Happy Makara Sankranti

[Guest]

Happy Sankranti to all!


http://www.salagram.net/parishad110.htm

[Guest]

<b>Nav Varsh Mangal Mai ho !!</b>

(<b>Saka Era: 1929-30 / Vikram Era: 2064-65).</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Hindu Festivals 2008 </span>

<b>January </b>
Hanuman Jayanthi on 08th Jan 2008.
Lohri Sunday 13-01-2008
Makarsankranti / Pongal / Magha Bihu Tuesday & Wednesday 14-01-2008 & 15-01-2008
Thaipusam Saturday 23-01-2008

<b>February </b>
Mauni Amavasya Thursday 07-02-2008
Vasant Panchami / Saraswati Puja Monday 11-02-2008

<b>March </b>
Maha Shivaratri Thursday 06-03-2008
Holi Friday & Saturday 21-03-2008 & 22-03-2008
Hindi New Year (Saka Era 1930) Friday 21-03-2008

<b>April </b>
Telugu New Year / Gudi Padwa / Ugadi / Cheti Chand Sunday / Monday 06-04-2008 / 07-04-2008
Vasanti Durga Puja (Saptami) Saturday 12-04-2008
Baiskhi / Tamil New Year / Vishu Sunday 13-04-2008
Bengali New Year / Bohag Bihu Monday 14-04-2008
Ramanavami Monday 14-04-2008
Mahavir Jayanti Friday 18-04-2008
Hanuman Jayanti Sunday 20-04-2008

<b>May </b>
Akshaya Tritiya Thursday 08-05-2008
Buddha Purnima / Vaisakhi Purnima Tuesday 20-05-2008

<b>June </b>
Jamai Shasthi Monday 09-06-2008
Ganga Dashami / Dussehra Friday 14-06-2008

<b>July </b>
Rath Yatra Friday 04-07-2008
Guru Purnima / Asadha Purnima Friday 18-07-2008

<b>August </b>
Teej Monday 04-08-2008
Garuda Panchami Wednesday 06-08-2008
Indian Independence Day Friday 15-08-2008
Raksha-Bandhan Saturday 16-08-2008
Krishna Janmashtami Sunday 24-08-2008

<b>September </b>
Ganesh/Vinayak Chaturthi Wednesday 03-09-2008
Shikshak Divas (Teacher's Day) Friday 05-09-2008
Onam Friday 12-09-2008
Vishwakarma Puja Tuesday 16-09-2008
Pitr-Paksha begins Tuesday 16-09-2008
Mahalaya Sunday 28-09-2008
Pitr-Paksha ends Monday 29-09-2008
Navaratri begins Tuesday 30-09-2008

<b>October </b>
Gandhi Jayanti Thursday 02-10-2008
Durga Puja begins (Maha Saptami) Monday 06-10-2008
Navaratri ends Wednesday 08-10-2008
Saraswati Puja/ Ayudha pooja Wednesday 08-10-2008
Vijaya Dashami/Dusshera Thursday 09-10-2008
Lakshmi Puja / Sharad Purnima Tuesday 14-10-2008
Valmiki Jayanti Tuesday 14-10-2008
Karwa Chauth Saturday 18-10-2008
Dhanteras Sunday 26-10-2008
Chhoti Diwali Monday 27-10-2008
Diwali Tuesday 28-10-2008
Kali Puja Tuesday 28-10-2008
Govardhan Puja Wednesday 29-10-2008
Vikram New Year 2065 Wednesday 29-10-2008
Bhai Dooj / Bhai Phota / Bhav-Bij Thursday 30-10-2008

<b>November </b>
Chhat Puja Tuesday 04-11-2008
Guru Nanak Jayanti Thursday 13-11-2008

<b>December</b>
Thiru Karthikai/Thiruvannamalai Deepam Thursday 11-12-2008
Vaikunda Ekadasi Tuesday 23-12-2008 <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Bharatvarsh]

Pongali Subhaakaankshalu to every1.

[Husky]

Today is Pongal! Time to give thanks to Surya Bhagavan <!--emo&:clapping--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clap.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='clap.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Bodhi]

Wish everyone a happy Pongal/Makara Sankranti/Khichadi. May bhagwan khechari bring light to our lives.

For enjoyment and utility of those interested, posted below are some of the important sUrya-mantra-s:

<span style='color:red'>sri sUrya kavacham:</span>

shlo
|| ghR^iNirame shIrSha kaMpAtu sUairyaH lalATakam |
AdityaHpAtu netredve shrotrepAtu divAkaraH ||
nAsikA.nchatrayIpAtu pAtugaNDa sthaleraviM |
pAtUttaroShTha muShNA.nshuratharoShTha mahaspatiH ||
dantAnpAtu jagachchakShuH jihvAlipAtu vibhAvasuH |
vaktralipAtu sahasrA.nshuH chibukaMpAtu sha.nkaraH ||
pArshepAtu pata.ngashcha pR^iShThaMpAtu prabhAkaraH |
kukShi.ndinamaNiH pAtu madhyaMpAtuprajevvaraH ||
pAtva.nshumAlInAbhiMme kaTiMpAtvamarAgraNiH |
urUpAtugrahapatiH jAnunIpAtu sarvagaH ||

shlo
|| ja.nghe dhAmanidhiH pAtu gulaupAtraprabhAkaraH
mArtA.nDaH pAtupAdaume pAtumitro2khila.nvapuH ||

phalashrutiH:
shlo
|| idamAdityanAmAkhyaM kavachaM dhArayetsudhIH |
sadIrghAyussadAbhogI sthirasaMpadvijAyate ||
dharmasa.nchAriNo loke trayIshrI sUryavarmaNA |
AvR^itaM puruSha.ndraShTu mashaktA bhayavihvalAH ||
mitrayantodbhava.ntastraM tiraskartuM tadakShamam |
virodhinastu sarvatra tadAcharaNa tatparAH ||
dAridrya.nchaiva daurbhAgyaM mAraka stvihadahyate |
sUryeti surarAjeti mitreti sumanAssmaran ||
pumAnna prApnuyA ddu.nkhaM shAshvataM sukhamashnute |
sarvonnata guNAdhAraM sUryeNAshu prakalpitam ||
kavacha.ndhArayedyastu tasyasyA dakhila.nvasham |
sadA gadAdharasyApi chettuM ki.ncha tadakShayam ||
tasyahastecha sarvApi siddhiH pratyayadAyinI |
sukhasvape yadAsUraH svasyavarmopaviShTavAn ||
yAj~navaltoostavAn saptA samakShaM hR^idayemudA |
saghR^iNissUrya Aditya stavanassavitAraviM ||
karmasAkShI dinamaNirmitrobhAnurvibhuRiriH |
dvAdashai tAni nAmAni trisandhaliyaH paThennaraH ||
tasyamR^ityubhaya.nnAsti saputro vijayIbhavet |
dvAbhyAM tribhistribhirvalL^i cryuktAM sanmastra paddhatim |
vij~nAyAShTAkSharImetAM o.nkArAdi jetkR^itI ||
mantrAtmakamidaM varma ma.ntravadgopayettathA ||
amantaviduShaH pu.nso dAtuM taddurlabhaM khalu |
durlabhaM bhaktihInAnAM sulabhaM puNyajIvinAm ||
yidaM paThate bhaktyA shR^iNuyAdvA samAhitaH |
tasya puNyaphalava.nvaktu mashakyaM varShakoTibhiH ||
ityAditya purANe uttarakha.nDe yAj~navalkya virachitaM
shrI sUryakavachaM saMpUrNam svarbhuvarbhUromita digvi
mokaH shrI sUryanArAyaNa parabrahmArpaNamastu.

<span style='color:red'>sUrya-stotram</span>

Achamya.....sa.nkalpa...

shrIsUryanArAyaNa devatA muddishya,
prItyarthaM. shrIsUryastotra mahAmanta paThanaM kariShye ||
asyashrI bhagavadAdityastotra mahAmantasya\, agastya bhagavAn
R^iShiH anuShTupchZandaM\, shrI sUryanArAyaNo devatA, hrAMbIjaM,
hrI.nshaktiH\, hrU.nkIlakaM, shrIsUryanArAyaNa devatAprasAda siddhyarthe
jape viniyogaM ||

karanyAsaH hR^idayanyAsaH
1. AdityAya a.nguShThAbhyA.nnamaH hR^idayAyanamaH
2. arkAya tarjanIbhyA.nnamaH shirasesvAhA
3. divAkarAya madhyamAbhyAnamaH shikhAyaivaShaT
4. prabhAkarAya anAmikAbhyAnamaH kavachAyahuM
5. sahasra kiraNAya kaniShThibhyA.nnamaH netra trayAyavauShaT
6. mArtA.nDAya karatalakarapR^iShThAbhyAnamaH astrAyaphaT
bhUrbhuvassvaromiti digba.ndhaH

dhyAnam
shlo || dhyAyetsUryamana.ntakoTi kiraNaM tojomayaM bhAskaram |
bhaktAnAmabhayapradaM dinakaraM jyotirmayaM sha.nkaram ||
AdityaM jagadIsha machyutamajaM tailokyachUDAmaNiM |
bhaktAbhIShTa varapradaM dinamaNiM mArtA.nDa mAdyaM shubham ||
lamiti pa.nchapUjAM kR^itvA gurudhyAnaM kuryAt.

stotram
1. shlo || brahmA viShNushcharudrashcha Ishvarashcha sadAshivaH |
pa.ncha brahmamayAkArA yena jAtA stamIshvaram ||
2. kAlAtmA sarvabhUtAtmA vedAtmA vishvatomukhaM |
janmamR^ityu jarAvyAdhi sa.nsAra bhayanAshanaH ||
3. brahmasvarUpa udaye madhyAhnetu maheshvaraH |
astamAne svaya.nviShNu strayImUrtirdivAkaraH ||
4. ekachakrarathoyasya divyaH kanakabhUShitaH |
soyaMbhavatu naH prItaH padmamasto divAkaraH ||
5. padmahastaH para.njyotiH pareshAya namonamaH |
a.nDayonirmahAsAkShI AdityAya namonamaH ||
6. kamalAsana devesha AdityAya namonamaH |
dharmamUrtirdayAmUrtissattvamUrtirnamonamaH ||
7. sakalevAya sUryAya kShA.ntIshAya namonamaH |
kShayApasmAra gulmAdi durdoShavyAdhi nAshana ||
8. sarva jvaraharashchaiva kukShiroga nivAraNa |
etatto=traM shivaproktaM sarvasiddhikaraM param ||
svarbhuvarbhUromati digvimokaH hariH omtat sat.
samAptam

<span style='color:red'>srI sUryAShTottara-shatanAma (108 names of sUrya)</span>

telugu commentary:
prAtaHkAlamuna pratinityamu I stotrapaThanamuvalana sa.nkaTamulu
tolagi povunu. dhanamu, dhairyamu, sa.ntAnamu, j~nAnamu modalagu
naviyunu, vivAhamu kAnivAralaku anatikAlamulo vivAhamagunu)

If I understood right: {reciting this strotra everyday morning results in: subduing the disasters and gain of prosperity, patience, santAn, knowledge, happiness of different types etc etc.}

Achamya....sa.nkalpa...prItyarthaM:
shrI sUryAShTottara shatanAma
stotra mahAma.ntra paThanaM kariShye ||
asya shrI sUryAShTotara shatanAmastotra mahAma.ntrasya\,
brahmAR^iShiH AnuShTupchZandaM\, shrI sUryanArAyaNo devatA,
hrAMbIjaM\, hrI.nshaktiH, hrUM kIlakaM, shrI sUryanArAyaNa devatA
prasAdasiddhyarthe jape viniyogaH.
karanyAsaH
hrAM a.nguShThAbhyAM namaH ityAdi karanyAsa\, hR^idayanyAsaM
kR^itvA || bhUrbhuva svaromiti digba.ndhaH.

dhyAnam
shlo || suragaNa pitR^iyakShasevitaM hyasura nishAchara siddhava.nditaM |
varakanaka hutAshana prabhaM praNipatito smihitAya bhAskaram ||
lamiti pa.nchapUjAM kR^itvA gurudhyAnaM kuryAt.

shlo || sUryoryamAbhagastvaShTA pUShArkassavitAraviM
gabhastimAnajaHkAlo mR^ityurthAtAprajApatiH ||
pR^idhivyApashchatejashcha kha.nvAyushchaparAyaNaH |
somobR^ihaspatishshukro budholigAraka evacha ||
i.ndrovivasvAn dIptA.nshushshuchishau+rishshanaishcharaH |
brahmaviShNushcharudrashcha ska.ndovaishravaNoyamaH ||
vaidyuto jATharAgnishcha ai.ndhanaste jasAMpatiH |
dharmadhvajovedakartA edA.ngovedavAhanaH ||
kR^itastreto dAparashcha kalissarvAmarAshrayaH |
kAlAkAShThAmuharta.h pakShomAsastathAR^ituH ||
sa.nvatsarakaroshatthaM kAlachakrovibhAvasuH |
puruShashshAshvatoyogI vyakAtvaktassanAtanaH ||
lokAdhyakShassurAdhyakSho vishvakarmAtamonudaH |
varuNassAgarA.nshushcha jImUto jIvanorihA ||
bhUtAshrayobhUtapatissarvabhUtaniShevitaH |
maNissuvarNobhUtAdiH kAmadassarvatomukhaM ||
jiyovishAlovaradashshIghragaHprANadhAraNaH |
dhanva.ntarirthaWmaketurAdidevoditessutaH ||
dvAdashAtmArava.ndAkShaH pitAmAtApitAmahaH |
svargadvAraH prajAdvAro mokShadArastriviShTapaH ||
dehakartAprashA.ntAtmA vishvAtmAvishvatomukhaM |
charAcharAtmAsUkShAtmA maitreyaHkaruNAnvitaH ||
etadvaikIrtanIyassa sUryasyAmitatejasaH |
nAmAShTashataka.nchedaM proktametatsvayaMbhuvA ||
suragaNapatR^iyakShasevitaM hyasunishAcharasiddhava.nditam |
varakanakahutAshanaprabhaM pranipatitosmihitAyabhAskaram |7
phalashruti:c sUryodayeyastu samAhitaH paThet suputravAn
dhanaratnasa.nchayAn labheta jAti smaratAM tatassadA c
dhR^iti.nchamedhA.nchasavidaM tepumAn || ima.nstava.ndevavara
syonaraH prakIrtayechchhuddhamanAssamAhitaH |
vimuchyate shokadAvAgni sAgarA labhetakAmAn mana sAyadhepsitAn ||
svarbhuvarbhUromiti digvimokaH.
hariH oM tatsat
shrIsUryanArAyaNa parabrahmarpaNamastu
(iti shrI madadharvaNarahasye sUryAShTottara shatanAma stotraM
samAptaH

<span style='color:red'>shrI sUryamAlA</span>
Achamya...sa.nkalpa...
shrIsUryanArAyaNadevatAmuddishya,
prItyardhaM shrI sUrya mAlAstotra mahAma.ntra paThanaM kariShye||
asya shrI sUryamAlAstotra mahAma.ntrasya bhagavAn
vishiShThR^iShiH | anuShTupchZandaM\, | shrI sUryanArAyaNo devatA,
hrAMbIjaM\, hrI.nshaktiH, hrU.nkIlakaM, shrI sUryanArAyaNa devatA
prasAdasiddhyarthe japeviniyogaH.

karanyAsaH hR^idayanyAsaH
o.nhrAM aghora shrI sUryanArAyaNAya a.nguShThAbhyA.nnamaH c

hR^idayAyanamaH
OM hrIM chaturvedapArAyaNAya tarjanI...maH shirasesvAhA
OM hrUM ugrabhaya.nkarAya madhyama...maH shikhAyaivaShaT
OM haiM shrIsUryanArAyaNAya anAmika...maH kavachAyahuM
OM hau.nkaupInamau.njIdharAyakaniShThi...maH netratrayAyavauShaT
o.nhraM sahasra kiraNAya karatalakarapR^iShThAbhyA.nnamaH astrAyaphaT
bhUrbhuvassvaromiti digba.ndhaH

dhyAnam
shlo || haritahayaratha.ndivAkaraM kanakamayAMbujareNuva.njaram |
pratidinamudaye nava.nnavaM sharaNamupaimihiraNyaretanam ||
dedIpyamAnamakuTaM maNiku.nDalama.nDitam |
dhAyesahasrakiraNaM stotramevamudIrayet ||
lamiti pa.nchapUjAM parikalpayAmi.
shlo || gururbrahmA... shrI guravenamaH ||
AthamAlAprAraMbhaMH
asya shrI sUrya nArAyaNAya. sudarshana chakrapANi dhvajAya\,
ba.ndhupoShaNa svarUpAya\, sakaladiN^ma.nDalAya. shata koTi viShNubhuja.nga
jagadAdhArAya\, shauryaparAkramAya, navagraha ghaTanAghaTanAya,
sthalagraha ghaTanAghaTanAya\, grahanirmUlanAya, o.nhrA.nhrIM
sarvabUtapreta pishAchabaddha brahmarAkShasa haraNAya\, anekarAkShasa
sthalaja.ntukha.nDanAya\, parata.ntra paravarma parajapAdi dhva.nsaya
vidhva.nsaya\, aghoravIra shrI sUryanArAyaNAya, Atmayastra
mantatavta sa.nrakShaNAya\, mama sakalaroga navivAraNAya, mAraNa
shalyochchATanAdi sarvA.nga kriyA vichchhedanAya oM bhaga bhaga bhuga
bhuga cha.nDa pracha.nDa shauryaparAkramAya\, bahulodghaTanAya,
pUrvadvAre ba.ndha ba.ndha\, dakShiNa dvAre ba.ndhaba.ndha, pashchimadvAre
ba.ndhaba.ndha. uttaradvAre ba.ndhaba.ndha\, AgneyadAre ba.ndhaba.ndha,
nairR^itidvAre ba.ndhaba.ndha\, vAyavyadvAre ba.ndhaba.ndha, IshAnadvAre
ba.ndhaba.ndha\, aShTadikShu ba.ndhaba.ndha, navagrahAn ba.ndhaba.ndha,
sthalagrahAn ba.ndhaba.ndha\, kahakaha kirikiri vivivivi halahala
kaTakaTa chaTachaTa prachaTa prachaTa sphura sphura phela phela
pheTa pheTa sarvashUnya nivAraNAya\, i.ndrajAla mahe.ndrajAla
raNastaMbhanakhaDgastaMbhana khaDgagA.nDIva vichchhedanAya\,
AkarShaya akarShaya\, gajakargokarNa tarvidyAdya
dharmavidyAH ba.ndhaba.ndha\, bhUloka bhuvarloka suvarloka pAtAlaloka
praharaNAya oM phaT svAhA.
asya sUryamAlA...astrAyaphaT
svarbhuvarbhUromiti digvimokaH
anena mayAkR^itena... shrIsUryanArAyaNa parabrahmArpaNamastu.
hariH om tat sat.

[Guest]

Great article on Makar Sankranti in Zee news. Posting Full. Please visit the Zee link and thank them in comments section for provinding such an educative article.

<b>[center]Makar Sankranti: Celebrating Nature`s abundance[/center]</b>

Smita Mishra

Makar Sankrant, Sankranti, Lohri, Uttarayana, Pongal these myriad words seemed such a jumble of confusion for me in my school days. I often wondered why Pongal and Lohri are marked in our holiday list even though we never celebrate them! What are they actually?

Inspite of my mother`s constant explanation I failed to visualize them as festivals and both Lohri and Pongal appeared to me as the names of some strange dishes (Lohri a sweet and Pongal made of rice or bananas!). And I was completely taken aback, when only a couple of days ago a South Indian friend informed me that it is actually a dish and that too made of rice!

Being an East Indian all I could realate to was with Makar Sankranti when we ate laddus made of Gur and Til, when the stove was not lighted at home during the day and we had to be contented with uncooked grains (which surprisingly tasted delicious with creamy curd and home made Gur).

<b>Til Sankranti, Khichuri and Gangasagar Mela</b>
I have memories of my grand mother sending huge sacks full of laddus made of whole roasted grains and Gur, claudrons full of creamy curd and farm fresh jaggery. Not to speak of fresh vegetables and roasted til to be eaten in the evening of Sankranti. Memories also persist of my mother making me forcibly take bath on this particular winter morning, touch a plate full of Til (which was subsequently given as "daan" to ward off evil) and eat Til as the first grain. No wonder it is called Til Sankranti in Bihar! And the thing which made it special for us children was the numerous fairs held during this day.

The fair at Mandar Hill (the same mythological mountain around which Sheshnag was wrapped as a rope to churn the ocean in search of panacea) in Bihar needs special mention as it is the focal point of a multitudinous crowd on this day. People find it auspicious to take bath in the chilly waters of a small pond call ‘Papharni’ during this day.

In Uttar Pradesh, Sankrant is called "Kicheri". Having bath on this day is regarded as most important. An ocean of humanity can be seen taking dip in the icy waters of Sangam at Prayagraj where the rivers, Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati flow together. At the confluence of these holy rivers, in every year twelve years, Kumbh Mela is held for one month.

In Bengal every year a Mela is held at Ganga Sagar, where the river Ganga is believed to have disappeared into nether and vivified the ashes of the sixty thousand ancestors of King Bhagirath.

In Bundelkhand and Madhya Pradesh, this festival of Sankrant is known by the name "Sukarat" or "Sakarat" and is celebrated with great pomp and merriment accompanied by lot of sweets especially made of Til and Gur.

In Gujatrat, Celebrating “Uttarayan" with Kapyo Che and Tal Sankadi

Kapyo Che `I cut the kite` and Tal Sankadi, the delicious winter sweet –speaks of the spirit of celebration in Gujarat. `Uttarayana`, as it is called here is an occasion of great celebration. Fun and food dominate the festivities. The day is spent flying and cutting kites, enjoying the bright sunlight on roof tops and celebrating the arrival of the festival by flying white kites in the sky. On this auspicious day scholarships are given to students for higher studies in astrology and philosophy by Gujarati Pandits. The festival extends for a period of two days – "Uttarayana" is followed by "Vaasi Uttarayan" which falls on January 15.

<b>`Pedda Panduga` Pongal</b>
In most parts of South India, Sankrant is known by the name "Pongal", which takes its name from the surging of rice boiled in a pot full of milk. It is the major festival of South India – just like Diwali in North. No wonder, Telugus call it `Pedda Panduga`, meaning big festival.

In South, the `Pedda Panduga`, lasts for four days, the first day Bhogi, the second day Sankranti , the third day Kanuma and the fourth day, Mukkanuma.

Bhogi Pongal and is usually meant for domestic activities and of being together with the family members. Lord Indra, the Lord of rains is worshipped on this day for abundance of harvest.

Surya Pongal is celebrated on the second day. It is dedicated to the Sun God.

The third day is Mattu Pongal, which is the festival of cattle. Farmers pamper and worship them and also symbolically thank them for their invaluable contribution in agriculture. On this day Lord Ganesh and Goddess Parvati are also worshipped.

Fourth day is Kaanum Pongal. This day is devoted to merriment and socializing.

In Kerala Pongal festival is known as Makar Sankranti. On this day at sacred Sabarimala shrine lakhs of pilgrims wait to see a star-like celestial light of incredible splendor appearing on the horizon. This is known as Makara Jyothi, which occurs at the time of the evening Deeparadhana.

For Tamilians Pongal marks the beginning of the New Year. Great significance is attached to Sun worship and the day begins with Surya Pongal or Sun Worship. On this day, the newly harvested corn is then cooked for the first time. Worshipping cattle, particularly cow is an important feature of Pongal.

Servants and the poor are fed and gifted clothes and money.

In Karnataka, men, women and children all dressed in new clothes visit friends and relatives and exchange sugarcane, a mixture of fried Til, molasses, dry coconut, peanuts and gram. This gesture is a token to mark sweetness of relationships. Animals too are worshipped and given special treatment during this festival.

Cows and bulls are given a wash and the horns are painted with bright colours and decorated with garland. The animals then are taken in a procession in the village to the accompaniment of pipes and drums. In the night a bonfire is lit and the animals are made to jump over the fire.

<b>Bhogali Bihu in Assam</b>
Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu celebrated every year around 15 January marks the end of harvesting season and there is a lot of feasting throughout Assam during this festival. During Bihu there is community feasting everywhere in Assam. The entire night is spent around a bonfire with people singing Bihu songs, beating drums or playing games. Next morning, people gather around the Mejis and throw Pithas (rice cakes) and betal nuts to it while burning it at the same time.

<b>Lohri</b>
Lohri is one of the major festivals of Punjab. It is celebrated every year on 13th January with great pomp and show. Lohri, which marks the culmination of winter is more than a festival in Punjab.It is an event of familiy get togethers, socializing with friends and relatives and exchanging pleasantries with each other. The focus of Lohri is the bonfire. The traditional dinner with Makki ki Roti and Sarson ka Saag is quintessential. The prasad comprises of five main things: Til, Gazak, Gur, Moongphali, Phuliya and popcorn. There is Puja, involving Parikrama around the fire and distribution of Prasad. This symbolises a prayer to fire, the spark of life, for abundant crops and all round prosperity.

<b>What is Sankranti?</b>
How many of us know that in a year there are 12 Sankrantis. But only the Makar Sankranti is celebrated with such pomp because it is considered to be the most auspicious time of the year.The period, beginning from 14 January lasting till 14 July, is known as Uttarayan. It is also the last day of the month of Maargazhi, the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

The Bhagwad Gita considers the period extremely sacred. Even Mahabharata speaks of the auspiciousness of the period. Bhishma Pitamah chose to die during this period. Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjuna. With his boon to choose the time of his death, he waited on a bed of arrows to depart from this world only during this period. It is believed that those who die in this period become free from the cycle of birth and death.

Sankranti as well as Uttaryana literally mean movement. And this movement pertains to the changes in the cosmic calendar, the changes in the direction of sun. Transition of the sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere (Uttarayana) is known as Makar Sankranti. The sun’s movement towards north makes the day longer.

I often wondered why of all grains Til is used in this festival. The explanation that Til is warm and healthy and should be eaten during winter did not satisfy me entirely till I chanced upon a more reasonable explanation. In our religious scriptures six types of Til have been mentioned. Til is used for bathing, for massaging, for Havan (sacred fire ceremony), Tarpan, food, and charity. It is said that Til emanates from Vishnu`s body and that the above described usage wash away all kinds of sins.

What makes Sankranti enchanting and mesmerizing for me is its rootedness in the ancient past. When I see folks dancing around Lohri bonfire, playing drums and cymbals, at once, the images of our remote, uncivilized ancestors begins to float before my eyes. They too must be celebrating harvest and spring in the same way; only a span of a few million years lies in between.

Man might have achieved countless feats since his first ancestors set foot on Earth, but no achievement, no trophy is celebrated with such vigour and delight as this festival that expresses gratitude towards nature’s bounty – which still remains the basic concern of man in this ultra modern world of nukes and Nanos.

[Pandyan]

Bodhi, do you know what texts those mantras are extracted from?

[Bharatvarsh]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->telugu commentary:
prAtaHkAlamuna pratinityamu I stotrapaThanamuvalana sa.nkaTamulu
tolagi povunu. dhanamu, dhairyamu, sa.ntAnamu, j~nAnamu modalagu
naviyunu, vivAhamu kAnivAralaku anatikAlamulo vivAhamagunu)

If I understood right: {reciting this strotra everyday morning results in: subduing the disasters and gain of prosperity, patience, santAn, knowledge, happiness of different types etc etc.}<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Mostly correct.

But after prosperity, its not patience but courage (dhairyamu), patience would be Orpu/sahanam/bharinchu.

[Bodhi]

<!--QuoteBegin-Pandyan+Jan 15 2008, 09:48 PM-->QUOTE(Pandyan @ Jan 15 2008, 09:48 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Bodhi, do you know what texts those mantras are extracted from?
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<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Pandyan, I suppose the kavacham and stotram should be from Veda-s. But I am not sure. All of the above and much more can be found at http://sanskritdocuments.org/

Bharatvarsh, thanks.