"From this day of the Tropic of Capricorn, Makara Sankramana
as it is called, the Sun appears to move from South to North, and
so, this solstice day is celebrated as an auspicious festival since
ages. But, you are concerned more with your own journey, which is
nearing its end with every sunrise.
You yearn to escape the consequences of birth and the aftermath
of death. You desire peace and joy; for this, you have to cleanse
the mind so effectively that it is well nigh eliminated. This is possible
only when you identify yourself with the Atma rather than with the
body which is the casket of the Atma, earned as a reward for one's
activities of mind and body."
"The day of Sankranti has a special significance. Sankranti
means ‘Sam’ coming together, ‘Kranti’ means a radical change. The
Sun into Makara Rashi (Tropic of Capricorn) heralds the beginning
of a great change from this day. It marks the entry into a Divine
phase. It signifies the attempt to turn man's mind towards God. It
is the day when we pray to the Sun, who is the presiding deity for
the eyes, to direct our vision to the pure, and holy, the sacred and
the Divine. The Makara month is holier than all other months. It is
the day when man dedicates his activities for the higher purpose of
attaining Divinity, by following the Northward path, the Uttarayana,
the Nobler path. The Sun Itself is seen to take it from this day.
We have to effect a remarkable, spiritual transformation in the world
on this day. Only then has the observance of Makara Sankranti a meaning.
External changes with no change in one's outlook and attitude will
not signify 'Kranti' (Radical Change)."
