The Importance of Uttaraayan!

By H H Maa Purnananda

“Agnirjyotirahah Shuklah Shanmaasaa Uttaraayanam; Tatra Prayaataa Gachchhanti Brahm Brahmavido Janaah.” – (Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta – 8/24)

The Scriptures (Shaastra-s) of Sanaatan Dharm are profound and all-inclusive. They not only provide the principles and injunctions, but also the instructions and practices are elaborately explained thereby so that one can achieve the expected individual human evolution in due course.

The study of Scriptures which covers the theory as well as the practice of the same, with efficient and systematic approach, is termed as “Subjective Science”. Without sincere study of these Sacred Texts, “Sacred” because they deal with the “Subject” – the “Supreme Self”, we would be deprived of the invaluable “wealth” that the Sanaatan Dharm has provided us to earn and spend in this human life.

Man’s focus through life remains on the earnings and expenditure for livelihood. But apart from that, there is this “inner wealth” which has to be earned alongside; which is most neglected or even forgotten by individuals. The Guru-s keep reminding about this “wealth” to those who approach Them. There would be a few out of thousands of such devotees who approach a Guru, who would sincerely practice the Dharm imparted by the Guru. Again, amongst them, there would be a rare one who would be able to give up the evil of egotism.

As per the Vedic philosophy of Vedant, which is one of the most important philosophies established by Sanaatan Dharm, ‘ego’ is the expression of ‘ignorance’; ignorance about our “True Self”. This non-apprehension of the True Self due to the veil of Trigunaatmika Maya entraps man into worldly entanglements, taking the world as Real! This strong bond between the deluded individuality and its own True Self, indeed is hard to break. To break free from this unfortunate bondage is an uphill task, to be taken up by the sincere seekers of the Ultimate Goal.

The Self is the Ultimate Reality, self-effulgent, changeless and Eternal. One of the most often chanted Mantra from the Brihadaaranyak Upanishad of Yajurved is a peace prayer which says –“Asato Ma Sadgamaya; Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya; Mrityorma Amritam Gamaya.” - “May I be led from unreal to the Real, from darkness to Light and from death to Immortality.” Seemingly these are three Statements, but a deeper study of the same reveals that since the Self is Advaya - One without a second. So, these three have to lead us to the One, and hence, these cannot be three! The conclusion – the Real is Effulgent and Eternal. That Real I am, and therefore, I have to shed the unreal and Realize the Real Self.

The brilliance, the effulgence of light, is known to us as perceived in the world. The brightest objects such as the sun, the moon, the stars, the lightening and also the fire are no match to the brilliance of our True Self. Sanaatan Dharm advocates about this ultimate truth by saying that even the brightest object is merely lit as well as perceived in the Light of the Eternal Self alone. The philosophy of Vedant expounded and compiled in the four Ved-s, the ultimate Sacred Scriptures of Sanaatan Dharm, have deep, elaborate and significant explanations about the proven theories regarding the True Self, as well as the systematic and specific, Spiritual and religious practices, that would lead the seeker to the True Self.

Sreemad Bhagawad Geeta, one of the most popular and vastly studied Scripture of Sanaatan Dharm, in the given Shlok, briefly touches the subject matter pertaining to “light”. The Lord says - “Fire, light, daytime, the bright fortnight, the six months of the Northern Path of the Sun (Northern Solstice) – departing then (by these), men who know Brahman, go to Brahman.” Here, the Lord points to the importance of “light” and therefore, the importance of “Uttaraayan”. The Knower of Brahman – the True Self, would surely be beyond the dark and delusive impact of ever-changing Maya; hence, after leaving the mortal coil, would attain the Self.

The term “Uttaraayan” implies thus, the proceeding of the soul towards the True self. When the northern hemisphere of the earth is tilted towards the sun, during such six months every year, here in Bhaarat we observe “Uttaraayan” which begins from the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, falling on the 13th, 14th or 15th of January. On this auspicious day, the followers of Sanaatan Dharm take a Holy dip in Mother Ganga and chant Sree Vishnu Sahatranaam – the thousand names of Lord Vishnu, as exclaimed by Sri Bheeshma Pitaamah while leaving the mortal coil on that day of Makar Sankranti, when “Uttaraayan” sets for Bhaarat. These are the bright six months of the year for us and are most conducive for Spiritual and religious practices and hence most important for the seekers of the True Self.

At the onset of the New Year 2025, may we reorient ourselves for the Abhyaas of Aatmaanusandhaanam (Self-inquiry) – the practice that would lead us towards the Ultimate Goal of human life – the Self.