ON UTTARAYANA

Uttarayana signifies the movement of the Sun northward. It is six months from the Makara Sankrathi that falls in the month of January every year.  The other half of the year is Dakshinayana when the Sun turns southward. Uttarayana is considered  auspicious and holier than  Dakshinayana. It is said to be the special period for Sadhana. Bhagawan Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba does not subscribe to this view which is common in society. Swami says, “ Any day is a good day for starting Sadhana, whether it falls in the Dakshinayana or Uttarayana. One need not wait for the Sun to turn North. The months and the aynas are all related to Prakriti, and so they have only relative values.” According to Swami, Uttarayana is a quality of ‘ Nayana’ or the eye, a matter of attitude or point of view. When the eye is on BRAHMAN, it is Uttarayana, when it is on Prakriti it is Dakshinayana. The duration when you have very good qualities is Uttarayana whatever the almanac says. Swami says that the bitter tongue is similar to Dakshinayana while normal and good taste is like Uttarayana. Geography speaks of  Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn which are just a convention. They come regularly and strictly observe the rules of Nature. Real Uttarayana in one’s life can occur through tremendous efforts. What are these efforts? How can one bring Uttarayana into his life?

According to Swami one has to know and realize that there are only two entities viz the Substance and the Shadow-- the only One and its Appearance caused by ignorance or Avidya. With the dawn of knowledge and the difference between Atma and the Anatma, the seer and the Seen, the Rope and the Snake, there is liberation from Maya! At the end of this Uttarayana the sight of Kailasa is certain! The Avatar comes to lead people to Uttarayana for “ parithranaya sadhunam” where sadhus mean the good, not merely the ascetics. Sadhu virtues may be found even in animals and insects and worms. Virtue is the bedrock of Dharma and the Avatar comes to protect Dharma. Caught in the web of Maya, man is deluded and considers good as bad and bad as good. He is led away by his desires and craves for whatever attracts his eye. “ When you crave for the thought of the Lord,” Swami says, “ and the company of the Godly, then you are in Uttarayana”. On the bed of arrows on the Kurukshetra battlefield, the grand old man Bhisma was in this predicament. He wanted to be in the everlasting world of Bliss. He wanted his Soul to be illuminated with truth. He also desired liberation from the cycle of birth and death. This ardent prayer and yearning of Bhisma earned him the vision of  Krishna when he passed away. That Swami says was the real Uttarayana for Bhishma!

Swami says that our Manas is the engine dragging the coaches viz ‘ Vishaya vasanas along the two rails of Jiva and Deva. Each coach has luggage like ‘ Buddhi, the senses etc’. Our Atma is the driver of the engine. Faith and sraddha are the couplings that have to be fixed tight. Our intellect has to be used properly to get the grace of God. This body is called Karma deha--the working body and should be used for the purpose given. Temples remind us of all pervading God. Our mind should be filled with holy experiences and not go after pleasures and picnics. This body is called 'kshetra, and the Divinity in it is called ‘ kshetragna’. Men and women have to think of Him. This is the surest way for Uttarayana, the holy progress. “ You should not ask for the sweetest or the most attractively packed drug, but the drug you need for the illness you suffer from.” Do not run after the other attractions. “ The Bhogi and the Rogi  should be transformed into the Yogi” counsels Bhagawan Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Man must be eligible for the vision of God. Humility and love  for all the creatures is the best way to realize the Almighty. Bereft of greed and egoism, sweet in word and deed and thought one should dedicate himself to service to God and society! Swami is unhappy that pilgrimages have become picnic spots and they have become “ Vinoda prayana”- entertainment tours! They should become “ Viveka prayana”- intellectual tours. The real purpose for which man takes up the pilgrimage is totally lost in the purchase of vessels, clothes and a few rarities.When the mind is turned to the God within and the God in the temple you are in Uttarayana direct.

Man becomes fearless when he has faith in God. He is imperturbable as a rock! No danger or difficulty can shake him. What is that we can offer to God who has offered everything to humanity? Foolishly we say that we will do that or give this if our desires are granted or fulfilled! God does not need our offerings whatever they be. Flowers, fruits, jewels and costly gifts are nothing to Him! Swami has declared that no fruits or flowers should be brought to him! He wants only the sweet fragrant manas or heart full of love as an offering to him! He wants devotees to come with empty hands when he can fill them with gifts and grace! The outward meaning of Uttarayana is irrelevant for the Sadhaka or the aspirant for spirituality. It is just for the common man. One who does not think of God and engages himself in trivial pleasures and material bondage is in ‘Dakshinayana’ though he remains in Uttarayana for namesake! The more we turn godly and devote ourselves to spiritual activities the more we are in proximity to Uttarayana!