650. Sun Appears to Change His Path on this Day.....!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/sun-appears-to-change-his-path-on-this-day

We all know that this earth plane wobble 23.4 degrees on its annual spinning process. When we stand on the earth looking at the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, we can observe that from today on wards the sun appears to move from South to North; that is to say that sun moves from Tropic of Capricorn (Makara Rashi) to Tropic of Cancer (Karkata Rashi). This movement is called Uttarayana (Northward movement). It is also called Makara Sankarmana, in Sanskrit it refers to the transition of sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn. When the sun moves from Tropic of Cancer (Karkata Rashi) to Tropic of Capricorn (Makara Rashi). That movement is called Dakshinayana (Southward movement). It is also called Karka Sankarmana, and is when sun transit from Gemini to Cancer. Uttarayana was known as Devayana and Dakshinayana as Pitriyana. It is believed that Devas wake up after six months of slumber.

Sankranthi has two words in it Sam (good) and kranthi (revolution). In South India and particularly in Tamil Nadu it is a four day festival. On the last day of the month of Dhanur (Sagittarius) that is yesterday it was Bhogi, celebrated. This day is for discarding the old into flames and taking up new. Well this was observed since the time of kings and royals and at that time there were no poor to distribute and if there were poor at the time people were so generous that they would donate new things. But now instead of putting old things into fire we can at least donated them.

Second day that is today is Surya Pongal, the most important. On this day Sun God is worshipped along with His consorts, Chaya and Sanjana. Sweet dish prepared with rice, moong dhal, milk jiggery and ghee. Sugarcane, sweet potatoes and Hyacinth bean are cooked with pinch of salt. A mix of fried White Thill (sesame seeds), groundnut and fried gram, jiggery and dry coconut pieces and are offered to Sun and relished.

The third day is Mattu Pongal, celebrated to glorify and honor the cattle that help farmers the entire year. On this day, the cattle are given bath and decorated with vermilion and garlands and fed stupendously. 

The last day is Kaanu Pongal. It is that part of the festival when families gather on the riverbanks and have a sumptuous meal. It is also time to meet the relatives and offer them presents and receive presents.

Wish all my fellow seekers “A VERY HAPPY MAKARA SANKRANTI”