What Is The Difference Between Uttarayan And Dakshinayan
According to the Hindu Calendar, the sun changes its position relatively with the revolution of the earth, and the phase during the change of the position of the sun is referred to as Uttarayan and Dakshinayan. Uttarayan is referred to the six months when the sun travels from Capricon to Gemini. While the phase of dakshinayan starts when the sun travels from zodiacs Cancer to Leo, Virgo, Libra followed by Scorpio and Sagittarius which is again a six-month duration.
Earth is divided by an imaginary line called the equator that runs through the middle of it, dividing it into two halves- the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere. Now, while the earth is orbiting around the sun, the hemisphere that faces the sun will receive direct heat from the sun for a prolonged time of the day. Thus, the hemisphere facing the sun will have the summer season and the other hemisphere will have the winter season.
It is quite evident that the motion of the earth around the sun in an annual manner causes the change of the seasons. While the sun and the stars are at constant positions like the constellations which is known as the collection of the stars that create a particular pattern or figure, the earth revolves around the sun and crosses the same constellation while completing its revolution. Thus we can witness the same constellations in the sky every year. This makes the concept of the Zodiac signs. The sun concerning earth appears to move from the south to the equator and then from the equator to the north (January to March).
As the sun crosses the equator on the 21st of March, it indicates the beginning of the spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of the autumn in the southern hemisphere. Thus on March 21st every year the day and the night duration becomes equal all over the world. Then the sun travels in the northern hemisphere for the next three months till June 21st, reaching the north-most point. After this day the sun starts traveling in the southern hemisphere crossing the equator that is known as autumn Equinox (that again marks the equal duration of day and night). It indicates the starting of the fall in the Northern hemisphere and the beginning of spring in the southern hemisphere.
According to the Hindu mythological beliefs, the movement of the sun towards the north, that is, Uttarayan is marked positive and the movement of the sun towards the south in Dakshinayan is marked as negative and inauspicious. This topic discusses the concept of Uttarayan and Dakshinayan, their significance, and what is the difference between Uttarayan and Dakshinayan.
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What is Uttarayan?
In Sanskrit Uttar mean northwards and Ayan means movement. Thus Uttarayan refers to the movement of the sun towards the northern hemisphere of the earth. It is the time when the sun is at the southernmost position and starts traveling towards the northern hemisphere which is called the topic of cancer and then moves to the extreme north by 22nd June. thus the duration between the transition period of summer solstice and winter solstice is called Uttarayan as per the tropical zodiac. During this time, the sun moves upwards from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. This marks the season of winter to summer from January to June. in India, this is considered the auspicious season to harvest crops. After January the daytime begins to Increase. Thus Uttarayan marks the winter, spring and summer seasons in a six months duration. Thus this entire phase starts from 22nd December and lasts till21st of June. from the 14th of January, the sun enters into the zodiac of Makar and then steadily moves to Aquarius followed by pieces, Aris, Taraus and finally Gemini in the month of March.
What is Dakshinayan?
Dakshinayan is just the opposite of Uttarayan. Dakshin in Sanskrit means Southern and Ayan means movement of the sun that is also termed as solstice in English. It is the time when the sun is at the northernmost position and starts traveling towards the southern hemisphere which is called the topic of cancer and then moves to the extreme south and the enticing of the sun into the topic of cancer happens every year on 14th of July. Thus the duration between the transition period of summer solstice and winter solstice is called Dakshinayan as per the tropical zodiac. During this time, the sun moves downwards from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere. This transition starts on the 21st or 22nd of June. Thus the phase of transition of Uttarayan to Dakshinayan is also called Kark Sakranti. During the time of Dakshinayan, the daytime decreases and the nighttime increases.
What is An Equinox?
The equinox falls twice in a particular year when the earth’s axis is tilted towards the sun. the tilt of the axis is neither closer nor away from the sun. thus this is the time of the year when the daytime in all the altitudes throughout the earth is absolutely equal to the nighttime, that is 12 hours of day and night. This entire event that takes place twice a year and is marked as the transition period of Dakshinayan to Uttarayan and vice versa is called Equinox. Equinox is a Latin word that means aequus (morning) and nox (night). On the occasion of two Equinox every year, on the day and several days before and after the Equinox the duration of the day on the equator is 12 hours and six and a half minutes whereas on 300 latitude from the equator it is 12 hours and eight minutes and on 600 latitudes from the equator it is 12 hours and 16 minutes.
Difference Between Uttarayan and Dakshinayan
The major differences between Uttrayan and Dakshinayan are as follows:-
Similarities Between Uttarayan and Dakshinayan
Similarities between Uttarayan and Dakshinayan are:-
According to the Hindu scriptures in ancient mythology, the sun travels from south to north in Uttarayan and is called Makar Sakranti.
Out of all the six-season, three seasons have been divided into Uttarayan and Dakshinayan with each season lasts for two months. In Uttarayan Summer, spring and winter are marked and in Dakshinayan autumn, fall and winter are marked.
According to the old Hindu mythologies, Bhishma Pitama in order to sacrifice his life he waited till Uttarayan.
According to Hindu beliefs, Uttarayan is considered as the daytime for gods, and dakshinayan is considered as the nighttime for gods.
In terms of Sadhna which also means meditation or cleansing in English, Uttarayan is considered as the time of enlightenment, and Dakshinayan is considered as the time for purification.
Uttarayan and Dakshinayan Significance
Makar zodiac is the first phase of the sun moving in the upward direction from south to north. This movement of the sun holds a great significance in many ancient Hindu beliefs, mythologies, and astronomy. It is considered the most auspicious time of the year where longer and warmer days are accompanied by a clear blue sky. It is the season for harvest and the farmers and peasants of India welcome this season with enthusiasm. The crops are harvested and then left to dry in the longer warmer daytime post 14th January every year.
According to Indian mythology, when Bhishma Pitamaha was severely injured on the battlefield of Mahabharata, he was laid on a bed of arrows but he still waited for several weeks to embrace his death and finally died with the arrival of Uttarayan. Also, on this day of Transition Gangaji met with Bhagirathi to finally meet Kapila Muni who was under the ocean. On this day many fairs are organized on the Ghats of Ganga Sagar to celebrate the auspicious day. During Uttarayan “Kumbh Mela” is organized. It has a great significance as thousands of people take dips in the river Ganga to wash all their sins away.
Opposite to Uttarayan, Dakshinayan is the period where the clouds are filled up in the sky and the days are shorter and the nights are longer. This is considered as the season of negative energy and time for purification. All the good works are postponed according to the Hindu mythology as by the “Vedas” the months that fall under Dakshinayan are said to be supervised by ‘asur’, the demon. Therefore it is also referred to as “a night of Kal devas”.
FAQs on Uttarayan and Dakshinayan
1. Explain Uttarayan and Dakshinayan.
Ans: The movement of the sun from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere of the earth is called Uttrayana and the movement of the sun from the northern to the southern hemisphere is called Dakshinayan.
2. What is the English form of Uttarayan?
Ans. Uttrayan in English means the northward movement of the sun.
3. State the importance of Makar Sakranti.
Ans. Makar Sakranti is the time for harvesting the crops that the farmers yield throughout the year. Thus it is considered to be a very auspicious time and is celebrated on the 14th of January, every year. It marks the day of arrival of Uttarayan.
