Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti, a particularly auspicious day that happens in the Krishna paksha Magha maas (January), commemorates the sun's entry into the Capricorn or "Makar" sign.
The festival of Makara Sankranti is a fortunate time to thank the Supreme Lord for providing us with all of our needs. Grains, vegetables, milk, and all the other things we need for a happy existence are available to us by His grace only. India celebrates Makara Sankranti under a variety of names, customs, and traditions. People offer praise and prayers to the Lord.
Significance of Makar Sankranti
On this day, Sun god (Suryadeva) sets out on his brilliant chariot, pulled by seven horses representing the seven colours of the spectrum, to travel northward towards the Makara Rasi, where he will bring light and banish darkness into our life. This light dispels our "internal" darkness and illuminates the way to self-realization in addition to illuminating our everyday lives and promoting plant growth during the sowing season.
Past Makar Sankranti events
- Bhishma Dev leaves his body: After the battle at Kurukshetra, when Bhishma Dev was about to depart from this material world, he waited for the sun to enter Uttarayan because that is regarded as an auspicious time. He then left his body on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti while gazing at the lovely face of Lord Krishna in the sacred location of Kurukshetra, also known as Dharmakshetra. Traditional beliefs held that the uttarayana (norther course of the Sun) was more auspicious than the Dakshin Ayana (southern course of the Sun).
- Descent of Mother Ganges: Following the arduous penances carried out by King Bhageerath in an effort to free his ancestors from the curse of Kapila rishi, who had cursed them to travel to the Netherworld after being falsely accused of stealing the sacrificial horse that had actually been stolen by Indra by the sixty thousand sons of King Sagar, this glorious day also marks the descent of Mother Ganges on this earthly planet. After being appeased by their prayers, he declared that the only chance for their deliverance would be if the river Ganges descended from the heavenly planets, came down to the ground, and rose up from the subterranean regions; by being purified by her they would be liberated from the curse. On the day of Makar Sankranti, the most purifying Mother Ganges descended upon the land following King Bhageerath's severe penances. Her descent is still commemorated today during the Ganga Sagar Mela, during which a large number of pilgrims visit the Sagar islands in West Bengal and take a holy bath in the spot where the Ganga meets the ocean.
- Acceptance of Sannyasa by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's acceptance of the Sannyas order of life for the purposes of preaching the path of devotional service and delivering all the fallen conditioned souls in this Kali era was another noteworthy event that happened on this day. In the village of Katwa, He surrendered His Grhastha ashram and accepted Sannyasa from Shri Keshava Bharati, shaving His lovely tresses of hair and donned saffron clothing. It was on this day that He left behind His widowed mother and young wife in Mayapur. There was no need for Him to accept the renounced order of Sannyas because, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one of His opulences is that He is the most renounced; however, upon observing the fault-finding nature of the people and realising that if He would accept the life of a renunciant, then the general populace would be able to show Him the proper respect and refrain from committing offences at His lotus feet, He decided to take Sannyas. After that, He filled the universe with Krishna Bhakti, and it is only because of His boundless mercy that we are allowed to walk the path of devotion today, following His devotees.
Makar Sankranti Celebration: How should it be done?
Therefore, the most sincere method to observe this auspicious day of Makar Sankranti would be to chant the glories of and take shelter under the one for whose protection even Lord Surya looks. whose brilliance he uses to illuminate the entire cosmos.
Who else but Lord Sri Krishna is he?
In this age of Kaliyuga, reciting Lord Sri Krishna's holy names is the most effective approach to seek his protection.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Therefore, it is in everyone's best interest to comprehend and learn the true meaning of these festivals and celebrate them in the proper manner by gathering together to glorify the Supreme Lord and maintain our own contentment.
Celebrate this Makara Sankranti by offering your seva to
Lord Caitanya & Gau-mata and receive the blessings.