STORY OF UTTARAYAN SANKRANTI

Bhishma pitamaha had the boon for iccha Mrityu, means he was not immortal but he could choose the time of death. Sounds so thrilling isn’t it? But it was not so actually.

When Bhishma Pitamaha got pierced with countless arrows by Arjun, he fell from his chariot after a while. The arrows stuck in his body did not allow his body to touch the ground, so Bhishma lay on a bed of arrows. All of you can imagine the sort of pain Bhishma Pitamaha went through lying on the bed of arrow. But he didn’t die cause he would only die when he would feel like leaving this world.

So that boon by his father Shantanu was converted to a bane for Bhishma pitamaha. Of course the person who had the power to choose his death timing would not give up so easily, Bhishma pitamaha took a bit time to figure out what to do next.

In that painful situation he advised Yudhishthir Maharaj, prayed to Shri Krishna, met his mother Ganga. Finally after waiting 58days on the bed of arrow, he decided to take his last breath on the day of Uttarayan.

When Bhishma Pitamaha has chosen this tithi or Uttarayan Sankranti then definitely this tithi has some high significance.

During this day, we all should do some donation as per our capacity. Makar Sankranti, when the Sun moves from Southern hemisphere to Northern hemisphere, is an occasion for giving sesame. Magh month (January-February) is especially commended for sesame donation. Sesame can be given in a pot, covered with white cloth, or it can be given with gold, honey and ghee. Though Til Daan is listed as one of the ten maha daan.

Donation of sesame appears to occupy an important position in giving. Sesame donation is generally commended for its nutritional value, for enhancing looks and for destroying sins. Sesame can be donated regularly, and especially on auspicious dates.

This is the best time to start Sri rudram 3rd anuvaka 11 times daily morning after bath for Scorpio, Leo, Cancer, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces moon signs who will be undergoing tough saturn transits from Jan 17 2023. If you have discontinued mantras, this is a good time to reactivate your japa malas and resume your mantra chanting and start some stotra/ shloka recitation.

Simple prasidha mantras would be that of Shiva with rudraksha mala — “ om namah shivaya”. Those that can be done with Tulsi mala and carefully kept separately from Rudraksha mala for storage would be “om namo bhagavateh Vasudevaya” and “ om namo Narayanaya” for Vishnu. Easiest that doesn’t need any serious meter, focus and excellent for kids would be the amazing mahavishnu mantra “ Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.

One can also start any astakshari, shadakshari, or guided different syllable mantras for any purpose that you want to fulfil. You can also do the simplest Ganesh Mantras with red sandalwood mala or saatvik devi mantras with spatik or lotus seed mala or simply without mala 11 times or 108 if you can learn counting with fingers.

Makar Sankranti, when the Sun moves from Southern hemisphere to Northern hemisphere and it is an occasion for giving daan / donations.

Hem Daan : placing a pot filled with one measure of rice in a clean place. A second pot with half a measure of sesame is kept over this. Yet a third pot containing 1/4th measure of ghee is kept over the second pot. Some gold (one, half or a quarter is dropped in the pot of ghee.

After the ceremonies, the donor should look for his/her image in the pot of ghee, and then give away all the three pots, with the gold etc. to a Brahmin. This daan should be made regularly for enhancement of life-span.

When Sun can end the bitterness with his son Saturn, then we humans should forget differences and bitterness with others and keep being sweet and generous to all. Hence we offer each other sweet today with the hope of sweet relationship ahead.

Bhagirath finally did Tarpan today in the name of his 60thousand uncles after bringing down Ganga on earth. So its very auspicious performing homage and tarpan for ancestors on Makar Sankranti day.