Usher spring with joy
In India, festivals are not only known for the celebrations and festivities of joy, but also for their spiritual significance, inspiring us to raise the standard of our lives. Rather than merely exhausting ourselves physically and mentally, festivals purify the mind, enabling us to face life with more enthusiasm.
As the sun slowly makes its way towards the north, the chill of winter subsides and the warmth of spring is felt by all of nature. There is freshness in the air as flowers bloom, fruits ripen, and the Koel bird sings. It is time to celebrate the coming of spring — Makar Sankranti.
Makar Sankranti, predominantly a harvest festival, is celebrated all over the country in numerous ways and for various reasons. The story goes, that to liberate his ancestors from the curse of Sage Kapila, King Bhagirathi had performed a great penance, appealing to Mother Ganga to liberate them. It is on this day the She descended on Earth from the matted locks of Lord Shiva, washing the ashes of the king’s ancestors. One can infer from this that only by living a noble life of high ideals can we get the requisite knowledge (Ganga) to wash over our acts of ignorance.
In Sanskrit, “makar” means crocodile and sankranti means a “turning” or a “complete revolution”. The crocodile of samsara (rebirth) keeps us firm in its grip. To turn away from its clutches is the way to salvation. The essence of Makar Sankranti is therefore, a revolutionary change in life from the materialistic outlook to a more spiritual and holistic outlook.
Every individual is averse to sorrow and pain, yet we experience it almost always. It is because we tend to seek happiness in material objects. However, one must understand that sorrow and pain are mere projections — though very effective — of the mind. An internal problem cannot be solved by an external solution. The scriptures liken this to the movements of the sun. A man who is living a life of mere materiality, without a sense of higher purpose is compared to the rising and setting of the sun. In reality, the sun neither rises nor sets; it only appears to do so. Similarly, fleeting is our happiness, it will be here today, gone tomorrow. The wise man understands this. He aims to transcend all limitations, to be free and to rejoice in its warmth. The scriptures compare this to the sun’s northern movements — the bringer of warmth, light and with it the freshness of life.
This Makar Sankranti, with our mind focused on the Lord, let us transcend and rise above our own limitations to enjoy the freedom that is ours.
Swami Tejomayananda, head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, is an orator, poet, singer, composer and storyteller. To find out more about Chinmaya Mission and Swamiji, visit
www.chinmayamission.com
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