Makar Sankranti's relevance to health sciences

[Guest guest]

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 will human life 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 us, 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, 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. This was taught to

this author by a Jain monk.

 

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.

 

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 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. New disciples are accepted. 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 celibate 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 surgery, 11 with angio-plasty and 2 with

double bye-pass surgey) will be participating. The reason for this is

that Asian Heart Institute and research Centre is a cosponsor. Modern

science too is now coming forward to advertise its achievements.

 

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 is close to mercury and venus. 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. Its crossing over to Sagittarius, the sign of

advanced learning, Vaidic sciences, the spirtualism, the sciences

benifitting humanity are going through upside down upheveals. The

change will be for better.

 

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 for next 10-15 years. Other members can

add/debate these views freely.

 

Dr Bhate