Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!

UGADI – THE HINDU NEW YEAR

Significance

Ugadi is basically a Hindu festival signifying the time element of the Universe
which is celebrated as a new year day coinciding with the first day of Chaitra
Masa Sukla paksha Prathama Thithi as per the Hindu Lunar Calendar called
Chandramana. As per Chandramana the month is denoted by the star on the
full moon day. For example when the full moon day is in the star
constellation of Chitta (Chitra) that month is referred to as Chaitra Masa
whose beginning day is celebrated as Ugadi.

It is a festival mainly celebrated in the southern part of India and

Maharashtra. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka it is celebrated as Ugadi
while in Maharashtra it is called as Gudi Padwa. In all the three states it is
celebrated as per Chandramana. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala it is celebrated
as per Sowramana on the day when Sun enters the Mesha Raasi in the
zodiac called as Mesha Sankranthi which generally falls in March-April every
year which is referred to as Solar New Year.

Vasantha Ruthu (season) is the first among the seasons, Mesha Raasi is the
first among the zodiac signs, Chaitra Masa is the first among the Maasa,
Sukla Paksha is the first among the fortnights, Prathama (Paadyami) is the
first thithi among the thithis. The day coinciding with the confluence of the
above is celebrated as Ugadi. It is an occasion that also signifies the end of
an era and also beginning of a new era. It also indicates the onset of spring
season called Vasantha Ruthu first among the six seasons in a year
(Vasantha, Greeshma, Varsha, Sharad, Hemantha, and Sisira).

The word Ugadi is derived from the word Yugaadi (Yuga + Aadi). Yuga
means the period or era and Aadi means the beginning. Ugasya Aadi =
Ugadi. Uga means star movement, the day when creation was started, the
day on which Yuga has commenced. It is the beginning of an Era/Yuga
called as Ugadi which specifically mentions the period in which currently we
are living. Sakha calendar begins with the month of Chaitra Masa which falls
generally during March/April every year that marks the beginning of the New
Year Ugadi.

Ugadi is said to be the day when Lord Brahma had commenced the creation
called as Brahma Kalpa. Beginning of Kalpa is called Kalpaadi and beginning
of Yuga is called Yugaadi. To commemorate the commencement of Creation,
this day is celebrated as Ugadi. In simple terms it is said to be the day
when Kali Yuga had begun.

It is said that as per Valmiki Ramayana Lord Sri Rama had killed the demon
Ravanasura on the day previous to Ugadi falling on the New Moon Day
(Amavasya) of the last lunar Month Phalguna. To commemorate the victory
and achievement next day is celebrated as a festival symbolizing the
beginning of new period.

Ugadi – The Time Element

Ugadi means time analysis. As said earlier Ugadi is treated as the beginning
of Creation by Lord Brahma and it also signifies the present period in which
we are living. Presently we are in the Era of Salivahana called Salivahana
Sakha, of the first leg of Kali Yuga (the 4th Era of 28th Maha Yuga) in the 7th
Manvanthara called Vaivasvatha Manvanthara of the Kalpa called Swetha
Varaha Kalpa.

As per Vedamana it is believed that the creation had started approx 197
crore years back. As per Yuga pramana life span of Kali Yuga is 432,000
years out of which 5111 years have past. As per the Sakha calendar it is
1932 years since the beginning of Salivahana Sakha corresponding to the
English calendar year 2010. Chandramana Calendar has sixty year cycle
and each year Ugadi is denoted by a specific name starting from Prabhava
and ending with Akshaya. After completion of sixty years the calendar starts
anew with its first name again.
TRADITIONS & CUSTOMS OF UGADI

Thailabhyanganam

Lot of significance is given on this day to Head bath with Thil oil called
Thailabhyanganam. It is believed that those who do not take head bath on
this day will go to hell.

Sun Worship

Ugadi is once again a Sun centric festival. Sun is the soul of Kalapurusha (Lord
of time). Without soul there is no existence of man, so also there is no time
without Sun. Sun is said to be the seventh Manuvu in whose name the
present Manvanthara is being called as Vaivaswatha Manvanthara the period
in which we are currently living. Lot of significance is given to Sun worship
during this Manvanthara. On this day Sun sets his journey towards East and
when he enters Mesha Rasi (Aries) becomes very powerful. Astrologically
Sun in Mesha Raasi is said to be in exalted position. Sun worship and Surya
Arghya on this day is very sacred and auspicious.

Nimba Kusuma Bhakshana

Nimba means Neem and Kusuma means flower. Tradition is that on this day
people eat in the morning after the bath a pickle (sauce) made with a
combination of six ingredients that gives six different tastes (Shadruchi).
The ingredients are Neem flowers, raw mango, jaggery, new tamarind,
dry/green chillies, and salt. In some places people use sugar cane instead of
jaggery and pepper instead of chillies. It is popularly called as Ugadi
Pachhadi in Telugu, Bevu-Bella in Kannada.

It is a mixture of six different tastes viz. bitter (neem), sweet (Jaggery),

sour (tamarind) salty (salt), hot/spicy (chillies/pepper), and tang (raw
mango). The philosophy in eating this sauce with six tastes is to say that
life is not a bed of roses it is a mixture of sadness, happiness, anger, fear,
disgust, and surprise which has to be accepted together with equanimity. It
is said that by eating this pickle on this day one gets courage to face
obstacles in life.
There is also a health message involved in eating this. Neem is good for
diabetes, skin diseases and acts as a blood purifier. It is called as Sarva roga
nivarini. Even today usage of neem leaves is prevalent in rural areas
whenever any one is infected with small pox/chicken pox. Jaggery helps in
increasing the hemoglobin content of blood that help in curing iron
deficiency, Tamarind helps in removing excess of kapha, vata, and pitta, raw
Mango works in throat related problems and enhances the appetite, Salt
gives energy, Chillies removes kapha and vatha, pepper helps in cold and
works in throat related problems.

Panchanga Sravanam

Panchangam means an almanac that contains the astronomical/astrological

daily details mainly related to Thithi, Day (Vara), Nakshatra, Yoga and
Karana called as Pancha Anga (five limbs or five elements) that helps in
identifying various auspicious/inauspicious moments of electional astrology.
Panchanga also indicates forecasts for eclipses, weather, monsoon, transit of
planets, implications to individuals based on their birth stars, zodiac signs,
rashi phala, and general trend with respect to economy, political scenario.

The almanac Panchangam involves lot of mathematical and geometrical

calculations based on side real system, understanding of astronomical
phenomena such as movements of heavenly bodies the Sun, Moon and other
planets. Mainly Panchanga is based on Surya Siddhantha or Dhrugganitha.
These panchangas are published by various authors in various regional
languages based on different philosophies prevailing in Hindu religion.

On the day of Ugadi people traditionally gather to listen from the learned,
the recitation of Panchangam for the forthcoming year and the general
forecast. In the present days of Television Technology this type of
gatherings have come down as people listen Panchanga Sravanam from a
live telecast by various regional Television Channels.

It is said and believed that by doing Panchanga Sravanam and praying the
Navagraha at this moment on Ugadi day, auspicious results can be attained.

Thithescha sriyamapnothi varaadayushya vardhanam

Nakshathradharathe papam, yogadroganivaranam
Karanathkarya siddhisthu panchangaphalamutthamam
Kala Vithkarma Kruddhimaan Devathanugraham Labheth
Meaning: Thithi gives wealth, Vara enhances the longevity, Nakshatra
removes the sins, Yoga cures the diseases, and Karana gives success in
deeds. One who does the karma by knowing the above will have Divine
blessings. That is why every day during Sandhya vandana (daily prayer)
one is required to do Sankalpa where in, all the above five elements are
recited.

Panchanga Sravana on the day of Ugadi is very auspicious. It is said that it

will give the result (phala) of taking bath in sacred river Ganges, blessings of
Navagraha. Sun gives courage and glory, Moon gives status, Mars gives
auspiciousness, Mercury gives intelligence, Jupiter gives knowledge, Venus
gives comfort and happiness, Saturn removes sorrow and obstacles, Rahu
gives popularity, and Kethu gives significance.

Prapadanam (chalivendram)

Donating water starting from this day for 4 months (summer months) is said
to be very auspicious and sacred.

Prapeyam SarvaSamanya Bhoothebhya: prathipaditha

PradanathPitharasarve Thrupyanthucha Pithamaha
Anivaarya Mithodeyam Jalammaasa Chathustayam

We would have observed in many towns voluntary organizations erecting the

spots called Chalivendram where passersby are served with water stored in
earthen pots covered with cloth during summer months. It is said that by
doing this activity all the fore fathers gets pleased.

Udakakumbha daana

Udaka means water, Kumbha means pot. Giving charity of water stored in a
pot made up of Copper, Silver, or at least earthen pot (made up of mud)
covered with a new cloth to a Brahmin during this period is said to be very
sacred that gives multifold results.

Yesha DharmaGhato Dhattoh Brahma Vishnu Sivathmaka

Asya Pradhanathsakalam mamasanthu manoratha

Meaning this water pot called Dharma Ghata signifies the trinal lords
(Brahma, Vishnu and Siva) bring unto me fulfillment of all desires.
Vasantha Navarathri

Lord Sri Krishna said that Masaanaam Margasirshoham, Ruthunaam

Kusumaakara meaning the month Margasira is the most sacred among the
months and Vasantha (Kusuma) or spring season is the most sacred among
the seasons.

Like we celebrate nine day festival during Dussera season, similarly a nine
day spring festival is celebrated beginning with Ugadi (Chaitra Sukla
Paadyami) and ending with Sri Rama Navami. During these nine days
Goddess Devi/Durga is worshipped. In some places it is celebrated as Rama
Navarathri worshiping Lord Sri Rama during these nine days. People also
perform parayana of sacred books during the nine days like Ramayana,
Sundarakanda, and Devi Bhagavatham.

Gudi Padwa

Ugadi is celebrated as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra state. Gudi means

Dwajam and Padwa means the first day of the New Year. It is customary
among the Maharastrian families to erect on this day in front of the house a
bamboo stick topped with upturned silver/copper pot decorated with flowers,
coloured silk cloth and coconuts. It is worshipped as Brahma Dwajam/Indra
Dwajam indicating invitation to all the deities to the house on this day. It
also symbolizes welcoming the New Year with victory or achievement, joy
and happiness. On this day people also eat a mixture of neem leaves,
tamarind, jaggery, gram pulse.

In Tamil Nadu Ugadi is celebrated as Puthandu (Varusha Pirappuv) festival

and in Kerala it is celebrated as Vishu festival. It is celebrated as a New
Years day even in Punjab, Assam, West Bengal, Orissa states. In Punjab it
is called as Baisakhi. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka it is also marked by
literary discussion, poetry recitations, honouring and recognition of authors
of literary and poetic works, cultural programs, Kavi Sammelana etc. In the
evening people gather together and exchange greetings.

In some of the regions especially in Andhra Pradesh there is a myth that

how one live on the day of Ugadi similar will be the way one live throughout
the year. More than the myth the philosophy is we reap what we sow as the
old saying goes. You sow the good then you reap the good. A good
thought/action has a good result and an evil thought/action has a bad result.
We are the makers of our own fate. As per Karma Philosophy we sow seeds
of Karma for our future births through our thoughts and vision and plan for
our Karma (Agami Karma) in future births. To attain good results, the
foundation we lay for our thought/action should be good from day one
perhaps from the Ugadi Day.

! Sarvejanaah Sukhinobhavanthu!

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous

New Year - Ugadi

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
bhargavasarma