to another. There are twelve such signs. This movement is called Sankramana. Sankranti means Samyak Kranti.
Editor's Bottomline
Sun's entry into Makara rashi (Capricorn) is called Makara Sankranti. Makara means “crocodile”. Kranti means “change”. Makara
Todays Toons represents “the materialistic world”. So Makara Sankranti means “moving away from the clutches of the materialistic world.”

Archives SOM: Among the twelve Sankramanas, why is Makara Sankranti so important?
Today
MM: When Sun enters Mesha and Tula, the Sankranti is called Vishuva. When Sun enters Makara, it is called Saumyan. When Sun enters Kataka, it is called Yamayan. When Sun enters
24 Jan, Thursday
dual signs Mithuna, Kanya, Dhanu, Meena the Sankranti is called Shadad Sheetyanan. When Sun enters fixed signs Vrishabha, Simha, Vrischika, Kumbha the Sankranti is called
23 Jan, Wednesday Vishnupadha. Among these twelve Sankramanas, only Makara Sankramana has historical, scientific, spiritual and astrological significance. Hence it is important.
22 Jan, Tuesday
21 Jan, Monday SOM: Why is Uttarayana auspicious?
20 Jan, Sunday
19 Jan, Saturday MM: Sun's movement towards northern hemisphere is called Uttarayana and the movement towards southern hemisphere is called Dakshinayana. During Uttarayana, days are longer and in
Dakshinayana, nights are longer. A year on earth is equal to one day of celestial. Celestial's day commences from Uttarayana and their night commences from Dakshinayana. It means
Makara Sankranti is the beginning of the day of Gods. So Uttarayana is an auspicious part of the year. Marriages, Gruha Praveshas, Upanayanam and such other auspicious occasions can
take place only during Uttarayana. The supreme hero of Mahabharat, Bhishma who had the boon of Icchamrityu from his father left for his heavenly abode on this Sankranti day. On January
14, Sun moves from Dhanu to Makara. Uttarayana commences from that day.
Website Info
June 1,03-May
SOM: What is the historical significance of this festival?
31,2004
Hits: 4,718,143
MM: On this day, Lord Vishnu ended the reign of Asuras and buried their heads under the Mandara Parvat. Maharaja Bhagirat did tapasya to bring River Ganga down to the earth for
Visitors: 405,891 redemption of sixty thousand sons of Maharaja Sagara who were burnt to ashes at Kapila Muni ashram. Finally, on this Sankranti day, Bhagirat did tarpan with Ganga water for his unfortunate
Hits/ Day: 12,891 ancestors. Arjuna started Dhanurvidya (Archery) on this Sankranti day.
Countries: 146
SOM: Enunciate the astrological significance of the festival?

MM: Sun enters the Zodiac sign of Makara, which is the house of his son, Shani. Makara rashi symbolizes peace and contentment. Though, according to vedic sciences, Shani and his father
(Sun) are enemies, Sun comes to his son's house for a period of one month. This shows the special relationship of father and son and son's responsibility to carry forward his father's dream.

SOM: Explain the scientific significance of the festival?

MM: Earth revolves around the Sun and also rotates on its own axis and has a periodical movement. To complete one elliptic orbit round the Sun, Earth takes one year (365.2422 days).
Earth's equatorial path comprises 360 degrees. These 360 degrees are divided into 12 rashis (zodiac). Earth moves round the Sun in an elliptic path. Every six months, it swings from one end
to another. Those two points of transition of Earth are celebrated among Hindu community as Sankramana. Sun's northern transit is called Makara Sankranti and southern transit is called
Karka Sankranti. On January 14 (sometimes on January 15), Sun moves from Dhanu (Sagittarius) to Makara (Capricorn).

SOM: What are the special poojas and prayers offered on this day? And the significance attached to this day?

MM: In Nirayana calendar, this is the only festival which is related to Sun's movement. So the main deity is Sun. One should get up early in the morning, have bath and Kolam (dotted rangoli),

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which symbolises relationship, is drawn in front of the house. Water and flowers are offered to Sun accompanied by the chanting of Gayatri mantra. Rice is boiled in milk outdoors in earthen
pots tied with turmeric plants around its neck. This is offered to Sun with other offerings like sugarcane, coconut, banana etc.

SOM: What is the significance of cattle and all domestic animals decorated in villages and made to jump or walk on the fire?

MM: This is a festival of “thanksgiving” to bulls which help the farmers to plough their agricultural fields. As part of the festival, cattle are given a wash and their horns painted with bright
colours, multi-colored beads, tinkling bells, and flower garlands are tied around their and taken in a procession accompanied by band and music. Arathi is performed to them. At night, a
bonfire is lit and the cattle is made to jump over the fire, called 'Kichchu'.. to ward off the evil.

SOM: What are the special delicacies prepared in Karnataka and other parts?

MM: Huggi (sweet pongal) is a special food in Sankranti which is prepared with moong dal (green gram), rice, milk and jaggery. In winter season, human skin often becomes dry because of
the humidity in the air is substantially low. Sodium along with potassium equalises alkaline factors in the blood and regulates the water balance within the body which is important in
maintaining the skin in good health. Rheumatic afflictions are also common in this season. Moong dal in huggi contains carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamin c, calcium, magnesium,
phosphorous, potassium and sodium. Potassium and sodium are rich in moong dal.

SOM: What does giving mixture of til, jaggery, sugarcane, yelachihannu and dhanyas (Yellu beeruvudu) etc. Imply?

MM: On Sankranti day, Yellu Bella (sesame + jaggery) also has an important significance. Yellu represents Shani and Bella represents Surya. This is a symbolic bonding of father and son.
Yellu brimming with fragrant and delicious oil stands for friendship and comradeship and Bella for the sweetness of speech and behaviour. All tropical crops are also distributed with yellu
bella.

SOM: Why do people pour yellu on children (Yellu yereyuvudu)?

MM: Yellu has oil which is helpful to skin. Bella contains magnesium which strengthens the nervous system and potassium balances the alkaline factors. Iron is helpful to increase the red
blood corpuscles. Elaachi is rich in moisture and potassium which is helpful to skin. Hence people put this mixture on children as a gesture of blessing.

SOM: Why was Sankranti celebrated on Jan. 15 this year?

MM: Some decades ago Makara Sakranti was observed on January 12 and later on 13. Now it is on 14 or 15 depending on the movement of the Sun from South to North. Some decades later
it may be observed on different days. This is year it was on the 15th and in 2095, it will be on 16th . In 2150, it will be on the 17th.

— SP

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