What is "Makr" in Makr Sankranti?
Because the Sun enters Makr (Capricorn)
On this day, the month of Paush
which is considered inauspicious
it comes to an end
and the Sun enters Magh month
and Makr (Capricorn) rashi.
Now, who is the Lord of Capricorn ?
or who is the Ruler of Capricorn
Saturn (or Shani)
Now, who is Saturn?
It's Shani
Everyone is scared of Shani (Saturn)
Because Shani is a planet
that, of course, represents darkness
but, it shows you
that how much ego you have inside
Shani shows how much ego you have
When you have ego within, only then
you have both pain and pleasure in life
Do we understand?
Because, you think that
you are separate,
I am different from others.
So, there is happiness
and sadness in your life.
Today, the thing which makes you happy
is the same thing which makes you sad.
And... the purpose  of life is
that we have to come out
of this happy and sad phase.
As Buddha has said,
 "all the suffering is
because of attachments."
As you leave attachment
your grief will go away.
So...today, the sorrow in your life
less or more,
it is good or bad,
it is difficult or easy
All the definitions in your life
are called Shani (Saturn).
and these definitions are
the cause of sorrow.
If you go deeper,
the definitions we have in our life...
I am not happy today
I am not satisfied today
I have little money
my growth is slow
So, the miseries we have today
that all are our definitions,
not the truth.
Ten years ago, we used to think that
when I will reach this
position, I will be happy.
Today, you are on that position
and still you are not happy.
So...all these definitions,
the definitions of Saturn
today...
on this Makr Sankranti
the Sun enters
and sits near Shani (Saturn).
and what is Sun...
it's light.
Talking about Chakras,
people who write about Chakras,
the Sun resides in our Manipur Chakra
the Sun is said to be our consciousness.
and
Our consciousness is
what we have to uncover
in this life.
You must have heard the word
"ENLIGHTENMENT."
Have you heard or not ??
What does "ENLIGHTENMENT" mean?
It means to enlighten yourself.
To realize,
to self-realize.
You must have seen that people who become great yogis,
they have Sun sign behind their head.
Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ...
you can see a Sun sign behind all of them.
So...
ultimately, we have to
enlighten our consciousness.
and it is the Sun...
...that the planets cover again and again.
Rahu (North Lunar Nodes) covers the Sun,
Ketu (South Lunar Nodes) covers the Sun.
It's always the Sun who is under darkness.
That is why, humans
failed to know their real nature.
So, today on Makr Sankranti,
The Sun starts it's journey from uttarayan (North),
instead of Dakshayan (South).
It is said that the Sun starts
going towards the North.
It means,
summer is setting in,
days are becoming longer,
and this is the time
when we purify our consciousness.
And..  what does the Sun symbolize ??
DHARMA (The Truth),
the Sun represents DAAN (The Charity),
Do you know, who was son of the Sun
in Mahabharata?
Audience: KARNA
and what is karna known for?
Audience: DAANVEER (A Philanthropist)
He was so charitable
that he gave away his precious
amour just before the war, MAHABHARATA.
He never said, "NO."
Similarly, you see the Sun
it shines in the sky
and asks for nothing from us.
Today, even if a tree gives a fruit,
it says you water me
put fertilizers in me
then I will give you fruits.
Does the Sun ask for something ??
that is why, the Sun is called
Maha Dani (The Great Donor).
And actually our soul is philanthropist.
But we are unaware because...
of it lives in ignorance.
So... today on Makr Sankranti,
we worship the Sun
and...
washes away the negativity
that lowers our inner consciousness.
So...what is the most used thing today?
It's til (Sesame Seeds)
Who will tell what is the specialty of til
 that til is used?
Til is black from outside
and white from inside.
Audience Applauds!!!
There ain't any difference between
black til and white til.
One has rind and one does not have rind.
Just like, we appear black outside
but we are white from inside.
So when Shani's (Shani) darkness removes,
the light of the Sun becomes visible.
That is why, Black til (sesame)
is used while worshiping Shani.
Whereas, for the worship of the Sun,
the skin is removed and white til is used.
We still remember that our mother used to
encourage use to eat til
give them in charity, and
take bath with the same as well.
It is said that if you bathe with til
today, you will always be beautiful.
So...
today Til (Sesame) is greatly used and
for the attribute of the
Sun which is generosity,
Khichdi (polenta) is offered in charity
jaggery, til etc are donated and shared.
And... definitely
this time of Uttarayan is quite auspicious.
The mythological story
related to this day is that
Bhishma Pitamah (of Mahabharata)
gave up his life on this day.
And...
there are different stories like that
Even, Pongal is celebrated today
because of harvesting time.
on it's four days,
all the things which give
you abundance in life,
they are worshipped.
Farmers worship their farms,
their produce and yields.
Then we meet and greet each other.
as everyone's support is important in life.
Also, the cattle is worshiped.
and the Sun is worshipped.
It is said that...
all the past things, bitter
feelings should be left behind.
Wash away all the negativity, let them go.
It is like a New Year for Hindus.
That is why, it is said,
"Til Gud Gaya Aani,
Ghod Ghod Bola"
(Eat sweet til and speak sweet).
