Thread by @bhargavasarma

👉Understanding Makara Sankranthi...

#SANKRANTHI...is a confluence of two words SAN + KRANTHI. #SAN means plenty, good and come together. #Kranthi means radical change. Sankranthi means plenty of good change. #SANKRAMANA means to begin to move.
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The time when Sun leaves one sign and enters another sign is known as Sankranthi or Sankramana or astrologically it is called transit.

The sign in which travel of Sun commences is the name given to that Sankranthi. +++

There are 12 Sankranthis' (Sun’s transit) in a year starting from Mesha Sankranthi to Meena Sankranthi and the travel of Sun into Makara Raasi is known as Makara Sankranthi. It is holier than all the other Sankranthis’ that occur in the Hindu calendar year. +++

Transit of Sun (Solar Transit) is generally not considered auspicious as there will be certain disturbances in the organization of solar forces and such times are generally not recommended for commencement of any good work. +++

On the contrary they are held to be auspicious for meditation, initiation into secret mantras and performance of certain religious rites which are held to purify both the body as well as the soul. +++

Shat Thila karma is prescribed on the day of Makara Sankramana by usage of Thila in six ways viz...
> Thila Snana;
> Thila Deepa;
> Thila Homa;
> Thila tharpana;
> Thila Dana and
> Thila Bhakshana. +++

Did U know? In the temple town of Udupi the seat of Sri Madhvacharya, festival of Makara Sankramana has attained lot of significance. The Vigraha of Lord Sri Krishna (Bala Krishna) at Udupi temple was installed by Sri Madhvacharya on the day of Makara Sankramana. +++

Once in 2 yrs around this time a ritual called PARYAAYA is held. This is to indicate change of seat of power among the Heads of 8 Mutts to perform & administer the famous temple of Sri Krishna @ Udupi. Lots of people gather on this occasion to witness the rituals. ++

Bathing festival and religious fair called Magha Mela begins on this day at Prayaaga (Allahabad). It is said that while carrying the nectar pot (Amrita Kalasa) by Lord Vishnu, few drops of nectar fell at Allahabad (Prayaaga), Haridwar, Nasik, and Ujjain. +++

These holy places (Theerthas) have acquired significant reputation where human beings could wash their sins by way of sacred bath at these places. Taking bath at these places on the day of Makara Sankranthi has attained lot of spiritual significance and is highly meritorious. ++

Famous hymn Sri Dwadasa Stothra composed by none other than Sri MadhvacharyaRu took birth on the sacred day of Makara Sankranthi while installing the Virgraha of BalaKrishna at Udupi kshethra.