Makar Sankranti - Goddess Sankranti Story

Makar Sankranti 

Makar Sankranti is a famous Indian festival celebrated across India in various forms with great dedication, fun and devotion. It is highly regarded by the Hindus all over India. This is the only Hindu festival in India that is celebrated on exactly the 14^th or 15th January every year.

The word Makar means Capricorn, and Sankranti indicates transition or movement. 

In astronomical terms, it is Uttarayan or the northward movement of the sun towards the tropic of Capricorn from the tropic of Cancer.

In the Devi Purana and some other scriptures, Goddess Sankranti is the divine personification of the Sun's transit (Sankranti) between zodiac signs. She is most famously worshipped during Makar Sankranti, which marks the Sun's entry into Capricorn.

Goddess Sankranti 

Goddess Sankranti

Goddess Sankranti is an avatar of Devi Parvati, who is celebrated for slaying two demons, Sankarasura and Kinkarasura, who tried to kill the Kritikas, the foster mothers of her son Kartikeya.

There was a demon Tarakasura, who became invincible by the boon granted by Lord Brahma that he could only be killed by a child of Lord Shiva.

After the self-immolation of Goddess Sati, Lord Shiva became an ascetic, but Devi Parvati’s true love and devotion transformed him, and both got married. But Goddess Parvati could not conceive a child due to Devi Rati’s curse, so both Lord Shiva and Parvati sought another way of having a son.

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati combined their energies, and their subsequent union and combined energies produced an intensely hot, fiery seed.

The demon king Tarakasura was aware of this happening, so the devtas were afraid that he might try to harm the super seed produced by the combined power of Shiva-Shakti.

The gods asked Agni, the god of fire, to carry it, but even he found it unbearable.

Agni then handed the seed to the river goddess Ganga, who carried it to a lake in a forest of reeds (known as Saravana). But even the Goddess was unable to bear the heat of the super seed, and it slipped away from her hands into the lake, where it got dispersed into six parts, six babies on lotus flowers. Each part transformed into a baby boy and was found and adopted by the Kritikas, who are the six celestial nymphs - Pleiades star cluster. The six Kritikas - Śiva, Sambhūti, Prīti, Sannati, Anasūya and Kṣamā raised the babies as their sons.

The demon king Tarakasura sent two demons, Sankrasaur and Kinkrasaur, to kill the Kritikas.

Sankrasura and Kinkarasura had a boon from God Varuna (God of water) that nobody can kill them in or under water. And as per the instructions of Asur Mata Diti, both asuras decided to kill the six babies in water.

Goddess Sankranti killed demons Sankrasaur and Kinkrassaur

Watching this, Goddess Parvati got tensed and furious. To kill both the demons, Goddess Parvati manifested herself as Devi Sankranti riding a crocodile and with her divine powers, lifted Sankrasura and Kinkarasura from the water and killed both. 

Later, Goddess Parvati unified the six babies into one and named him Kartikeya, honouring the Kritikas and their love towards her son. 

Goddess Parvati with son kartikeya

Goddess Sankranti killed Sankrasaur on the day of Makar Sankranti and Kinkrasaur the next day, hence it is called   Kinkranti or Karidin.

This victory of the goddess over the demons is celebrated as the festival of Makar Sankranti, symbolising the triumph of good over evil and the end of negativity.

In some holy texts, Goddess Sankranti is described with specific physical attributes like "extended over sixty yojana with long lips and nose, with one head and nine hands has a manly figure" and her vehicle, age, and ornaments vary each year according to the specific astrological alignment. She arrives and departs from a certain direction. It is believed that Goddess Sankranti bestows prosperity from the direction she arrives and from where she departs; that direction experiences destruction.

Goddess Sankranti presents the active energy (Shakti) of the Sun's transition.

In Maharashtra, women worship the Goddess Sankranti in the form of a clay pot (Sugada).

How to celebrate Makar Sankranti

Goddess Sankranti Puja

Makara Sankranti is regarded as important for spiritual practices, and accordingly, people take a holy dip in rivers, especially Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. The bathing is believed to result in merit or absolution of past sins.

Devotees worship Maa Durga or Lakshmi alongside the Sun God and Devi Sankranti to seek protection and prosperity.

The Devi Purana emphasises that bathing in holy rivers and performing charity (daana) during this window is spiritually transformative, as the goddess's energy is particularly potent for removing obstacles.

Traditional offerings include sesame (til) and jaggery, which are believed to symbolise the sweetness of speech and the merging of the individual soul with the divine.

Donations made during Sankranti are believed to be perpetually received in subsequent births.

 Makar Sankranti is highly conducive for Sadhana – the spiritual practice or meditation, as the environment is filled with ‘Chaitanya,’ meaning ‘cosmic intelligence.’

Makar Sankranti Mantra -

The Devi Purana and related Shakta texts like the Devi Mahatmyam (often read during this transition) prescribe powerful mantras to invoke protection and prosperity:

Sankranti Devi Mantra: 

This is recited while offering water to the rising sun, acknowledging the goddess's role in the solar transit:

“Ehi Surya Sahastransho Tejorashe Jagatpate | Anukampaya Maam Devi Grihanaarghyam Divakara ||”

Auspiciousness Mantra: 

To bring peace and prosperity during the transition:

“Sarva Mangala Mangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhake | Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Narayani Namostute ||”

Removal of Obstacles mantra: 

“Om Sarva Badha Prashamanam Trailokya Syakhileshvari | Evameva Tvaya Karyam Asmad Vairi Vinashanam ||”

The significance of Makar Sankranti lies in the gratitude we should have for nature's bounty (harvest), and celebrating unity in diversity, kindness, renewal, and the importance of inner purity by understanding the sun's northward journey (Uttarayan) as a symbol of new beginnings, spiritual growth, and community harmony. This day also teaches us to give up negativity ("Tilgul ghya, god god bola" – eat sweets, speak sweetly) and embrace positivity, much like the sesame seeds that are white inside but black outside, reminding us to be pure internally.

 

FAQs on Goddess Sankranti (Origin, Story & Makar Sankranti Significance)

• Who is Goddess Sankranti?

Goddess Sankranti is a divine form of Goddess Parvati and an aspect of the supreme Adishakti. She represents the शक्ति (power) that destroys negativity and restores balance, and is worshipped as the divine force behind transformation and cosmic transitions.

• Why did Goddess Sankranti ride a crocodile?

The crocodile represents control over the deep and unpredictable forces of nature, especially water. By riding it, Goddess Sankranti signifies mastery over fear, emotions, and hidden dangers, showing that divine power governs even the most uncontrollable elements.

• What is the connection between Goddess Sankranti and the Kritikas?

After her victory, Goddess Sankranti is associated with the celestial mothers—the Kritikas—who nurtured her son Lord Kartikeya. This connection highlights her role as both a fierce protector and a divine mother linked to cosmic creation and protection.

• Why is Makar Sankranti associated with Goddess Sankranti?

Makar Sankranti is celebrated as the day when Goddess Sankranti defeated evil forces, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. Spiritually, it also marks a powerful transition period when divine energies are believed to be highly active and beneficial for spiritual growth.

• How is Goddess Sankranti connected to the Sun God?

Goddess Sankranti is believed to empower Surya (Surya Dev) to move through different zodiac signs. This transition, known as Sankranti, governs time, seasons, and cosmic cycles, making her a key force behind universal order and movement.

• What does “Sankranti” mean in spiritual terms?

Sankranti means transition or movement. Spiritually, it represents the shift from darkness to light, ignorance to wisdom, and negativity to positivity—guided by divine energy.

• What are the benefits of worshipping Goddess Sankranti?

Worshipping Goddess Sankranti is believed to:

• Remove negativity and obstacles
• Bring strength and courage
• Help in personal transformation
• Attract prosperity and positivity
• Align one’s life with cosmic rhythms

• How is Goddess Sankranti worshipped on Makar Sankranti?

Devotees worship her by:

• Taking holy baths (especially in rivers)
• Offering prayers to the Sun God
• Performing charity (daan)
• Chanting prayers and remembering her victory

These rituals are believed to purify the soul and invite divine blessings.

• What is the spiritual significance of Makar Sankranti?

Makar Sankranti marks the Sun’s transition into Capricorn (Makara), symbolising a shift toward light and positivity. It is considered an auspicious time for new beginnings, spiritual practices, and receiving divine grace.

• Is Goddess Sankranti worshipped widely today?

While not as commonly known as other forms of the Goddess, her presence is deeply embedded in the spiritual meaning of Makar Sankranti. Many traditions indirectly honour her through rituals connected to the festival and the Sun’s transition

• What is the story of Goddess Sankranti?

According to sacred traditions, Goddess Sankranti took a fierce and powerful form to protect the Kritikas—the celestial mothers of Lord Kartikeya. When the demons Sankrasaur and Kinkrasaur attempted to harm them, the Goddess intervened and destroyed both demons, safeguarding the divine mothers and restoring cosmic balance.