Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!

UTTARAYANA PARVA KALA

(Makara Sankramana)

Bhogi – 13.01.2010 (Wednesday)

Makara Sankranthi – 14.01.2010 (Thursday)
Uttarayana Parvakala – 14.01.2010 (Thursday)

Uttarayana -2010

As per the Almanac followed in South India, Uttarayana Parvakala (Makara

Sankramana) transit of Sun into Makara Raasi (Capricorn) of the zodiac is
taking place this year on 14th of January 2010 at 17.27 hrs (5.27 pm)
and the parvakala will be up to Sunset on that day. For Sunset time please
check the local calendars. It is followed by a Solar Eclipse on the next day.

Significance of Uttarayana

One year of Hindu calendar consists of two Ayanas that signifies the
direction of the Sun. It is broadly divided into two periods (Ayanas) of six
months each. The two broad periods are referred to as Uttarayana and
Dakshinayana. All the spiritual and religious activities in Hindu philosophy
take place during these two Sun centric periods. Sun is the focal point and
the movement or transit of Sun around the zodiac forms the basis for
deciding a particular season or a month. Starting from Makara (Capricorn)
raasi to Mithuna raasi (Gemini) travel of the Sun is known as Uttarayana
(Northward journey). Similarly, travel of the Sun from Karkataka (Cancer)
to Dhanus (Sagittarius) is called as Dakshinayana (Southward journey).

Uttarayana is a confluence of two words, UTTARA+ AYANA. Uttara means

North and Aayana mean travel. Uttarayana means travel of Sun towards
North. Zodiacally when Sun enters into Makara Raasi, Uttarayana starts and
this moment is called Uttarayana Punya Kala (Parvakala) which is considered
as holy and celestial. As per the scripts it is said that when Sun during his
transit in Makara Raasi comes opposite to Sravana star the doors of
Vaikuntam gets opened (Moksha Dwara)

What is a Parvakala (Punyakala)?

The Vedic meaning of Parva is said to be a Knot, a Confluence, and a

Celebration. Based on the meanings, the time of confluence of two periods is
called as Parvakala. This we observe during Yuga Sandhi (ending of one
Yuga and beginning of another Yuga). It is said that Sri Krishna’s Avatara
had taken place in the Yuga Sandhi of Dwapara and Kali Yuga. This Sandhi
period is said to be very celestial, holy and sacred since the Supreme God
himself was present on the Earth. This sandhi period will have features of
Krita Yuga (Where Dharma will prevail on four legs). Similarly the time of
confluence (Sandhi) of two seasons Dakshinayana and Uttarayana is
considered to be very holy, auspicious and celestial and is called as Parva
Kala.

Significance of Uttarayana Parva Kala

It is said that Uttarayana represents Devathas and Dakshinayana represents

Pithrus, and the significance is to seek the blessings of both at this transit
time. Uttarayana is said to be the day time for Devathas.

In this Universe it is said that Vaikuntam, the abode of Supreme Lord Sri
Maha Vishnu is in the Northern direction (Uttara) and the time of movement
of Sun in the direction of Vaikunta is said to be very holy, celestial and
sacred. This is coinciding with the last day of the Dhanurmasam, most
sacred and celestial period to worship Lord SriMann Narayana. Vaikunta
Ekadasi falls in Dhanurmasam only. The gate to Vaikunta (Swarga Dwara) is
believed to open on the day of Makara Sankranthi. It is believed and said
that, those who die during the six months period of Uttarayana will attain
salvation.

During the days of Mahabharatha, Bheeshma Pitamaha waited on his death

bed for the onset of this celestial period (Uttarayana).

Sun is the most visible personification of the Lord on Earth and is called
Prathyaksha Dhaivam. Purusha Sooktha says that Sun is represented as
eyes of the Supreme Lord SriMann Narayana (Chaksho! Suryo Ajayatha!).
Sun directs our vision towards the pure, holy, sacred, divine and to dedicate
our activities for a higher cause following the northward path. During this
period of Uttarayana, Sun’s power gradually increases and the day will be
longer than the night.

What is to be done during Uttarayana Parvakala?

Generally during any Parvakala one has to take sacred bath, perform prayer,
Japa, penace, and give Charity/Dana (donation). Those who have lost their
parents should also give Tharpana to their forefathers. This day one should
desist from sensual pleasures, should not apply oil to the body/head, and
should take only vegetarian food.

Shat thila karma: It is said that on this day one should use Thil
(Sesame) seeds in six ways viz…Thila Snana, Thila Deepa, Thila Homa, Thila
tarpana, Thila Dana and Thila Bhakshana.

Worshipping Lord SriMann Narayana and Lord Sun is highly meritorious

during this time. Parayana of Vishnu Sahasranama sthothram, Aaditya
Hridayam, Purusha Sooktham, Sri Rama Raksha Sthothram and Gayathri
Japa, are useful prayers suggested at this time.

Thila Dana: Donating Thil seeds on this day with dakshina is considered
as very sacred and meritorious

Vasthra Dana: As per Masa dharma being Pushya Masa donating clothes
to a Brahmin is sacred and meritorious.

Kushmanda Dana: Donating of Pumpkin on this day is also meritorious.

Calendar date of Makara Sankranthi (Uttarayana)

Invariably Makara Sankranthi falls on 14th day of January in any year.

Sometimes due to the following of lunar calendar (thithi bhedha), Adhika
Maasa, it also occurs on 15th January. Research in Astronomy found that,
1500 years back Makara Sankranthi used to fall on 22nd December. This is
said to be due to a concept called Precession or Ayanachalan that makes the
seasons slide backwards with respect to the stars at the rate of one Indian
star in about 950 years. Hence, the change in the calendar date and it is
said that January 14th no longer represents the beginning of Uttarayana
Source collection from Vigyan Prasar. For more details on this aspect please
refer to www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/dream/march2006/English.pdf).

In India we find two different dates being followed for the onset of
Uttarayana, one on 22nd December as per the North Indian calendar and the
other on 14th January as per the South Indian calendar.

Since time immemorial human kind is accustomed to co-relate cosmic

events with individual life and Sun is an important cosmic body and every
Sun-centric event has lot of spiritual, religious and cultural value.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
bhargavasarma

PS:
For information and details regarding significance of Makara Sankranthi
festival you may like to read a revised version of the article published at the
following link www.scribd.com/doc/10061172/Makara-Sankranthi