Makara Sankranti 2023 is celebrated as a festival in northern hemisphere and astrologically, it occurs when Sun enters zodiac sign Capricorn according to Vedic Astrology.
Sun begins its movement away from the tropic of Capricorn and towards the northern hemisphere. That is why next 6 months are called as ‘Uttarayan (uttar(north)+ayan(movement) of sun)’.
During winter in Northen Hemisphere, Sun rises slightly towards North-East and ses towards North-West respecitvely between mid-january to mid-july in every year.
This period is called Uttarayana in vedic terms and it means uttar(north)+ayana(movement) of sun.
The remaining 6 months (July-January) are termed as dakshinayana which means south movement of sun.
Originally, this was celebrated as Winter Solstice in ancient India but later due to the fact that the solstices are continually precessing at a rate of 50″ / year due to the precession of the equinoxes, winter solstice now occurs at 21st december each year.
This year’s Makar (Capricorn), Sankranti (Sankraman = transmigration) occurs on 14th January 2023 at 18:21 hours IST (according to K.P Ayanamsa).
As Sun transits into Capricorn during evening, the next day (15th January 2023) is celebrated as Makara Sankranti.
11 hours from Sunrise on 15th January 2023 is called as Sankranti Punya Kaal Muhurta and Mahapunya Kaal Muhurta is only the initial 90 minutes from sunrise time.
This is the best time to take bath, offer water to Sun, sit alone and meditate on what has been bothering your mind and body since past 6 months.
This is also the best time to spend in a temple or at a peaceful place and recite Gayatri Mantra in silence.
Surya Siddhantha bridges this difference by juxtaposing the four solstitial and equinotial points with four of the twelve boundaries of the signs.
In Vedas, Uttarayan is termed as day of gods (devas in heaven) and Dakshinayan is their night. This is very much similar to the 6 months day at north pole after winter solstice and 6 months night from summer solstice.
Uttarayana as the period between the Vernal and Autumnal equinoxes (when there is Midnight Sun at the North Pole). Conversely, Dakshinaya is defined as the period between the Autumnal and Vernal Equinoxes, when there is midnight sun at the South Pole. This period is also referred to as Pitrayana (with the Pitrus (i.e. ancestors) being placed at the South Pole).
Usually when Uttarayana starts, it is a start of winter. When equinox slides it will increase ayanamsha and Makar Sankranti will also slide. In 1000 AD, Makar Sankranti was on Dec 31st and now it falls on January 14th; after 9000 years Makara Sankranti will be in June.
It would seem absurd to have Uttarayana in June when sun is about to begin its ascent upwards i.e Dakshinayana. This misconception continues as there is not much difference between actual Uttarayana date of Dec 21 and January 14. However, the difference will be significant as equinoxes slide further.
Uttarayana is the day when the day is shortest on the earth. According to srimad bhagavatam 5.21.7 “Duration of Days start to increase from Uttarayana commencement“. Even as per srimad bhagwatam that day is december 22nd (~3800 years ago when Bhagavatam was composed).
In vedic religion, God doesn’t have any shape and for us, time is manifestation of God.
Makara Sankranti 2023 Phalam
Sankranti Karna = Balava
Sankranti Weekday = Saturday (Sunday after sunrise)
Sankranti tithi = Saptami (followed by Ashtami)
Sankranti Date = 15 January 2021 (because transit happened on 14th January aevening)
Sankranti Moment = 18:21 IST (20:57 IST according to Drik Siddantham/Panchangam or N.C.Lahiri Ayanamsa)
Sankranti Ghati = 29 (Ratrimana)
Sankranti Moonsign = Kanya
Sankranti Nakshatra = Chitra (Dhruva Sangyaka)
Vishnu or Narayana is worshipped through Sun God and this Sun’s equinoxes are celebrated as festivals.
Sankranti Purusha enters as Raakshasa (harmful to humans), on Vyaghra vahana (Tiger).
This is bad omen for mankind.
He is bathing with clean water (healthy), wearing Blood Red color clothes (bad omen), wearing Pearl (good), holding silver bowl (silver loses market), eating kheer (sweet made with rice and sugar) (good), seated on tiger (few wild life species extinct), Red umbrella and Javelin weapon (fear of war), travels south (bad effects like natural calamities for South states in India), angry face (more people perish).
This year (2023) will see increase in prices of essential commodities, diseases, excess rainfall, death of pet animals, elephants, floods, tsunami.
Bad for thieves, cruel nature and immoral people.
In general, Makar Sankranti 2023 with Sun in Capricorn with Saturn and Venus brings good luck, wealth and health for people born in Moon Signs and Ascendants of Leo , Aries and Scorpio.
It will be an average month for those born in Pisces, Taurus, Virgo, Sagittarius as Saturn changes sign next day after Sankranti.
This will be bad for other signs.