Makar Sankranti 2021: India is known as the land of agriculture and diversity where people celebrate festivals with delight. Makar Sankranti is one of the harvest festivals of India which is celebrated in different states with their own customs and religious practices. Makar Sankranti has its own religious and historical significance. Read further and make yourself aware about the right way of worship.
Makar Sankranti Festival Meaning
The word “Makar” refers to Capricorn, according to Hindu mythology the day when the sun enters into Makar Raashi or in Zodiac sign from Sagittarius to Capricorn is known as Makar Sankranti (Sun’s zodiac change is called Sankranti). This change occurs once. The importance of the Sun moving from Sagittarius to Capricorn is more important because at this time the Sun becomes Uttarayan from Dakshinayan. Uttarayan is considered the day of the Gods. Even at the time of Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah waited for the sun to be in Uttarayan to embrace his death.
Makar Sankranti Reflects the Change
This day is dedicated to Sun Deity. As the day has a seasonal observance and marks the beginning of harvest season and end of winter season. From this day onwards due to shifting of sun, days start getting longer and nights become shorter.
Makar Sankranti Date in 2021
Every year the Makar Sankranti is celebrated on a specific date and that is 14th January. According to Hindu solar calendar, this day is observed each year in the month of Magh which is corresponding to month of January as per Georgian calendar.
Every year people celebrate Lohri on 13 January and Makar Sankranti on 14 January the next day. Makar Sankranti has its own religious, seasonal and geographical significance. On this day, the sun begins its journey towards the north, marking the beginning of a six month auspicious period. Therefore, this festival is also called Uttarayan.
Significance of Makar Sankranti
- The period of Uttarayan is considered as the end of night of God and beginning of day and brings the sign of positivity.
- Being a harvest festival, farmers celebrate the huge harvest of winter crops and seek blessings from Surya deity.
Makar Sankranti Festival Story
Makar Sankranti is named after the deity Sankranti. As per the legends, It is believed that on this day Sankranti killed a demon called Sankarasur.
A Festival With Different Names
Makar Sankranti is celebrated all over the country under different names and traditions. In Punjab and Haryana it is known as Maghi, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Read in Hindi: मकर संक्रांति
Mythological Belief Is Contrary to Scriptures
According to astronomy, on this day hindu devotees take a dip in holy rivers, eat sesame, jaggery and popcorns, fly kites, worship the sun, do charity and consider these practices auspicious. They think that taking a bath in the river will wash away all their sins. While doing so is contrary to the knowledge of our holy book Srimad Bhagwat Gita. All these ways of worship are against the holy scriptures.
It is stated in Gita ji chapter 16 verse 23 , 24 that abandoning the ordinances of the scriptures is arbitrary behaviour (way of worship), and it is said to be useless. By doing this, humans can not be free from sin.
Makar Sankranti 2021: Which Practice Can Clear off Sins?
All types of arbitrary worship practiced in the Indian Hindu community are based on folk tales created by Pandits / Brahmins. By following such wrong methods of worship the person only gets sufferings in the end.
Supreme God Kabir Saheb ji says;
Jab hi Satnam hriday dharo, Bhayo paap ko naash |
Jaise chingari agni ki, Padi puraney ghaans ||
Meaning: – For example, there is a heap of a crore tonnes of hay. If a lit matchstick is thrown in it, then it will turn the entire hay into ash. And then, when the wind will blow, it will also blow away that ash. The task is over. Likewise, even if there are sins of crores of births, the recitation of my true mantra will reduce them to ashes. Do not commit any mistake in future; your welfare will be done.
Only a True Guru (Satguru) who gives the True Naam (Satnaam) of God can help one get rid of the previous sins by giving true and correct worship in accordance with our Holy Scriptures.
Makar Sankranti 2021: The Tradition of Charity on This Day Is Right or Wrong?
Donations in form of food , clothes etc. or any other meritorious deeds is considered very fruitful to be done on this day.
Kabir Saheb ji has said in His sacred speech :
Kabir, Guru bin maala ferte, Guru bin dete daan |
Guru bin dono nishfal hain, Chahe poochchho ved puraan ||
Meaning: – Without acquiring a Guru, if someone recites any mantra and gives donation; both of these are futile.
Incarnation of Supreme God Kabir, Saint Rampal ji Maharaj has explained it very well in His Satsang (Discourse) that we should not give anything in form of charity against the Orders of Guru. If someone is needy then we can feed him in front but not give him money or something that can be misused like unstitched/unused cloths, etc that can be sold. For instance, a man hearing a false story of a beggar, in which he was telling that his children are suffering without treatment and asking for money, out of emotions, someone gave him Rs 100.
Earlier that beggar used to drink 250ml of alcohol. That day he drank half a bottle of alcohol and at home, beat his wife. His wife along with the children committed suicide. That charity done by the man became the cause of the destruction of that family. The real help would be taking the beggar’s child to the doctor instead of giving money.
People Believe That One Who Dies on This Day Gets Salvation
According to Hindu belief, it is considered that one who dies on the day of Makar Sankranti goes to heaven directly and never takes birth again. whereas, without doing True-worship if someone dies goes to hell/heaven and thereafter in 84 lakh life cycles.
In Holy Gita, it is mentioned in Adhyay 8 Shlok 16, that upto Brahmlok (Mahaswarg / the Great Heaven) all the loks are destructible. Saint Rampal ji has explained in His discourses that Heaven is like a Hotel. After doing sadhna on this Earth, one goes to a heaven-like hotel for some time. Then after spending one’s virtuous earnings, one has to again suffer in hell and in the bodies of the 84 lakh life forms. Take a pause and think, when even Heaven and Great Heaven will not remain, then where will the worshipper find refuge?
There Is a Place Above Heaven and That Is Immortal
The sufferings of birth-death, heaven-hell and 84 lakh births of various living beings will continue until one finds the True Guru who will give the real Naam Diksha (initiation) i.e. Satnaam and Saarnaam of the Supreme God Kavir Dev or Kabir Saheb which has the power to destroy all the sins.
True Guru can only tell the way to reach the eternal heaven i.e. Satlok or Sachkhand. Satlok is the eternal place of immortal God Kabir. He is free from death and suffering. Attaining the state of supreme peace, happiness, and immortality, is possible after reaching Satlok. For that we need to take refuge in Saint Rampal Ji. He is the True Spiritual Guru at present imparting the real bhakti of Supreme God.
The post Makar Sankranti 2021: The Only Thing Which Is Propitious to Do Is True Worship appeared first on S A NEWS.
This post first appeared on Mahavir Jayanti 2020: Date, Holiday, When Is Mahavir Jayanti, please read the originial post: here
