Sankranti in Hindu Calendar

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Mesha Vrishabha Mithuna Karka Simha Kanya Tula Vrischika Dhanu Makara Kumbha Meena
Before Sankranti 15 Ghati 16 Ghati X 30 Ghati 16 Ghati X 15 Ghati 16 Ghati X X 16 Ghati X
After Sankranti 15 Ghati X 16 Ghati X X 16 Ghati 15 Ghati X 16 Ghati 40 Ghati X 16 Ghati
In Hindu calendar there are total twelve Sankranti in a year. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Mesha / Aries Vrishabha / Taurus Mithuna / Gemini Karka / Cancer Simha / Leo Kanya / Virgo Tula / Libra Vrischika / Scorpio Dhanu / Sagittarius Makara / Capricorn Kumbha / Aquarius Meena / Pisces
All twelve Sankranti can be divided into four categories. 1. Ayan Sankranti / Ayani Sankranti Makara Sankranti and Karka Sankranti are two Ayan () Sankranti which are also known as Uttarayana Sankranti and Dakshinayana Sankranti respectively. These are conceptually equivalent to Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice in Hindu calendar and these Ayani Sankranti(s) are drifting apart from seasonal Solstices due to precession of the Earth. After thousands of years these Ayani Sankranti(s) will coincide again with seasonal Solstices. Astrology which considers precession of the Earth is known as Sidereal Astrology and Hindu calendar is based on Sidereal Astrology. Sidereal astrology is also known as Nirayana () Astrology. The counterpart of Sidereal astrology is known as Tropical or Sayana () Astrology which is followed by most Western Astrologers. Precession is also known as Ayanamsha (-).
Uttarayana () is six month time period when the Sun moves into North hemisphere and Dakshinayana () is remaining six month time period when the Sun moves into Southern hemisphere. Due to precession of the Earth these definitions of Ayan Sankranti(s) have become incorrect. The Sun God, also known as Surya Dev, starts moving into North hemisphere about 24 days before Makara Sankranti. Currently Makara Sankranti occurs on 14th or 15th January while Winter Solstice, the movement of the Sun from Southern to Northern hemisphere, starts on 21st or 22nd December. Vedic Astrologer and Panchang Karta () are aware of this fact and dont do any correction as precession has to be considered to mark the correct position of Stars. Correct positioning of Stars is foundation of Hindu calendar and any likely correction will invalidate whole concept of Sidereal Astrology. During Makara Sankranti the Sun God coincides with same Stars in the background which was the original (and is still) concept to mark the day of Makara Sankranti. During Winter Solstice, the Sun doesnt coincide with same Stars in the background which is must to mark the day of Makara Sankranti. Hence Hindu calendar doesnt respect seasons and let them drift but maintain the same position of the Sun (with respect to Stars in the background) to mark the day of all Sankranti(s) including Makara Sankranti. According to above explanation, Hindus still celebrate Makara Sankranti on right day however the word Uttarayana has become misnomer with time and most Indians have accepted this fact by ignoring Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice for any religious activities. Similarly Dakshinayana when the Sun God starts moving into South hemisphere falls on 21st or 22nd June about 24 days before Karka Sankranti. Karka Sankranti currently occurs on 15th or 16th July which has drifted apart from Summer Solstice by 24 days. For Ayan Sankranti auspicious time period is well written in religious texts. For Makara Sankranti 40 Ghati(s) after Sankranti and for Karka Sankranti 30 Ghati(s) before Sankranti is auspicious for doing all rituals related to Sankranti.
2. Vishuva () or Sampat() Sankranti
Mesha Sankranti and Tula Sankranti are two Vishuva Sankranti which are also known as Vasant Sampat and Sharad Sampat respectively. These are conceptually equivalent to Vernal Equinox and Autumnal Equinox in Hindu calendar and these Vishuva Sankranti(s) are drifting apart from seasonal Equinoxes due to precession of the Earth. After thousands of years these Vishuva Sankranti(s) will coincide again with seasonal Equinoxes. For these two Sankranti(s) fifteen Ghati(s) before and after Sankranti moments are considered for auspicious activities. 3. Vishnupadi () Sankranti Simha Sankranti, Kumbha Sankranti, Vrishabha Sankranti and Vrischika Sankranti are four Vishnupadi Sankranti. For all these four Sankranti(s) sixteen Ghati(s) before Sankranti moments are considered for auspicious activities. 4. Shadshitimukhi ( ) Sankranti Meena Sankranti, Kanya Sankranti, Mithuna Sankranti and Dhanu Sankranti are four Shadshit-mukhi Sankranti. For all these four Sankranti(s) sixteen Ghati(s) after Sankranti moments are considered for auspicious activities.

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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Before Sankranti 15 Ghati 16 Ghati X 30 Ghati 16 Ghati X 15 Ghati 16 Ghati X X 16 Ghati X

After Sankranti 15 Ghati X 16 Ghati X X 16 Ghati 15 Ghati X 16 Ghati 40 Ghati X 16 Ghati

2. Vishuva () or Sampat() Sankranti

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