Makar Sankranthi and its relevance to ayurveda

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Dear list

 

Day after tomorrow is Makar Sankranti, a festival celebrated all over

India. Sun crosses into Nirayana Makar (Capricorn) sign. Depending on

the chart cast for exact instant at which this occurs, astrologers

predict how human life will be affected. Which commodities will

become cheaper and which ones costlier. For a description of how this

festival is celebrated all over India, its religious significance,

and for a mouth watering receipe using sesame seeds, see

 

http://www.bawarchi.com/festivals/sankranti.html

 

For we at ayurveda, what matters is how this transition affects

healthwise.

 

Alternative Health Science attaches great importance to the sun. The

sun is the inexhaustible storehouse and the source of light and

energy. Without sunlight creatures and vegetation would cease to

exist. People will lose their life sustaining vitality. Lack of

nourishing substances would lead to the end of creation. This is why

the sun's existence, movements and positions in the cosmos are so

important and that is why the sun earns our respect, admiration and

reverence. How sun's energy helps us for gaining health is briefly

pointed out in Message# 1680, 3441, 4590 at ayurveda.

 

Khichadi Sakranti

Makar Sankranti is also known as KHICHADI (Indian dish made from rice

and Moong bean dhal) Sankranti because on this day the injunction to

eat Khichadi , is generally observed by people. Seasonal crops become

available. Ghee, and spices are used for making tasty nourishing

Khichadi. Winter loosens its grip on shiver producing cold, admitting

springtime that brings with it the chance for all round health

improvement. Those who are familiar with Rutucharya, may know that

Vata problems were exacerbated during winter. Those who do not,

please check up:

 

http://ayurveda-foryou.com/clinical_ayurveda/ritu.html

 

>From Makar Sankranti, they start easimg. Medical astrology assigns

Makar (Capricorn) sign with Knee joint, tendons and areas surrounding

knee cap. Hence if Vata probles associated with these areas are

likely to receive more attention.

 

Many receipe used during these days use ghee, tender garlic, whole

grains. The abundant supply of Coriander, Spinach, Fenugreek will

ease Vata problems (Spinal and joint pains). For instance, if

suffering knee pain, sore muscles, heel pain, take freshly extracted

juice of any of these three vegetables in raw form preferably at

breakfast time and giving 1 hour gap thereafter. Start slowly and

gradually increase the quantity upto 250 ml, without worrying about slightly

loose motions. For taste, you can add a little tender garlic or grated ginger

with a small slice of lemon. See how they balance your minerals and reduce both

joint and muscle pains. The ginger drink, made by boiling half an inch piece of

fresh ginger or ½ tsp Sonth (dry ginger) powder in two cups of water till it

reaches 1 cup is also a good remedy on sore joints and muscles.

 

 

Til Sankranti

In addition to Khichadi, great importance is attached to the

use of TIL (Sesame seeds) during Makar Sankranti. Therefore, this

Sankranti is also called TIL Sankranti. People make Laddoos (round

balls) from Til. Til oil is used for massaging. While making laddoos, ensure

that you are using only organic jaggery. Til-gul, the traditional receipe,

should not be using white sugar.

 

Six types of usage of Til are described. Til is used for Bathing, for

Massaging, for Havan (sacred fire ceremony), Tarpan with Til

(oblations of water with Til), Til used as food, and Til is donated

in charity.

 

It is said that Til emanates from Lord Vishnu's body and that the

above described usage wash away all kinds of sins. Sankranti period

is held to be very auspicious and any good deeds during this time

will produce merits. Gifts of clothing, blankets etc., on this day

are productive of merits in both this life and in the next life.

 

In ayurveda, sesame is given very much importance, Sesamum indicum,

is a native of India, and its usage dates back to 3000 b.c. While

light coloured variety is considered warming and giving energy,

black variety is considered for reducing menstrual pains, excess

discharge or bleeding in piles. There are many messages on sesame oil on

ayurveda. Ayurveda recognises only sesame oil as one edible oil.

 

Sankranti is important for higher learning. On this occasion

scholarships are awarded by Pandits for education in Philosophy,

Vaidic science etc. In many ashramas all over India, Yagnyas are

conducted. Those staying in Maharashtra can visit Sakuri, a small

village 5 kms from Shirdi, to witness a Yagnya done entirely by women

priests, chanting of various vaidic mantras in clear resonating voice

day after tomorrow. For one month next, holy bath in Ganges has importance,

especially at places where Kumbh Mela is held.

 

Day after Sankranthi, a Marathon race for walking 42 kms is being

organized in Mumbai. A 7 km dream run is there, in which 70 heart

patients (37 with bye-pass, 11 with angio-plasty, 2 with double bye-pass) will

be participating. The reason for this is that Asian Heart Institute and research

Centre is a co-sponsor.

 

The significance of this year Sankranti is the neighbourhood of Sun

and Pluto, the Sun is important for health science, Vaidyak shastra.

Pluto is the planet bringing in wholesale uphevals in each

discipline. It kindles fires of wishes to uncover most hidden

treasures of knowledge. It creates a kind of surgery by which life

force in each planet gets the purity of 'satya-shiva-

sundaram'. This sugery of every birth planet by pluto is the

secret of the purpose of creation of its existence by

supremo. Pluto has tremendous explosive power, does not like

patchwork but destroy everything old and create everything afresh

from the clean slate. Pluto has crossed over into Sagittarius last year, the

zodiac sign governing NGOs, Ashramas, Spiritual Gurus, Charity hospitals,

religious institutions, temples etc.the result of this we are seeing Ramdev Baba

in lime light for last two years.

 

So, if health science, government outlook, unrest from people, if it

goes through a big epoch making change, we will not be surprised.

Polarisation in favour of a great change at Public bodies, the

elected representatives, the people who matter for decision making,

their becoming as furious (when their own kith and kin get the burn due to

frankestein) as general public, is what astrologerss predict in next 10-15

years. Other members can add/debate these views freely.

 

Dr Bhate