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 ancestor 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.
Vrishabha Sankranti, Vrushabha Sankranti, Vrishabha Sankraman
Vrishabha Sankranti is observed when the sun moves from Mesha Rashi (Aries) to the Vrishabha Rashi (Taurus). This day is the solar calender’s second month and is known as edavam month in Malayalam, vaikasi in Tamil, jyesto in Bangali.
Vrishabha Sankranti is also called as Vrishabha Sankraman in southern parts of India Brusha Sankranthi in Orissa. For Vrishabha Sankranti sixteen Ghatis ( 1 day = 60 Ghatis) before the Sankranti moment are considered auspicious and the time window that exists between that moment to Sankranti moment is auspicious for all Dan-Punya activities. Performing Sankramana Snan, pitru tarpan and shradha are the important rituals of this day. During this Sankranti time Godaan (gifting cow) is considered highly auspicious.
Vrishibha means the bull, and is the another name for Lord Shiva’s vehicle Nandi. Vrishabha Sankranti day is also an auspicious days for Vishnu devotees. Special prayers and rituals are offered on this day in Lord Shiva and Vishnu Temples.
Brusha Sankranti
In Odisha, Vrishabha Sankranti is observed as Brusha Sankranti. On this day devotees, begin their day by taking of ritual bath (Sankraman snan) in rivers and sea. They worship sun god during this time. pitru tarpanas are also performed in river banks.
Large number of devotees throng holy city of Puri and visit the Jagannath temple to seek blessings from Lord Vishnu. Special prayers are offered to the god to appease him and seek his blessings for the family.
