|
Kali Yuga started in the year Pramadi in the month named Sravana and in the fortnight named Bahula and on the day called Ashtami. According to the English calendar, this will be described as February 20, 3102 years before the advent of Christ. In order to bring out this aspect of the commencement of the new Yuga on February 20, 3102 B.C our ancestors have been calling that day Ugadi or the day of the beginning of a new era. As this was the commencing day of a new Yuga it was called (Y)Ugadi.
When looked at from this angle, we should also learn a different aspect, although it is not very pleasant. This particular day called Ugadi is also the day on which Krishna gave up his mortal body in a sacred place of pilgrimage called Prabahatsa near Dwaraka.
From Digest Vol I (a collection of Baba's quotations)
You may be speculating as to what this New Year has in store for you. You have to undertake sacred actions if you want to enjoy peace and happiness. You should join Satsanga. Satsanga means to join the company of 'Sath', which is changeless in all the three periods of time. Satsanga does not merely mean doing Bhajans and listening to spiritual discourses. Bhadram Pashyantu, Bhadram Srunvantu and Bhadram Kurvantu (see good, hear good and do good). These are the three important Mantras that emperor Manu has given to mankind. The teachings of Manu form the basis for Dharmasasthra. Man should strictly adhere to these three Mantras in his daily life. Nothing else is required to redeem oneself. The Vedas say, Srunvantu Visve Amrutasya Puthraah (Oh listen! The son of immortality). You are not mere mortals; you are the children of immortality. You should conduct yourself in such a manner that would befit your stature as the children of immortality.
Today marks the beginning of a very sacred year. Accordingly, you should develop sacred thoughts. Not only in this year, but throughout your life, you should cultivate sacred thoughts. The body is made of five elements, hence it is bound to suffer. You should not be affected by it. This is your true Sadhana. All other Sadhanas will prove futile if you do not give up body attachment. Some people keep telling the beads in a mechanical way and say that they are doing Sadhana. The rosary will be revolving in their hand and the mind will be roaming in the market. Can this be called Japa (chanting)? While doing meditation your body may be steady, but the mind will be wavering. What is the use of such a Sadhana? A true spiritual aspirant is one who has a steady mind and an unwavering vision. Unsteady mind is the nature of a monkey. But today man is developing monkey-mind. He should fill his heart with kindness for he belongs to mankind.
Divine Discourse: April 2, 2003
Today is Ugadi, the beginning of the New Year. Since ancient times, man has celebrated many Ugadis, but he is yet to give up bad qualities. True Ugadi is the day when man gives up bad qualities, fills his heart with love and takes to the path of sacrifice. Do not limit the celebration of Ugadi to merely putting on new clothes and partaking of delicious items. Today you may wear a new shirt, but how long will it remain new. Tomorrow it becomes old. Nobody reads the same newspaper everyday. Today's newspaper becomes a waste paper tomorrow. Our life is like a newspaper. Once you have finished reading a newspaper, you do not like to read it again and again. You have been given this birth which is like a newspaper, and have gone through varied experiences of pleasure and pain. Enough is enough. Do not ask for one more newspaper, i.e., another birth. You should pray, "Oh God! You have given me this 'newspaper' and I have gone through the experiences of this life. I don't want to have another birth."
On this day of Ugadi, take a firm resolve to purify your heart. Past is past. It cannot be retrieved. When you are walking on the road, you should look at the path ahead of you. What is the point in looking behind? Likewise, there is no point in brooding over the past. Future is not certain. What is the guarantee that you will be alive until tomorrow? So, do not worry about your future. Live in the present. It is not ordinary present. It is omnipresent, meaning the results of past as well as the future are contained in it. So, when you make proper use of the present, you can be rest assured that your future is safe and secure.
Today is Ugadi, the New Year Day of Andhrites. Tomorrow happens to be the Tamil New Year Day and also "Vishu", the New Year Day for Keralites. Thus, there are any number of festivals in a year. You should celebrate them understanding and experiencing their true significance. Right from this moment, embark on a new life giving up bad thoughts and bad qualities and purify your heart. Only then will your life be blissful. There is no point in reading sacred texts or visiting noble souls unless you purify your heart in the first instance. Let your thoughts, words and deeds be sacred. This is the true purpose of celebrating Ugadi.
Divine Discourse: April 13, 2002
The name of this New Year is Vrusha. Lot of people are making all kinds of predictions of the events in the coming year. What is bound to happen will happen. Carry on doing what you have to do. During all this, your mind should be centred on your original source (Mooladhara). If you neglect this, all your efforts are useless. As a consequence of this only, humanity is faced with so many distressing and calamitous events. One should not say unpleasant things, but I am obliged to say some unpleasant things. The coming year is likely to face far more difficulties, than the past year, in fact a lot more. The political arena is likely to face greater problems. There are likely to be more earthquakes. What is the cause? It is the consequence of man's wrong actions. The good or bad events of the world are a consequence of the activities of mankind. There is conflict even between brothers; and in the field of politics, human values have been forsaken. This is the case, not just in any one country but all over the globe.
Vrusha is the name of this New Year. In Kerala, this is known as Vishu. According to Indian calendar, there are 60 years after which the cycle repeats itself. To name a few, Prabhava, Vibhava, Shukla, Pramodhuta, Prajotpathi, Angirasa, Srimukha, Bhava, Yuva, Datha, etc. These are the names of the children of Narada. He begot these children when he became Narada. As he had desired that the names of his children should remain eternally, the years have been named thus.
This New Year brings with it some good results also. The New Year Day is not celebrated merely to partake of delicious dishes. You have to imbibe sacred feelings and resolve to lead a fruitful life. The good and bad of the world depend on your conduct, which in turn depends on your thoughts. So, develop good thoughts. Only then will you be able to lead a noble life. Set an ideal to your fellowmen. Give them happiness. Show compassion towards them. Talk to them lovingly. All this is possible only when you acquire Divine love. So, strive to become the recipient of Divine love. Chant His Name wholeheartedly.
Divine Discourse: March 26, 2001
Do not waste time speculating over what would happen in this New Year. If your actions are good, your future is bound to be good. The future of the nation depends on your actions. God is a witness. He neither protects you nor punishes you. In fact, it is you who protect or punish yourself. Whatever you utter, be it good or bad, God always blesses you saying, "So shall it be." God blesses everybody. Each one is responsible for his pleasure or pain.
In this New Year, develop new and sacred feelings and make everybody happy. Do not strive for money; strive for love. Once you develop love, there will be no scope for evil qualities like anger, jealousy, etc. If your thoughts and actions are good, your future is bound to be good. Then the whole country, nay, the whole world will prosper. Pray for the peace and prosperity of the entire world. Peace can be attained only through practice of human values.
Divine Discourse: April 5, 2000
You would have celebrated many Ugadi (New Year day) festivals in your life. Certain traditional practices go with every festival, such as having a sacred bath, wearing new clothes, cleaning the house and decorating it with buntings of green leaves. Greatness lies in purifying our thoughts, not merely the transient human body. The significance of a festival does not lie in wearing new clothes, but in cultivating new and noble thoughts. The house should be decorated not merely with the buntings of green leaves, but with buntings of love. Share your love with everyone who visits your house. Only then we would be celebrating the festival in its true spirit.
Today New Year has begun. With sacred feelings and divine thoughts, cultivate the spirit of love in you. God is not found separately in a temple or in an Ashram etc. Truth is God. Love is God. Dharma is God. When you worship God by following these principles, He will manifest Himself then and there. There is no doubt about this. You should love God wholeheartedly. Pray to God and make friends with Him. You can achieve anything if you have God as your friend.
What you have to learn today is to fill your heart with love and adorn your hand with the ornament of sacrifice. Sacrifice is the jewel for the hands, Truth is the necklace one should wear. You must develop the habit of adorning these jewels in the New Year. In this New Year, develop divine love and foster peace in the country. You must pray with a broad feeling: Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu (May the whole world be happy!). Start the New Year with this prayer. Then you will lead a blissful and peaceful life full of enthusiasm. To lead such a life, you have to cultivate noble thoughts. So, love God , make friendship with Him and you are bound to be successful in all your endeavors.
Divine Discourse: March 18, 1999
Our ancients gave the different years good names such as "Prabhava", "Vibhava", "Sukla" and so on. Sometimes the priests predict bad developments in a year. This is intended only to make the people undertake propitiatory ceremonies that will bring in income to the priests. Can the mere expenditure of money ward off evils? No. Your troubles will go when the heart is purified. Your sincere prayers will help to relieve your troubles.
There must be a transformation in the hearts of the devotees. They should not continue to remain in the same rut for years. They must benefit from the grace of God's love.
People talk about the new year, but do not care to develop new feelings and new attitudes. They must develop new ideas and new enthusiasm. If they are all the time depressed, when will they learn to express the joy of good living? They must exude happiness. That is the mark of the Divine within. Happiness is union with God. God is eternal bliss. Get rid of your evil tendencies and fill your hearts with love of God. You will become one with God.
Divine Discourse: Mar 29, 1998
There is no need to wait for a new year to bring new tidings. Every moment is new. Many are wondering what troubles and losses the new year will bring. For all our troubles and difficulties the year is not responsible. Our conduct alone is responsible. If our actions are good the results will be good. Bad actions will lead to bad consequences. People think that good and bad are related to bad time. Not at all. Their thoughts are the cause. Hence, they should develop good thoughts and do good deeds. They should cherish good feelings and associate with good persons.
People should realize the preciousness of Time. Most of the time available is wasted by people. This is utterly wrong. Time should be used always for right purposes. That is the foremost duty of every man. Waste of time is waste of life. The Lord of Time protects those who take refuge in Him, even against the Lord of Death (Kaala). Time takes its revenge on those who misuse it. A nation's prosperity is dependent on how people use their time in the performance of good actions.
We will achieve victory in every walk of life when we foster good thoughts and good deeds.
Today is the first day of the New year. From today onwards, all devotees must undertake this holy task. Past is
passed. Do not think of the future, because it is not in our hands. What is the guarantee that we live until tomorrow!
Therefore, this present time is very important. Make good use of it. Do not go against your inner self. That is what I
tell my children, the students here, "Follow the master". Who is your master? Your inner self is your master. So, no
need for anyone else; follow your own inner self. That is your God. That is your happiness. That is your wealth. That is
your peace. That is your everything. Happiness and peace are not outside.
Divine Discourse: Mar 20, 1996
Yugadi should not be treated merely as a holy festive occasion. It must be regarded as a day dedicated to the Divine. All festivals observed by the Bharatiyas have a marvelous inner meaning. But men in general view them only in terms of external observances and celebrate them with feasts and frolic. These festivals were really intended to be used for the exclusive worship of the Divine, enjoy the bliss of that devotion and overcome pain and sorrow. These holy days were instituted for getting rid of the ignorance and cultivating right knowledge, the higher wisdom and cosmic consciousness. Man has been endowed with intelligence together with the human form. Along with these, man has also been given temporary existence. Man has, therefore, to use the life-span allotted to him for leading a purposeful existence by the use of his intelligence. Man unfortunately misuses his intelligence and gambles away his precious life.
The Yugadi celebration is an annual reminder of man's obligation to express his gratitude to the Divine for all the benefits received from God.
We hail the New Year as Samvatsara because it signifies the omnipresence (in time and space) of the Divine. Samvatsara does not merely mean period (of the year) made up of minutes, hours, days and months. Every moment is Samvatsara, because without seconds, minutes, etc. there cannot be a year. If the year is to be sanctified, every moment is to be sanctified. Every second constitutes a year. It is not the New Year that matters. Every new second is significant.
Hence, you should fill every moment with sacred thoughts, with pure feelings and pure actions. Every moment you should try to get rid of bad thoughts and fill the mind with good thoughts.
Embodiments of the Divine! Do not forget God, who is the embodiment of the Yuga. He is the Lord of Time. Kaala means one who is the giver of all happiness. If you take refuge in the Lord of Time, no one can cause you any harm. Make the best use of time chanting the name of the Lord or engaging yourselves in sacred activities.
