DAWN OF NEW YEAR

Maharishi Mandara
Scientific Astrologer and Vastu Consultant
Ph: 0821 2463321
Mob: 93421 10221
Web: http://maharishimandara.blogspot.com

UGADI means “begining of a new era, i.e., the new year's day
for the people of th southern region of India. Ugadi is celebrated on
different days every year as the Hindu calendar is a Lunisolar one.
The Shaka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra (March/April)
and the Ugadi marks the first day of the new year. The Shalivahana
era begins its count from the year corresponding to 78 A.D. of the
Gregorian calendar. In the terminology used by this lunar calendar,
Ugadi falls on Chaitra Sudhdha Paadyami or the first day of the bright
half of the Hindu month of Chaitra.

According to Chandramana, Ugadi is celebrated on the bright

fortnight ('Shukla Paksha') of the first month ('Chaitra Masa') in the
first season of the year i.e. Spring ('Vasanta-Ritu'). As all these
important elements are present, this day has special significance
marking the commencement of a New Year.

Ugadi is the first day of the new year for the people of South
India (Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka,and Maharastra) who observe
Chandramana. According to Gregorian calendar, Ugadi falls in the
month of March/ April. Our Hindu Calender has a sixty year cycle
(Prabhava to Akshaya) and starts the new year on Ugadi, i.e., on
Chaitra Sudhdha Paadyami. After the completion of sixty years, the
calendar starts again with the first year Prabhava. The Telugu and
Kannada people celebrate the festival with great fanfare and
gatherings of the undivided family (with the addition of a “Kavi
Goshti”).

The people of Maharashtra term this festival as Gudi Padwa

and observe this on the same day. It is customary to erect ‘Gudis’
on the first day (Padwa) of the Marathi New Year. 'Gudi' is a bamboo
staff with a colored silk cloth and a garlanded goblet atop it, which
symbolizes victory or achievement. Padwa has come from the
sanskrit root word “ PRADURBHU”. According to some people,
padyami itself is padwa. Hence, this day is known as “Gudipadwa” in
Maharashtra. The New Year is ushered in with the worship of the
"Gudi" .

The people from Sindh, celebrate the same day as their New
Year day “Cheti Chand”. It is believed that the creator of the Hindu
pantheon Lord Brahma started creating the Universe on this day -
Chaitra suddha padhyami or the Ugadi day.

According to the great Indian Mathematician of 12th century,

Bhaskaracharya's calculations, the Ugadi day is proclaimed from the
sunrise as the beginning of the new year,new month and new day.
The onset of Spring also marks a beginning of new life with
plants(barren until now) acquiring new life, shoots and leaves. Spring
is considered the first season of the year hence also heralding a new
year and a new beginning. The vibrancy of life and verdent fields,
meadows full of colorful blossoms signifies growth, prosperity and
well-being.

Kali Yuga is one of the four stages of development that the

world goes through as part of the cycle of Yugas. According to the
great mathematician Aryabhata (4th - 5th century), Surya
siddhantha, Astronomical journals of 400 B.C. , and Aihole Temple
scriptures of 5th century, Kaliyuga started in 3102 B.C. According to
our Hindu Panchanga and Astrological journals also, Kaliyuga
started in 3102 B.C. According to Surya Siddhantha, Kali Yuga
began at midnight (00:00) on 18 February 3102 BC in the proleptic
Julian calendar or 23 January 3102 BC in the proleptic Gregorian
calendar.

According to Hindu scriptures, the cycle of “Yugas” go in the

order Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga , Dvapara Yuga and then Kaliyuga.
The begining of all the four yugas is treated as Ugadi. Satya yugadi
started in Karthika Shukla Navami,Tretha yugadi in Vaishaka Shukla
Tritheeya,Dwapara yugadi in Magha Krishna Amavasya and Kaliyuga
in Bhadrapada Krishna Trayodashi.

Kaliyuga started in Bhadrapada Krishna Trayodashi - Pramadhi

Samvatsara. We observe Ugadi on Chaitra Shukla Prathama
because Kaliyuga started on the day that Bhagavan Sri Krishna, an
incarnation or avatara of Vishnu, died as a result of a freak bow
hunting accident. A shloka in the 38th chapter of the Shri Vishnu
Purana says that Kaliyuga started on the day Krishna died.

Bhagavàn Sri Krishna left Prithwi loka (earth) on the day of

Phalguna Krishna amavasya - Bahudanya Samvatsara near
Somanàtha, in Gujarat. The very next day Chaitra Shukla Prathama -
Pramadi Samvatsara has been observed as Ugadi on the
rememberance of Lord Sri Krishna.

Lord Krishna is one of the greatest Management Gurus, whom

we can emulate without second thought. He is the Mentor of Mentors,
Coach of Coaches and Guru of all Motivational Gurus.

Life skills have been defined by World Health Organization as -

"Abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals
to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life."
We can see this ability in abundance to face challenges of everyday
life in Lord Krishna.

Character only can give that kind of total happiness for

mankind. Lord Krishna proved this in his life by becoming ideal
personality. The preacher of Gita, Lord Krishna’s life is an example,
which reflected the power of character.
 Lord Krishna is God for faithful devotees. He is a magician for
non-believers. He is a romantic Hero for some and a great
manipulator for many. He is the greatest philosopher who has given
Gita to the mankind. For some, he is just a character in the Vyasa
Mahabharat . Irrespective of any kind of faith and devotion, he is the
Great Guru for Psychoanalysts and Psychologists. He is the first
counseling psychologist. He is a complete man.

If we observe his life from all angles, we can have glimpses of

this kind of characteristics in the life of Lord Krishna. He faced many
problems during his life. He never felt depressed. He has never given
up. He always faced problems and got them solved. He faced
problems with cheerful attitude. Lord Krishna is a true disciple to a
great Guru Sage Sandipani. His life started with problems. He was
born in prison. He was separated from his mother immediately after
his birth. He has spent his life in Brindavan with cowherds’ families,
instead of enjoying pampered life in Madhura on the lap of his grand
father Ugrasena. He never had great education also. His uncle
Kamsa hatched many plans to kill Krishna in his childhood. Krishna,
the kid, could over come all these troubles with his determination.
Many parents might have stopped their kids playing with Krishna, as
it is dangerous. Krishna never bothered with this kind of problems. He
has learnt many lessons of life playing on the shores of river Kalindi
along with his friends. He has spent his childhood playing divine flute
and doing mischief with his friends. Lord Krishna is a friend for needy
indeed.

Although Lord Krishna has 8 wives and16,100 Gopikas, he

never tried to woo a single woman. He attracted them with his
talkative talent. Nobody ever branded him as womanizer. He was
always regarded as personification of love and affection. He was not
at all an arrogant and adamant husband. He was having highly
adaptable and adjusting nature. He always stood as ideal husband
and tried to balance his family life. He was not only a great leader
and an ambassador, he was also compassionate politician. To
succeed in professional or personal life, and to become a complete
man, one has to learn and try to emulate Lord Krishna. Like this,
Bhagavan Sri Krishna faced many problems with cheerful attitude
and spent 125 years of his full lifespan.

In Shrimad Bhagwat Purana (part 11, chapter 6) Creator

Brahma himself speaks to Krishna about how old he is. Brahma says
that 125 years have passed since Krishna's birth; this is just before
Krishna plans his death. One has to adopt the above said characters
and mental attitudes of Lord Sri Krishna in his lifestyle and has to
face the pleasure and pains equally with cheerfull attitude. For this
purpose, Chaitra Shukla Prathama, the next day on which Krishna
died, is observed as Ugadi.

According to Sauramana, Sun's entry into Mesha Rashi is

Ugadi.
.
Scientifically, on 20th or 21st of March when sun crosses the
Equator, Day and Nights are equal. The day of spring season on
which day and nights will be equal is the first day of the New Year.

The mixture of Bevu - Bella has great significance in Ugadi.

The specific mixture of Neem buds/flowers, Jaggery, raw Mango,
Tamarind juice and Green pepper which is termed as "Ugadi
Pachhadi” in Telugu and "Bevu-Bella” in Kannada, symbolizes the
fact that life is a mixture of pleasure and pain, which should be
accepted together and with equanimity.

Neem is known for its immeasurable medicinal properties.

Commending the medicinal properties of Neem, numerous Sanskrit
names have been coined by our Ayurveda acharyas. Few of them are
Nimba as it boosts health , Pichumarda as it destroys skin diseases,
and Arishta as it is used to ward off evil powers that harm our body.

Azadirachtin, salannin, gedunin, azadirone, nimbin, nimbidine,

nimbicidine, nimbinol, etc are other important liminoids of neem.
Neem tree has numerous medicinal properties by virtue of its
chemical compounds. Neem has been the most traditionally used
plant in India , Azadirachtin is available in high concentration in Neem
seeds. It is used as “botanical pesticide” which is environmentally
friendly. It prevents insects from feeding on plants and regulates the
growth of insects. Neem extracts do not harm the insects like bees,
spiders and butterflies which help in pollination. Fresh Neem leaves
are mixed with grains and cereals before storing. Neem oil is a very
cheap and effective household pesticide to protect grains and
legumes from pests.

The chemical compounds present in Neem have anti-

inflammatory, anti-arthritic, antipyretic, hypoglycemic, anti-fungal,
spermicidal, anti-malarial, anti-bacterial and diuretic properties. Bark
of Neem acts as antipyretic and helps to reduce fever. Flowers are
used in intestinal disorders. Juice from fresh leaves is very helpful in
treating skin diseases, wounds and obesity. Oil from Neem seeds is
used in arthritis, skin diseases and muscular sprains. Neem is very
effective in treating gum diseases.

In this season, Sun's rays becomes stronger day by day.

Hence neem is beneficial for summer diseases. Neem is proved to be
beneficial in treating skin diseases because of its antibiotic, antifungal
and blood purifying properties. According to Ayurveda principles,
neem vitiates Kapha and Pitta which cause skin diseases. It
promotes wound healing as it is antibacterial and astringent. In
psoriasis, it reduces itching, irritation, roughness of skin and heals the
psoriatic patches. In the same way, it heals eczema too. It reduces
infection and inflammation of acne. Neem helps to maintain the
health of scalp skin and prevents dandruff

Due to its detoxifying properties, it helps to keep circulatory,

digestive, respiratory and urinary organ systems healthy, Scientific
studies have revealed that Neem reduces blood sugar level. Hence
its usage supports diabetic patients to keep their blood sugar level in
control. Diabetes impairs blood circulation and causes gangrene in
lower extremities. Numerous scientific researches have highlighted
the role of Neem in keeping circulatory system healthy, thus reducing
the chances of gangrene. Recent studies have shown that Neem
reduces blood cholesterol level and keeps the heart healthy. Neem is
often used to maintain healthy skin.

Jaggery (Panela) has great Nutritive and Medicinal Value. It

has the reputation of being a medicinal sugar and is prescribed for
use in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Jaggery contains Proteins,
Minerals and Vitamins, which are essential constituents for the body.
It is also a potent source of Iron and has a higher Iron and Copper
contents than white sugar

For the above said medicinal properties, Bevu-Bella is helpful

for a healthy life in summer season.

On Ugadi day, people wake up before the break of dawn and

take a head bath after, which they decorate, the entrance of their
houses with fresh mango leaves. The green mango leaves tied to the
doorway signify a good crop and general well being. People also
splash fresh cow dung water on the ground in front of their house and
draw colourful floral designs. This is a common sight in every
household. People perform the ritualistic worship to God invoking his
blessings before they start off with the New Year. They pray for their
health, wealth and prosperity and success in business too. Later
people take Bevu - Bella Pachadi. Ugadi is also the most auspicious
time to start new ventures.

Later, on the eve of Ugadi , people traditionally gather to listen

to the recitation of the religious almanac (Panchangam) of the coming
year,( Panchangam Sravanam ) through an elderly and respected
person of the family.

After the completion of Sarvajit Samvatsar, now we are

entering into Sarvadhari Samvatsar. May Bhagavan Sri Krishna give
the mental courage to all of us to receive the pleasure and pains
equally in Sarvadhari Samvatsara.