Makar Sankranti 2026: Why did grandfather Bhishma wait for Makar Sankranti to sacrifice his life, does one get salvation after dying on this day?

Why did grandfather Bhishma sacrifice his life on Makar Sankranti?Image Credit source: AI ChatGpt

Makar Sankranti 2026: The festival of Makar Sankranti is about to come. On January 14, Sun God will enter Capricorn. This holy festival will be celebrated on this day. Makar Sankranti is not just a festival, but it also has many special aspects from the spiritual point of view. On this day the Sun becomes Uttarayan in Capricorn. In the scriptures, this is considered the period of the gods. It is said that when the Sun God is in Uttarayan, the doors of heaven open.

There are folk beliefs that those who die in Uttarayan get salvation, while those who die in the sun of Dakshinayan have to go through the cycle of birth and death. A state of confusion is seen among people when deaths occur during Teej and festivals. Many times this question arises in the minds of people that if someone dies on the day of Makar Sankranti, then what is its meaning?

One attains salvation after death on Makar Sankranti.

According to the experts of the scriptures, if someone dies on Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan of Sun God, then the doors of heaven are open for him. The souls of those who die on Makar Sankranti are considered very virtuous and such souls automatically attain salvation. These are considered the days of God, so after death the soul finds a place directly at the feet of God.

This can be better understood from the story of Mahabharata’s grandfather Bhishma. Grandfather Bhishma had the boon of voluntary death. On the 10th day of Mahabharata, the body of grandfather Bhishma was badly pierced by Arjun’s arrows. After this he got injured and fell on the battlefield. Lying on the bed of arrows, Bhishma was suffering unbearable pain, but he did not give up his life immediately. Because at that time Sun God was in Dakshinayan.

Bhishma waited on the bed of arrows

In the scriptures, this period is not considered favorable for sacrificing one’s life. Later, grandfather Bhishma knew this. Therefore, he waited for Sun God’s Uttarayan to sacrifice his life. After this, when Sun God became Uttarayan on Makar Sankranti, he sacrificed his life. It is believed that when the soul dies at this time, the soul attains supreme salvation.

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