The Scientific Basis of a Spiritual Culture

 

India is a land which was ahead of its time. Sanatana Dharma which was practised in India, was a nexus of Science, Culture, Religion & Spirituality. 

In this article I have tried to explain one such concept. It's a bit lengthy one, but definitely worth your time.

SCIENCE

▪️Earth is a solar powered planet where life is sustainable as compared to the other planets in the solar system.

▪️The Sun moves northwards, from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer over a period of 6 months, eventually leading to Summer Solstice (June 21, 2023.) This period has 3 seasons i.e. Winter, Spring & Summer is referred to as "Uttarayanam" as per our ancient scriptures. The days are longer and the nights are shorter in this period.

▪️Similarly it moves southwards from the Tropic of Cancer to Tropic of Capricorn over a period of 6 months, eventually leading to Winter Solstice (December 22, 2023.) This period has 3 seasons i.e. Monsoon, Autumn & Winter is referred to as "Dakshinayanam" as per our ancient scriptures. The days are shorter and the nights are longer in this period.

CULTURE

▪️In India, as the Dakshinayanam period starts, there is Chatur Masa period which is significant. In the first 4 months, it's advised not to conduct any marriages or important functions. People are advised to stay at home due to the rains and there is also an increased risk of infectious diseases.

▪️Farmers sow their seeds and pray the Mother Nature/Gods for the right amount of rains - Not More, Not Less. These crops are eventually harvested, symbolising the greenery around and food is available for everyone. 

▪️The Dakshinayanam ends on Makar Sankranti which marks the onset of Uttarayanam (It's also the first harvest of the year.)

RELIGION

▪️It's a proven fact that as we grow old, time flies faster. It is a well- known fact that time appears to go faster as our consciousness increases.

▪️The Gods who are in a state of very high consciousness have a different reckoning of time. One human year is only one day for them. So Uttarayanam is their Day and Dakshinayanam their night. (More on time is discussed in the end)

▪️Lord Vishnu sleeps/goes into rest on Ashada Ekadasi, for a period of 4 months, which ends on Prabodhini Ekadasi.  During this time, since Vishnu sleeps, there is a flood (Pralaya) during which the world is submerged.  The world is made fertile again by infusing life into it. This corresponds to the rains we have in the monsoon season and the sowing of seeds & cultivation by farmers  respectively.

▪️The churning of ocean by the Gods & Demons also occurs in this time  which is said to give rise to different seasons in this period. Eventually Goddess Lakshmi comes out of the ocean, following which Lord Vishnu wakes up and reunites with Goddess Lakshmi, kickstarting the marriage season.

▪️ A lot of festivals are also celebrated during Dakshinayan/ Chatur Masa period. 

A) In the month of Ashada, we celebrate Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima which is the original Teacher's Day.

B) In the month of Shravana, people fast and abstain from non-vegetarian food and alcohol. Snakes are worshipped and Rakhi is celebrated.

C) In the Bhadrapada, we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. Goddess Parvathi wears a green saree, signifying the greenery around. Janmasthami is also celebrated, following which comes the Pitru Pakshas, where we pay our respects to our deceased relatives.

D) This is followed by Navratri in the month of Ashvina and eventually Diwali in the month of Kartika. These festivals are celebrated for the victory of Gods (Good) over Demons (Evil). 

E) The month of Kartika, earthern lamps are lit all over the month and festivals like Ksheerabdi Dwadasi & Kartika Purnima are celebrated. Since the nights are longer, the lamps give a lot of light, illuminating our house.

SPIRITUALITY

▪️During Dakshinayanam, there is increased amount of desires (Kama) in a person. There is an increase in negative energies (Tamasic) in our body. The Earth also rotates in an anti-clockwise direction causing a physical and mental imbalance in our body. This unevenness creates emotional imbalance which might lead to depression. 

▪️To counter these, lot of festivals are conducted in this season. By fasting, indulging in worship of God and celebrating festivals, we can mitigate the effect of these negative energies.

▪️Spiritually, the phase of Dakshinayanam is referred to as Sadhana Pada or Purification. Similarly the Uttarayanam is referred to as Samadhi/Kaivalya Pada or Enlightenment.

▪️The spiritual energy lost during Uttarayanam is to be regained during this period. The Sadhana pada is the time of plowing, seeding and cultivating. Even Rishis and Sadhus, who roam all over throughout the year, sit at a place and reflect internally.

▪️The Uttarayana period is of the nature of the Sun (Yang), where the spiritual aspect and the self(soul) are in play; while Dakshinayana is of the nature of the Moon (Yin) when the physical body aspect and the mind come into play.

▪️The Kartik Masam  is very significant because this is when the year is starting to move into what is called Kaivalya pada. This is the time to harvest, and it is also the reason agricultural harvests begin during this period. Pongal is the harvest festival. So it is not only the time of harvesting food grains, but also the time to harvest human potential.

▪️In the Yogic sense, there are seven chakras or centres of great power in our system that controls all our physical, psychic and spiritual energies. They lie along the spine. 

▪️Muladhara chakra is the spiritual centre that lies just above the anus, Swadhishtana is the one between the anus and the genitals, Manipuraka corresponds to the navel, Anahata lies next to the heart, Vishuddhi at the base of the throat and Ajna at the meeting point of the two brows. Above the top of the head is the Sahasrara chakra which is way beyond ordinary human reach.

▪️The three chakras from the Mooladhara to the Anahata are all meant for survival. Those above the Anahata are the ones that open up our possibilities for spiritual expansion leading to enlightenment. 

▪️In Chakra language, during the period of Dakshinayanam, the journey of the mind is from the Mooladhara to the Anahata chakras and in Uttarayanam, the journey is from the Anahata to the Ajna. 

▪️This means we should combine all the forces that we have and concentrate on performing severe austerities during this period of Dakshinayanam. After our intense sadhana for six months we will be ready to accept the liberation that will come easily to us during the next six months of Uttarayanam.

▪️Thus the act of lighting a lamp (during Kartika Masam in particular) plays a significant role in our perception of the world around us. If there is no light, there is no experience of anything around us. Like the light which illuminates our surroundings, it is a symbol for us to strive for Purification & Enlightenment.

"Time is a concept created by the movement of our senses, the celestial bodies and our own perceptions. It is part of the illusion in which we live and which we take for real. In the consciousness of the Supreme Being there are no divisions of Time. There is only the present moment, one continuous, indivisible and indistinguishable state of existence. That is a state beyond illusion and that is the state that all our sadhana is supposed to take us."

- Written by Dr. Manikanth Vivek