Religious and Mythological Significance of Makar Sankranti

1. According to the Puranas, on this day, the Sun visits the house of his son, Shani, who is the presiding diety of Makar Rashi, and resides there for a month. Even though,according to Mythology, Surya and Shani do not get along, the Sun god still visits his son on this day. Thus, Sankranti symbolizes the special relationship between father and son, and the son’s responsibility to carry forward his father’s dream and the continuity of the family.

2. According to Hindu cosmology, one human year is a single day for the Gods. Uttarayana represents the ‘day’, while Dakshinayana is said to be the ‘night’. Uttarayana is also called as Devayana, and the next half is called Pitrayana. Just as most auspicious activities are carried out during daytime, and especially during sunrise, Uttarayana is considered auspicious, and Makar Sankranti is considered to be the most propitious time to begin any good activities.

3. It was on this day that Lord Vishnu ended the threat of the Asuras by destroying them

and burying their heads under Mandara Parvata. Thus, Makar Sankranti also

represents the end of negativities and beginning of an era of righteous living.

4. The 60,000 sons of King Sagara had been cursed by Maharishi Kapila, whose penance

they had disturbed. Kapila instantly turned the princes into ashes at his Ashram (near

present day Ganga Sagar). To give their souls peace and liberation and to wash away

their sins, Maharshi Bhagiratha performed great penance to bring Ganga to earth.

After much penance, It was on Makar Sankranti that Bhagirath finally received his boon

and was able to do tarpana with Ganges water for unfortunate ancestors, thereby

liberating them from the curse. After visiting Patala to wipe away the curse of Bhagirath’s

ancestors, Ganga finally merged with the sea. Even today a very big Ganga Sagar Mela

is organized every year on this day at the confluence of River Ganges and the Bay of

Bengal. Lakhs take dip in the water and do tarpan for their ancestors.

There is another spiritually symbolic aspect to this story. The 60,000 cursed sons of

Maharaj Sagar represent our thoughts, which are dulled and deadened by uncultured &

blind ambition. Enlightenment can only be achieved through dedicated hard work to

achieve Brahma-Vidya.

5. Probably the most well known reference to Makar Sankranti comes from the

Mahabharata, when Bhishma, declared his intent to leave his mortal coil on this day. He had the boon of Ichha-Mrityu from his father, so he lay on a bed of arrows till this day

and then left his mortal coil on Makar Sankranti day. It is believed that the person, who

dies during the period of Uttarayana, achieves moksha.