Sankranti, Sankraman
Sankranti is celebrated on sankraman day i.e. when Sun transits from one zodiac to the next. According to surya siddhanta, Vedic hindu calender consists 12 months. There are 12 sankrati days in a year and each Sankranti day marks the beginning of the new month in Hindu Solar Calendar.
All twelve Sankranti(s) in the year are considered highly auspicious for performing ancestral rituals (Shraddha and Tarpanam) and daana-punya activities. Only particular time duration before or after each Sankranti moment is considered auspicious for Sankranti related activities.
Vrischika Sankranti, Vrischika Sankraman, Vruschika Sankranti
Vrischika Sankranti is observed when the sun moves from Tula Rashi (Libra) to the Vrischika Rashi (Scorpio). This day is the solar calender’s new month and is known as Vrscikam month in Malayalam, Karthigai in Tamil, Ôgrôhayôn in Bangali.
Vrischika Sankranti is also called as Vrischika Sankraman in southern parts of India. For Vrischika Sankranti sixteen Ghatis ( 1 day = 60 Ghatis) before the Sankranti moment is considered as start of the auspicious time and the time window that exists between that moment to Sankranti moment is auspicious for all Dan-Punya activities. Performing Sankramana Snan is pitru tarpan and shradha are the important rituals of this day. During this Sankranti time Godaan (gifting cow) is considered highly auspicious. Vrischika means Scorpio. Vrischika Sankranti day is also an auspicious day worshiping Sun God.
