DAKSHINAYANAM Dakshinayanam means the six month southward travel of the Sun from the Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) towards the Tropic of Capricorn (23½° S) over a period of 6 months. Ayanam means travel. The Solar Year/ Varsha is divided into 2 halves. If we mark the postion of the sunrise on the horizon every day, we will notice that over 6 months it shifts slowly towards one direction and the next 6 months it returns by the same path. This is because the Earth revolves around the Sun in an elliptical path. As the Earth travels around the Sun, due to the 23.5 degree tilted axis, different points on Earth receive different amounts of sunlight during this journey. The day when it reaches farthest from the Sun before turning around is referred to as a solstice. Due to the tilt, at one end of the elliptical path, the Tropic of Cancer is in line with the Sun and at the other end, the tropic of Capricorn. These mark the extreme north and south latitudes (+23.5° and -23.5°) where the sun appears to “turn” when observed from Earth. For the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice (21st June) is the day, when the North Pole is tilted most towards the Sun. Sun is overhead the Tropic of Cancer : this day has the longest daytime of the year. The Sun begins its southern journey (Dakshinayana) from mid July with a few weeks lag caused by the precession of the equinoxes. The December solstice (21st Dec) marks the day when the South Pole is tilted most towards the Sun, and the Sun appears directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn. This day has the shortest daytime of the year. The Sun begins its northern journey (Uttarayana) from 14th Jan. with a 24 days lag again caused by the precession of the equinoxes This year Dakshinayanam began on 17th July (Karkataka Sankranthi – sun transiting into Karkataka rashi (Cancer)) and will last up to 14 th Jan 2024 ( Makara Sankranthi – sun transiting into Makara rasi –Capricorn). Sankranti means transmigration of the Sun from one rashi (constellation of the zodiac) to the next. Uttarayanam will be for six months from !4 January.
Traditional beliefs It is believed that the 6-month Uttarayanam is equivalent to a single day for gods and Dakshinayanam to a single night. Thus one year for humans is equal to 1 day and night for gods. It is believed that Lord Maha Vishnu sleeps during Dakshinayanam and is awake in Uttarayanam. Therefore, Uttarayanam is considered as auspicious and Dakshinayanam as a problematic period necessitating prayers, fasting and meditation instead of feasting and celebrations - that’s why, so many festivals, vrathams and homams are observed / conducted in these 6 months. It is also believed that only people who die during Uttarayanam would go to heaven. Remember Bheeshma could choose to die in Uttarayanam due to a boon. Ordinary mortals don’t have such a choice. On the practical side, we should remember that this is the main rainy season in most areas of our country and hence susceptible to infections and diseases lowering immunity and digestive power in people. That is why satvic food, intermittent fasting, meditation (which includes pranayama) and devotional worship which are part of the religious traditions and rituals ordained during this period will increase the immunity and therefore the health in the Hindu society. It was during this time of the year that Adiyogi (Siva) turned south and became a Dakshinamurti – he began to transmit the fundamentals of the yogic science to his first seven disciples, who are now celebrated as the Saptarishis. He turned south because the sun turned south. The southern run of the sun became significant because this was the first phase of the teaching. This became the Sadhana pada where he taught the Saptarishis what they should do. The northern run or Uttarayanam is referred to as the Samadhi pada or Kaivalya pada. It is a time for “realization”.
Traditional practices Dakshinayana or the southward path, is Lord Yama’s path. It symbolises ‘bhautikavaad : we are naturally drawn towards material pursuits, and away from the path of spirituality. Therefore fasting, penance, prayers and purification rites are suggested to counter its influence. These six months of the Sadhana pada are always more important because in the process of making anything happen, the most important thing is our effort that we should put in. If we do the right things now, we can look forward to good results in the Samadhi pada, maybe a few months later. If a farmer plants the seeds, irrigates the crop and manages it well, he can expect a good harvest a few months later. Lord Dakshinamurthy is associated with this period and praying to Him, helps us face up to our problems. Problems are the way we learn lessons in life and this helps us in our spiritual evolution. Many poojas such as Varalakshmi vratham, Gokulashtami, Ganesha Chathurti, and Sharad Navaratri fall in this period which keep the mind centred on the Divine. The pursuit of material gains is given a spiritual and moral direction through the celebration of Goddess Lakshmi during Deepavali. The dark energies are also countered with lights both during Deepavali and Karthikai deepam. In some parts of India, marriages and other events are avoided during some months of dakshinayana. Specific rituals are followed to ensure our personal energies are in sync with the sun’s energies, benefitting us physically, mentally and spiritually. Interestingly, even dietary, yogic and other practices follow these seasons. Once, we understand the connect between science and practices, many traditions we follow seem so logical. Don’t they?
Sarve Jana sukhino bhavanthu !!
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