Makar Sankranti 2023, Bhishma Pitamah Story: Makar Sankranti is an important festival of Hindus. This year, the festival of Makar Sankranti will be celebrated across the country on 15 January 2023. Makar Sankranti is celebrated with different names in different states of the country.
It is also known by names like Sankranti in Karnataka, Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Maghi in Punjab and Haryana, Uttarayan in Gujarat and Rajasthan, Uttarayani in Uttarakhand, Khichdi in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar etc.
In the scriptures, the day of Makar Sankranti has been considered very auspicious. On the other hand, in astrology, the meaning of ‘Sankranti’ has been explained by the entry of Sun or any planet from one zodiac sign to another. On the day of Makar Sankranti, the Sun moving towards the north direction leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn.
That’s why it is also called Uttarayan. The day of Uttarayan is considered very auspicious. This day is very auspicious for charity and worship. It is believed that one who sacrifices his life on this day attains salvation. This is the reason, Bhishma Pitamah was waiting for the Uttarayan of the Sun to sacrifice his life.
Why Bhishma Pitamah wanted to sacrifice his life on Uttarayan
While fighting on behalf of the Kauravas in the war of Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah got Veergati after being injured by the arrows of Arjuna. But when he was injured by the arrow, then the sun was in Dakshinayan. According to the scriptures, those who sacrifice their lives in Uttarayan attain salvation and get rid of the cycle of life and death. This was the reason why Bhishma Pitamah waited for the Uttarayan of the Sun to sacrifice his life.
Actually Bhishma Pitamah was blessed with the boon of death of his own free will, he could sacrifice his life whenever he wanted. Bhishma Pitamah was wounded by Arjuna’s arrows. He waited for his death even after being pierced with arrows. For six months he was on the bed and weighing every breath of his life, he was waiting for the Sun to pass from Dakshinayan to Uttarayan.
During this, looking at the five Pandavas, he also gave the last sermon of life and also asked for a boon for the welfare of the world. After this, when there was a change in the zodiac sign of Sun (change of Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn), Bhishma Pitamah sacrificed his life while looking at the sky and his life took the path of Devlok.
This is the reason why this episode of the last chapter of the Mahabharata, in which Bhishma Pitamah’s sacrifice is mentioned, has become a symbol of auspiciousness in the ancient Indian tradition and for this reason Makar Sankranti i.e. the day of Uttarayan is celebrated as the festival of Navchetan. Also celebrated as
Mythological facts related to Makar Sankranti
- In the Mahabharata period, Bhishma Pitamah had chosen the day of Makar Sankranti to leave his body.
On the day of Makar Sankranti, Gangaji followed Bhagirath and met Kapil Muni’s hermitage in the ocean and Maharaj Bhagirath’s ancestors got salvation in this way. - Every year a fair is held in Gangasagar on the day of Makar Sankranti.
- On the day of Makar Sankranti, Surya, forgetting his displeasure with his son Shanidev, went to his house.
- According to religious beliefs, by bathing, donating and worshiping in the holy river on Makar Sankranti, the virtuous effect increases thousand times.
- From the day of Makar Sankranti, the Malamas also end and auspicious works begin.
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