There is a Rhythm in life, in nature. everything ebbs and flows. Understanding these ebbs and flows should help us to understand when to be dynamic and when to hold back. Like inhalation and exhalation, day and night, life and death, we have on annual basis Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. One human year is one day for the Gods, the day bit is the Uttarayana and the night bit Dakshinayana. Scientifically speaking starting from Uttarayana, earth starts moving closer and closer to the sun and in dakshinayana - away from the sun. As life reverberates with the sun - uttarayana is filled with prosperity, aliveness, increased mood and high energy. It is also said that most enlightenments happen in Uttarayana. All Kumbh Melas are held during this phase. It is the period of harvest or Siddhi or reaping the fruits of one’s Tapas. Uttarayana starts with Sankaranti and ends around Guru Poornima
Dakshinayana on the other hand stands for the night of the Devas - characterised by darkness, hibernation, rest and Tamas. The unwise get lost in the darkness and experience the effects of low energy while the wise use this period to go inwards and focus on intense Sadhana. To support this, the ancient Rishis developed the concept of the Holy 4 months or Chaturmaas to do Sadhana towards different energies. Also as this was the rainy season and spiritual people could not continuously move in this time, they would set up retreat camps at one place. The 4 lunar months that occur in Dakshinayana include Shravana (dedicated to Shiva), Bhadrapada (Ganesha), Ashwija ( Devi) and Karthika (Shiva and Vishnu). Winter starts after Karthika. Dhanurmasa is the solar month also representing the last month of the Dakshinayana - the month of utter darkness or maximum Tamas. If unaware, many misconceptions, misunderstandings and conflicts can happen during this phase. That is why the wise called this the Shunya masa - the Zero month when no major decisions are to be taken, but dedicated to increasing awareness and doing intense Sadhana. People usually wake up before sunrise, take cold water bath and stick to austerities during this month. This is also the month of hibernation for plants and animals. Immediately following Dhanurmasa is the Uttarayana - the time to reap the harvest of Sadhana. Dakshinayana is for Sadhana while Uttarayana is for Siddhi. Spring starts with Sankranti and summer with Shivaratri.
Dakshinayana on the other hand stands for the night of the Devas - characterised by darkness, hibernation, rest and Tamas. The unwise get lost in the darkness and experience the effects of low energy while the wise use this period to go inwards and focus on intense Sadhana. To support this, the ancient Rishis developed the concept of the Holy 4 months or Chaturmaas to do Sadhana towards different energies. Also as this was the rainy season and spiritual people could not continuously move in this time, they would set up retreat camps at one place. The 4 lunar months that occur in Dakshinayana include Shravana (dedicated to Shiva), Bhadrapada (Ganesha), Ashwija ( Devi) and Karthika (Shiva and Vishnu). Winter starts after Karthika. Dhanurmasa is the solar month also representing the last month of the Dakshinayana - the month of utter darkness or maximum Tamas. If unaware, many misconceptions, misunderstandings and conflicts can happen during this phase. That is why the wise called this the Shunya masa - the Zero month when no major decisions are to be taken, but dedicated to increasing awareness and doing intense Sadhana. People usually wake up before sunrise, take cold water bath and stick to austerities during this month. This is also the month of hibernation for plants and animals. Immediately following Dhanurmasa is the Uttarayana - the time to reap the harvest of Sadhana. Dakshinayana is for Sadhana while Uttarayana is for Siddhi. Spring starts with Sankranti and summer with Shivaratri.
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