Every morning on your way to school, notice the direction in which the Sun rises. Decide on a spot and look towards east, with trees, poles, or buildings acting as markers. Sketch the eastern horizon in your notebook. For the next one year, at the start of each month, stand at the same spot and mark the Sun's position on your sketch. Label it with the name of the month. At the end of the year analyse your sketch. Do you find that the positions of sunrise shift in particular direction? Can you identify it with the Uttarayaan and Dakshinayaan that our ancestors noticed?
Expected observations: The Sun's rising position shifts throughout the year.
In summer (around June 21, summer solstice), the Sun rises northward of exact East. In winter (around December 21, winter solstice), it rises southward of East.
The Sun's apparent northward movement from December to June is called Uttarayan, and its southward movement from June to December is called Dakshinayan.
This cycle repeats every year and is closely linked to the changing seasons.
Explanation
The chapter states: 'In summer, it rises a little northward of East and in winter a little southward of East. These extremes happen on the solstices, around June 21 and December 21 each year. The Sun's apparent northward movement from December to June is called Uttarayan, and its apparent southward movement from June to December is Dakshinayan.' The Taittiriya Samhita records: 'Thus the Sun moves southwards for six months and northwards for six months.'
Solution Steps
The Sun's rising position shifts throughout the year
In summer (around June 21, summer solstice), the Sun rises northward of exact East
In winter (around December 21, winter solstice), the Sun rises southward of East
Uttarayan is the Sun's apparent northward movement from December to June
Dakshinayan is the Sun's apparent southward movement from June to December
This cycle repeats every year and is linked to the changing seasons