Know All About Makar Sankranti 2022

Makar Sankranti is the main festival celebrated across India. It is called Lohri in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Uttarayan festival in Gujarat. 

Further, let's know the importance of Makar Sankranti, the reason behind the name Makar Sankranti, Sankranti Dip and more.

Makar Sankranti Date and Time

Makar Sankranti Date - January 14th, 2022

Makar Sankranti Time - 

·       Punya Kaal Muhurta: - 02:43 PM to 05:45 PM

·       Maha Punya Kaal Muhurta: - 02:43 PM to 04:28 PM

Why Uttarayan is called Makar Sankranti?

The class in which the Sun's orbit changes, is called 'transition' or 'solstice'. Hence it is called Makar Sankranti due to its entry into Capricorn. This change of Sun from one zodiac sign to another is considered as a change from darkness to brightness. This is why Makar Sankranti is celebrated.

What is the duration of days and nights during Makar Sankranti / Uttarayan?

During Makar Sankranti days are longer but the duration of night reduces because sun moves towards North from South 

Also, Earth's axis is not straight at a 90-degree angle, instead it is tilted a bit. The region which faces the sun experiences day and the region away from the sun experiences night.

During Uttarayan Sun stays for 6 months in sun's northern course and during Dakshinayana Sun stays for 6 months in sun's southern course.

Uttarayan festival and Shrimad Bhagavad Gita

In Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Krishna Himself said-

agnir jyotir ahah shuklah shan-masa uttarayanam
tatra prayata gachchhanti brahma brahma-vido janah (Gita 8-24)

'Those who know the Supreme Brahman attain that Supreme by passing away from the world during the influence of the fiery god, in the light, at an auspicious moment of the day, during the fortnight of the waxing moon, or during the six months when the sun travels in the north.'

So, because of this glory, Pitamah Bhishma chose death on this day after waiting for six months. 

Importance of Makar Sankranti

Significance of Prayag in Makar Sankranti 

It is said that on the day of Makar-Sankranti festival, in Prayag at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, all the God-Goddess change their form and come to take a dip, hence bathing in Prayag on this festival is attainment of thousands of eternal virtues together! 

-Take a dip in Prayag at home on Makar Sankranti festival

·       Those who cannot go to Prayag, can wake up before sunrise at home on the day of Makar Sankranti. 

·       Memorize Prayag and feel as if you are bathing in the water of Ganga-Yamuna-Saraswati and numerous other pilgrimages, taking the coolness of cold waves and chant Har har gange ... Arogyam devaya namah, Suryadevaya namah 

Last year on Makar Sankranti 2021, many devotees took the holy dip like that.

How to Meditate on Lord Surya in Uttarayan?

·       After bathing, by facing the East direction and facing the sun rays, sit in a way such that sun rays falls directly on the navel. After chanting Omkar for some time, Chant Gayatri Mantra - 
Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat

·       Then pray to Bhuvan Bhaskar and meditate on him - "Sun rays of Sun God are penetrating me ...... I am attaining health ... Sun rays are falling on my head ... I am attaining brilliance ... Sun rays are falling on my heart ... My heart like Lord Surya .. is getting strengthened ... like the Sun .. in my intellect .. there is light of wisdom ... even after working all day long, Lord Surya does not get tired ...He don't even take a day leave…salutations to Lord Bhuvan Bhaskar. Om Peace… Om happiness .... Om Bliss… 

·       Next, slow down the pace of your breath for a while and pray to Suryadev with a calm mind. 

·       Then close your eyes and feel that in the middle of the aura of Lord Surya, Shri vigrah (idol) of my Gurudev is placed.
Gururbrahma gururvishnuh
gururdevo maheshwarah |
Guruhsakshat parabrahma
tasmai shrigurave namah ||

·       Worship your Guru in the form of Sun with calm and healthy mind. 

·       Then add sesame, red flowers, jaggery, sandalwood, Kumkum in a copper vessel and while staring the water in the vessel, chant “Aditya Hridaya Stotra” and offer that water to the Sun. (Make sure that the water given in the offering does not fall on your feet.)

·        After offering water to the Sun, pray that, O Sun God! Just as you are moving towards the north, so should the best journey of spirituality, vitality, karma and karma yoga happen in our life. '

Dedicate this Makar Sankranti to the protection of birds - Prernamurti Bharti Shriji

Makar Sankranti Festival (Uttarayan Parva)-Kite Festival... It is human being who takes care of others and keeps others happy. In today's time, the principle was explained by Satprerna, giving an advice to the forgotten mass about the ruthless killing of numerous birds by flying kites, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. "Is it our festival to kill innocent creatures? No.. The festival can also be celebrated by protecting them. You cut each other's kites and celebrate by shouting hurray...! Hurray..! but it slits the throats of thousands of birds. To whom will these poor creatures complain? Can they file any case? No!

You covered the earth, they didn't complain ... you dominated the water, they did not object... They did not say anything when you filled your godown with grain..  At least leave the sky for them. Give them the right to live. So what if it is a bird.. Take care of them too. 

So, we dedicate this Uttarayan to protection..

We dedicate this Uttarayan to life.. 

We dedicate this Uttarayan to eternal celebrations. 

We dedicate this Uttarayan to the God residing in little birds. 

We dedicate this Uttarayan to awaken love and harmony within themselves... 

Therefore, during Uttarayan do not fly kites, but celebrate it with poor-deprived by distributing the sesame laddus, give the grains to the birds and feed them small laddus of sesame seeds.

Every year, this festival is celebrated by "Satprerna" in a new form, sometimes distribution of food-grains among the poor, sometimes distribution of sesame seeds etc. Last year it was celebrated by protecting the life of birds. To do so, everyone was given a message of compassion by Prernamurti Bharti Shriji, following which many people did not fly the kite and countless birds were saved. So, lets resolve to protect the birds this year too by not flying kites. Some Makar Sankranti quotes and videos can be used to create awareness among the masses to save the lives of little creatures.

Harmless Makar Sankranti

Til Gud Benefits on Makar Sankranti Festival

In Maharashtra Makar Sankranti wishes pours in by saying 'Til gud ghya god god bola'.

'Speak sweet by eating sesame and jaggery, as well as dissolve sweetness in each other's heart and make the heart rejoice without attachment and anger. '

·       Sesame cures body cold and jaggery cures weakness and gives strength and health. 

·       Donating sesame gives virtue and by bathing with water mixed with sesame, the skin becomes shiny and soft. 

Having any question about Makar Sankranti Festival? Ask us in the comment section below.

Happy Makar Sankranti 2022!!