Sankranti meaning in Vedic astrology: the Sun's sign change

The Sun takes about 30 days to cross each sign, so there are twelve Sankrantis every year. In the sidereal zodiac, using the True Chitra Paksha ayanamsa, Skybond's computed entry dates fall around the 12th to 18th of each month.

P.V.R. Narasimha Rao (PVR) notes that the Sun's entry into Capricorn is celebrated in south India as 'Makara Sankraanthi' or 'Makara Sankramanam' or 'Pongal'. The Sun enters sidereal Capricorn on 14 or 15 January each year, by Skybond's computation.

Skybond's Vedic sun sign dates page lists every entry date, with exact entry times worked out live.

Related terms

• Sun sign →Sun sign means the sign the Sun occupies at the moment of birth. In Vedic astrology it is measured in the sidereal zodiac.
• Sidereal zodiac →Sidereal zodiac: a zodiac anchored to stellar reference points, used in Vedic astrology.
• Ayanamsa →Ayanamsa: the difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs.

Sources for this entry

1. P.V.R. Narasimha Rao, Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach
2. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (R. Santhanam translation)
3. Sun's sidereal sign-change dates, 2000 to 2050 (True Chitra Paksha), IST (Skybond calculation with the Swiss Ephemeris)