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Excerpts from the posting by our guest Sri G.R.Raghunatha Rao" <grrrao@hotmail.com> on dvaita list
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a) Makara SaMkramaNa.
b) UttraayaNa PuNya kaala
c)  Sankraanthi Habba

“Bandhithu Bandhithu Samkraanthi Thamdhithu Thamdhithu SuKh Shaanthi    is the “Kavi VaaNi”

What is Sankraanthi?

Sankranth  is the ushering of the harvest season, often termed as  “Suggiya Kaala” .

The trees,the plants, herbs and  the nature are subjected to the  rough rainy season, the autumn , biting chill,  and the  freezing cool atmosphere  that normally exists in  the DakshiNaayana. The  UththaraayaNa  welcomes the spring season. The temperate weather, the balanced season, the harvest, the good health that man enjoys, the granary that is being filled with so many yields after hard work  etc  are all the characteristics of  the  UththaraayaNa.  That is why it is named  as  “PuNyakaala”.

Bhagawaan Soorya is known from  the Vedic times. He is worshipped by all. Every day we offer prayer to him. Perform Soorya Namaskaara. Especially on SankramaNa, eclipse days, Ratha Sapthami.

Our ancestors have said in their vaidhika mantra  ”Sham NO Bhavathu Aryamaa”. Meaning that Soorya Deva may protect us.  The “Krupa or blessings ” of Soorya Bhagaawaan is always on us. That is why, as a sort of offering gratitude and gesture, Sankraanthi is observed.

It is the harvest festival when agriculturist worship the sun as well as their cattle by way of thanks giving for the bumper harvest.(The rationale of Hindu Festivals)

The “ AcharaNe”  part  of it ,is  in the same form with different names in different parts of Bhaaratha. Kodavas(Coorg) perform “Huththari Habba”offering prayer to “Igguthappa”, the god who gives abundant paddy to them.

Called  by the name Pongal in Tamil Naadu.

In Andhra Pradesh they call it by name “ Pedda Panduga” They keep the Gowri Vigraha  Worship after three days they take it to a lake or tank and perform Visarjana.  They  consume  the vegetables tied to the mantapa,  preparing” Palya” or Kootu” or Saambaar or HuLi”.  It is called “Gobbi Koora’ and  consuming such vegetables is stated to be good for health.  They keep Dolls like Navarathri.
In north, they call it “ Kanoo Habba” the day on which Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhana Giri mountain protecting the yaadavaas, Gopis, cowherds and  the cattle.

Tham Sooryam Jagath Karthaaram
Mahaateja Pradeepanam
MahapaapaharamDevam
thamSooryam PraNamaamyaham!!

It is also the day on which Soorya enters Makara Raashi leaving the Dhanur Rashi which is called Sankraamthi. It is nothing but worshipping Soorya Bhagawaan. “Soorya Athma Jagathaha ChakShushascha”. Soorya Deva  is nothing but Athma of the universe. As well as Eyes of the Universe. It is on account of this only,the rain  we observe,the harvest we see,the world gets happiness.Not only Hindus,the Muslims also knew the power of Soorya Bhagawan. Badshah Akbar ordered that everybody should offer prayer to Soorya Bhagawan four times a day.

In this connection we remember the  Keerthana “ Soorya Murthe” in Saurashtra raga composed by  the great Sri Muththuswamy Dikshithar.His disciple Tambiyappan had a peculiar stomachache. The medicines did not work.Tambiyappan approached an astrologer. The astrologer suggested Gurugraha Shanthi. The patient had no Vedhaadhikaara. Thus the astrologer refused to perform Shanthi. Having heard about this Sri  Dikshithar composed a Krithi on BRUHASPATHE (AtaNa Raaga )and taught Tambiyappan and the stomach ache  got cured after  reciting, practising  for 8 days. Then Dikshithar composed the Navagraha keerthanas for the welfare of the citizens. Soorya Murthe in saurashtra Raga is one among them. This keerthana depicts the glory of Soorya Bhagawaan.

DakshNaayana is called PitrugaLa kaala and UttaraayaNa as DevathegaLa kaala. That is why Bheeshma chaarya was waiting eagerly  for UttarayaNa to come  and was lying on the Shara Shayya waiting for the birth of UttarayaaNa to leave this world.

In other words, it means that for not only for living, but also to die one would wait for UttaraayaNa.

Ganaga, Thunga, KrishNa, Kaveri :  Bhakthas perform Theertha Snaana  in these rivers at  the Punya Kaala time. It is famous as Makara SamkramaNa at Prayaaga.  The Maagha MeLa starts from that day.  The Swaragadha Baagilu are opened on this day.Dhaana Dharma done on this day would fetch two fold Phala.That is why all auspicious  like Yajna,yagaadhi, samastha Devathaa Karya’s are done  during UththaraayaNa.

“Geographical importance”

“Ayana” means Movement. Path. The sun who was leaning towards dakshiNa will start  changing his path leaning towards UthThara. He rises up and up making the day more and night less.  So as per PuraaNa, Devathas enjoy day ( Hagalu) and Rakshasas will have the  night (Rathri, So also people enjoy the heat. That seems to be the reaon for taking oil bath in Thil Oil (Seasame oil), wearing new clothes, eating well and celebrate the day.

“ Shanke illadhashtu dhaana maadu” is the saying in Kannada.youngsters offer “ ELLu Bella” to elders and after performing “ Namaskraam” seek blessings from them.” ELLu bella thimdhu, OLLe maathaaadu” is the proverb.  Distributing sugar cane, Jagerry, ELLU mixture with sugar candy is the sampradaya in Karnataka.

“Shastraas point of view of Sankraanthi”:

About this festival NiRNaya Sindhu says like this:

Thasyaam krishNa Thilai Snaanam
Kaaryam chodvarthanam ShuBhai

Thilaa Deyaashcha VipreBhyO
Sarva DevOththaraayaNe

Thila ThailEna Deepaashcha
Deyaa Devagrihe ShuBhaah.!

Skaanda puraaNa says:

DhEnu tilamayaam raajan
DadwaadyashchottaraayaNe
ServaakanaamaanavaapnOti
VidaMte paramam sukhaM!!

VishNu Dharma says:

UttarEtyayanE vipraa
VasradaanaM mahaaphalaM
Tila poorNa manaDwaahaM
DattwaarOgyaH pramuchyatE !!

(DevategaLu mattu HabbagaLu,  by Sri  M.Sridhara Murthy)

On Sankranthi day one should take bath with black sesame seed (Ellu), Ellu should be given as Danam. At temples one should lit Deepam with Sesame oil.

Dharma Simdhu says like this:

Sankraanthau yaani daththaani
Havya KavyaaniDhaathriBhi

Thaani Nithyam DhadhaathyaaRkaha
Punar Janmani Janmani

Thilaa DeyaaShcha Hothavyaa
BhakShayaashcheVOththaraayaNe !!

If one  performs  Daana- Dharma  on the UththaraayaNa puNyakaala day,   the saying is  that Soorya Bhagawaan  would protect  always us for many Janmaas.
  On this day significance is attached to Thila dhaana, thila Homa, Thila BhakShaNa.
(  Hindu HabbagaLa Amtharanga,Bahiramga by Vidwan VN Bhat ( pages49-53)

On the Ugadi day we have Bevu bella.  Similarly on this day we have ElLLu bella, forgetting all bitter Bhaavanaas(ill feelings) filling in its place  sweet memories( Sihi Bhaavaana) getting united together as one, living in harmony and peace,   for a bright future. We do not have show of  any fire works etc like DeepavaLi or Ganesh Chathrurthi for this festival. But the message it leaves is superb.

Yellu- Thil should be ground into a paste and applied to the body and bath taken. One should lit Yellu deepa. While doing vaishya Deva , Homa should be done  with yellu also. All Pitrus should be given Yellu TaRpaNa, Yellu and Jagerry should be mixed and offered as dhaanam, given to relatives and consumed. By so doing in these 6 methods, one is rid of all sins