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Makar Sankranti
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Meaning
This is a Hindu festival celebrated on the day the sun
enters the zodiac sign (rashi) of Capricorn (Makar) called as Makar sakrant.
To compensate for the gap occurring due to the revolution of the sun, every eighty
years the day of Makar sankrant is postponed by one day. The northward revolution
(uttarayan) of the sun begins on this day.
Significance
The period from the passage of the sun into the zodiac sign
of Cancer (Karka) till the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar sankrant) is called
the southward revolution (dakshinayan). A person who dies during this period
of the southward revolution of the sun has a greater chance of going to the southward
region (hell or Yamalok) than one who dies during the northward revolution.
Sankranti is considered to be a deity. According to Hindu
mythology, the deity Sankranti slayed a demon called Sankarasur on the day of
Makar sankrant. The Hindu religious almanac (panchang) provides detailed information
on the form, age, clothing, direction of movement, etc., of the deity Sankranti
in accordance to the changes occurring as per the time (kal). The day followed
by Makar sankrant is called Kinkrant or Karidin. On this day, the female deity
(devi) slayed the demon Kinkarasur.
Celebration
According to the science of Spirituality, during the period
of the passage of the sun into Capricorn, since sesame seeds (or sesame oil)
have greater ability to absorb sattva frequencies
than any other seeds or their oil, they facilitate smooth spiritual
practice during this period. According to Ayurveda, since Makar sankrant
falls in winter, consumption of sesame seeds is beneficial, as the oil in the
sesame seeds generates body heat, preventing the ill effects of the cold. Hence,
maximum use of sesame seeds is made on Makar sankrant.
Thus, in celebration of Makar sankrant, one should bathe
with water containing sesame (oil or seeds), eat and distribute sweets containing
sesame seeds, such as tilgul (sesame seeds coated with sugar syrup or jaggery),
offer sesame seeds to brahmans (Hindu priests), lighting lamps of sesame oil
in a temple of Lord Shiva, and perform a rite for one's departed ancestors (pitrushraddha)
by making an offering of sesame. The use of sesame in an offering to ancestors
(shraddha) prevents negative energies like demons, etc., from posing obstacles
in the rite.
[Reference: Holy
Festivals, Religious Festivals and Vowed Religious Observances,
compiled by H.
H. Dr. Jayant B. Athavale and Dr. Mrs. Kunda Athavale,
published by the Sanatan.]
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