Dakshinayana - Karkataka Sankramana
What is Dakshinayana? What is its significance?
What is to be done on the day of Dakshinayana?
Introduction....
Hindu calendar is broadly divided into two periods (Ayanas) of six months each comprising of six seasons (Ruthus) of two months each and twelve lunar/solar months of 30 days each (Maasas).
The two broad periods around which all the spiritual and religious activities in Hindu philosophy rotate are referred to as Uttaraayana and Dakshinaayana.
Sun is the focal point for all these activities and the movement or transit of Sun around the zodiac forms the basis for deciding a particular season or a month.
We have 12 houses in the zodiac (360 degrees) starting from Aries and ending with Pisces with each house comprising of 30 degrees.
Sun moves one degree in a day of 24 hours and accordingly it takes 30 days for the Sun to move from one zodiac house to the other during which time we have 30 sittings and 30 settings of Sun.
Movement of Sun from one zodiac house to the other is called as transit (Sankramana) of Sun and is denoted by the name of that particular zodiac house.
Suppose, if it is Aries it is called as Mesha Sankramana, if it is Makara it is called as Makara Sankramana and if it is Karkataka it is called as Karkataka Sankramana so on and so forth.
What is Dakshinayana? What is its significance?
Broadly speaking, Uttarayana or Dakshinayana comprising of six months each is the time taken by the Sun to travel from one house to the other during these periods.
Starting from Makara (Capricorn) up to Mithuna (Gemini), the travel of Sun is called as Uttarayana and starting from Karkataka (Cancer) up to Dhanus (Sagittarius) it is known as Dakshinayana.
We all know that Dakshina means South direction and Aayana means travel or movement. So accordingly the movement of Sun in the Southern direction is called as Dakshinayana.
The time when the Sun leaves Mithuna Raasi (Gemini) and enters Karkataka Raasi (Cancer) is called as Karkataka Sankramana or Karkataka Sankranthi when the period of Uttarayana ends and Dakshinayana begins.
San means to come together and Kranthi means radical change. That means plenty of radical changes start taking place in the nature from this time onwards based on which the human activity depends.
For example in case of Karkataka Sankramana that also marks the beginning of Dakshinayana coincides with the monsoon (rainy season) which is also a sowing season for crops when agricultural activities get activated. Similarly it also coincides with the winter season.
Spiritually the sacred period for performing austerities Chaturmaasam overlap during Dakshinayana.
Majority of the major Hindu festivals like Naga Chaturthi, Vara Maha Lakshmi Vratha, Upakarma (Sravana Pournima), Krishnashtami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Rushi Panchami, Anantha Chaturdasi, SharanNavarathri (Devi Navarathri), Vijayadasami, Deepavali etc. occurs during Dakshinayana.
The period of Dakshinayana also coincides with Pithru Paksha the sacred time to perform sacred rites to the forefathers.
It is believed and said that Uttarayana represents Devathas and Dakshinayana represents Pithrus. It is also said that Uttarayana is the day time and Dakshinayana is the night time for devathas.
Dakshinayana is also called as Pithraayana.
It is said and believed that Pithrus descend on Earth during the period of Dakshinayana awaiting their off-springs to perform sacred rites enabling them to attain better placement in the other worlds.
Hence, lot of significance is also given during this period for performing Pithru related activities.
Generally we observe major festivals taking place during Dakshinayana. That means to say that Dakshinayana is sacred for both Devathas as well as for Pithrus.
During the period of Dakshinayana night will be longer than the day and the power of Sun gradually decreases as he moves from Karkataka to Dhanus Raasi.
When Sun transits into Libra he becomes debilitated. Astrologically, Libra is the house of debilitation for Sun.
What is to be done on the day of Dakshinayana?
During any Parvakaala...
> sacred bath,
> prayer,
> japa,
> penance,
> tharpana,
> Daana; etc. are prescribed.
Tharpana should be given to all fore-fathers (Sarva Pithru) by those who are eligible with black sesame seeds (thila) during parva kala.
If the day coincides with Ekaadasi thithi tharpana should not be performed.
One should desist from sensual pleasures. Take only saattvik food.
Anna Dana;
Thila Dana, and
Vasthra Dana are preferred during Parvakaala;
Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram,
Sri RaAmacharitrya Manjari;
Hari-Vaayu Stuthi,
Sri Surya Dwadasanaama/Surya Ashtottara;
Sri Raaghavendra Stothra etc.
are some of the hymns which can be recited during Parvakaala.
Generally transit of Sun is not considered auspicious as there will be certain disturbances in the organization of solar forces and such times are not recommended for taking up any new activities/ventures.
On the contrary they are held to be auspicious for meditation, initiation into secret mantras and performance of certain religious rites.
Among the Sun transits known as Surya Sankramana; Makara Sankramana and Karkataka Sankramana are given special significance as they coincide with the confluence or sandhi of two periods Uttarayana and Dakshinayana.
How to reckon Parvakaala for Surya Sankramana (Sun's Transit)?
Sacred scripts (Dharma Saastras) define Parva Punya kaala to be observed for each transit of Sun. Hindu Panchangas’ also indicate the meritorious timings during a transit.
So far as Karkataka Sankramana (Dakshinaayana) is concerned, it is indicated as 30 Ghatis’ (1 Ghati = 24 minutes) prior to the transit time as meritorious Parva Punya Kaala.
Any sacred deeds/rituals/rites performed during Parvakaala derive more merits than those performed during ordinary times.
Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu
Hari Sarvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama
'nAham kartA hariH kartA'
Sri Gururaajo Vijayate
Hindu calendar is broadly divided into two periods (Ayanas) of six months each comprising of six seasons (Ruthus) of two months each and twelve lunar/solar months of 30 days each (Maasas).
The two broad periods around which all the spiritual and religious activities in Hindu philosophy rotate are referred to as Uttaraayana and Dakshinaayana.
Sun is the focal point for all these activities and the movement or transit of Sun around the zodiac forms the basis for deciding a particular season or a month.
We have 12 houses in the zodiac (360 degrees) starting from Aries and ending with Pisces with each house comprising of 30 degrees.
Sun moves one degree in a day of 24 hours and accordingly it takes 30 days for the Sun to move from one zodiac house to the other during which time we have 30 sittings and 30 settings of Sun.
Movement of Sun from one zodiac house to the other is called as transit (Sankramana) of Sun and is denoted by the name of that particular zodiac house.
Suppose, if it is Aries it is called as Mesha Sankramana, if it is Makara it is called as Makara Sankramana and if it is Karkataka it is called as Karkataka Sankramana so on and so forth.
What is Dakshinayana? What is its significance?
Broadly speaking, Uttarayana or Dakshinayana comprising of six months each is the time taken by the Sun to travel from one house to the other during these periods.
Starting from Makara (Capricorn) up to Mithuna (Gemini), the travel of Sun is called as Uttarayana and starting from Karkataka (Cancer) up to Dhanus (Sagittarius) it is known as Dakshinayana.
We all know that Dakshina means South direction and Aayana means travel or movement. So accordingly the movement of Sun in the Southern direction is called as Dakshinayana.
The time when the Sun leaves Mithuna Raasi (Gemini) and enters Karkataka Raasi (Cancer) is called as Karkataka Sankramana or Karkataka Sankranthi when the period of Uttarayana ends and Dakshinayana begins.
San means to come together and Kranthi means radical change. That means plenty of radical changes start taking place in the nature from this time onwards based on which the human activity depends.
For example in case of Karkataka Sankramana that also marks the beginning of Dakshinayana coincides with the monsoon (rainy season) which is also a sowing season for crops when agricultural activities get activated. Similarly it also coincides with the winter season.
Spiritually the sacred period for performing austerities Chaturmaasam overlap during Dakshinayana.
Majority of the major Hindu festivals like Naga Chaturthi, Vara Maha Lakshmi Vratha, Upakarma (Sravana Pournima), Krishnashtami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Rushi Panchami, Anantha Chaturdasi, SharanNavarathri (Devi Navarathri), Vijayadasami, Deepavali etc. occurs during Dakshinayana.
The period of Dakshinayana also coincides with Pithru Paksha the sacred time to perform sacred rites to the forefathers.
It is believed and said that Uttarayana represents Devathas and Dakshinayana represents Pithrus. It is also said that Uttarayana is the day time and Dakshinayana is the night time for devathas.
Dakshinayana is also called as Pithraayana.
It is said and believed that Pithrus descend on Earth during the period of Dakshinayana awaiting their off-springs to perform sacred rites enabling them to attain better placement in the other worlds.
Hence, lot of significance is also given during this period for performing Pithru related activities.
Generally we observe major festivals taking place during Dakshinayana. That means to say that Dakshinayana is sacred for both Devathas as well as for Pithrus.
During the period of Dakshinayana night will be longer than the day and the power of Sun gradually decreases as he moves from Karkataka to Dhanus Raasi.
When Sun transits into Libra he becomes debilitated. Astrologically, Libra is the house of debilitation for Sun.
What is to be done on the day of Dakshinayana?
During any Parvakaala...
> sacred bath,
> prayer,
> japa,
> penance,
> tharpana,
> Daana; etc. are prescribed.
Tharpana should be given to all fore-fathers (Sarva Pithru) by those who are eligible with black sesame seeds (thila) during parva kala.
If the day coincides with Ekaadasi thithi tharpana should not be performed.
One should desist from sensual pleasures. Take only saattvik food.
Anna Dana;
Thila Dana, and
Vasthra Dana are preferred during Parvakaala;
Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram,
Sri RaAmacharitrya Manjari;
Hari-Vaayu Stuthi,
Sri Surya Dwadasanaama/Surya Ashtottara;
Sri Raaghavendra Stothra etc.
are some of the hymns which can be recited during Parvakaala.
Generally transit of Sun is not considered auspicious as there will be certain disturbances in the organization of solar forces and such times are not recommended for taking up any new activities/ventures.
On the contrary they are held to be auspicious for meditation, initiation into secret mantras and performance of certain religious rites.
Among the Sun transits known as Surya Sankramana; Makara Sankramana and Karkataka Sankramana are given special significance as they coincide with the confluence or sandhi of two periods Uttarayana and Dakshinayana.
How to reckon Parvakaala for Surya Sankramana (Sun's Transit)?
Sacred scripts (Dharma Saastras) define Parva Punya kaala to be observed for each transit of Sun. Hindu Panchangas’ also indicate the meritorious timings during a transit.
So far as Karkataka Sankramana (Dakshinaayana) is concerned, it is indicated as 30 Ghatis’ (1 Ghati = 24 minutes) prior to the transit time as meritorious Parva Punya Kaala.
Any sacred deeds/rituals/rites performed during Parvakaala derive more merits than those performed during ordinary times.
Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu
Hari Sarvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama
'nAham kartA hariH kartA'
Sri Gururaajo Vijayate
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