Ugadi Celebrations: 9th April 2005:

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Ugadi Celebrations: 9th April 2005:

The day of Chaitra Shuddha Padyami in the Hindu lunar calendar is celebrated as

the New Year Day in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

While it is called Ugadi or Yugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, it is

celebrated as Gudi Padva in Maharashtra. The word ‘Ugadi’ is derived from the

Sanskrit word ‘Yugadi’, which means ‘beginning of a new Yuga or era’. Legend

has it that this was the day on which Lord Krishna shed His body, signalling

the end of the Dwapara Yuga and the commencement of the Kali Yuga. It is also

believed that Brahma created the universe on this day. The new year bears the

name ‘Parthiva’ and is the nineteenth year in the sixty year cycle of the Hindu

calendar system.In homes across Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka the new year is

ushered in with festive fervour. Festoons of mango leaves adorn the doorways,

signifying auspiciousness. Colourful ‘Rangoli’ decorations dot the altars and

porticoes of houses. It is the tradition on this day to partake of the ‘Ugadi

Pacchadi’, a unique blend of six ingredients jaggery, unripe mango, chilli,

salt, tamarind juice and neem, representing the six tastes sweet, sour, spicy,

salty, savoury and bitter. It is a symbolic reminder that we must accept the

fare life offers us, pleasant or unpleasant, with equal-mindedness and

fortitude. Another tradition associated with Ugadi is the ‘Panchanga

Shravanam’, the reading of the almanac that tells us what the planetary

positions and stars have in store for us in the coming year.The Ugadi

celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam commenced after Bhagawan granted Darshan in

Sai Kulwant hall with a talk by Sri S.V.Giri former Vice-Chancellor of Sri

Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. Sri Giri began by expressing the hope

that the year ‘Parthiva’ that has just dawned, and which happens to be the

eightieth year of His Advent, will also be the year of ‘Parthivasa’ our beloved

Bhagawan. He described Bhagawan as the Sadguru, and quoting verses from the

Shikshavalli mantra of the Taittiriya Upanishad described the ideal qualities

that followers of Bhagawan must possess. The Shikshavalli, in fact, is the

final instruction of the Guru to his disciple as he prepares to go into the

world after the completion of his studies. The Guru advises his disciple to

always adhere to truth and follow the path of righteousness. He is exhorted to

acquire the highest knowledge through self-effort and also propagate that

knowledge. The verses also describe the manner in which acts of charity are to

be performed. After the talk by Sri Giri, members of the Sri Sathya Seva

Organization from Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh, presented a

programme consisting of the traditional ‘Panchanga Shravanam’, followed by a

medley of melodious and inspiring songs in praise of Bhagawan. The morning

programme concluded with arati being offered to Bhagawan.The afternoon

programme commenced with an illuminating talk by Sri Sanjay Sahani, Principal

of the Brindavan campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, on the

sacredness of time. He began by observing that God is worshipped as the Master

of Time and one who transcends Time. Hence, the time that is allotted to us on

this field of action called earth must be put to the best possible use. And the

way to do this, he said, is to follow the Vedic injunction, “Paropakarartham

idam shareeram”, the body has been given to serve one’s fellowbeings. He

narrated a small parable to illustrate the attitude in which such service is to

be done. A spiritual master once happened on a calf that was trapped in a ditch

filled with slushy water. The village urchins were enjoying the spectacle of

the calf struggling to climb out of the ditch. Overwhelmed with pity for the

suffering animal, the master waded into the ditch to save the calf. The urchins

were upset with the master for spoiling their fun and angrily confronted him. He

explained to them that he had not saved the calf to relieve its suffering,

rather it was to ease the misery he felt over the plight of the calf. In the

same way, Sri Sahani said, we must realize that when we serve others, we are

actually serving ourselves, for in reality we are one with all creation. When

service is performed with this attitude we may consider that we have truly

sanctified our time, Sri Sahani concluded.Bhagawan, in His Divine Discourse,

said that the Love principle is equally present in all, though the degree of

manifestation may vary. He quoted the lines of Saint Thyagaraja’s composition

which say that God is present as Love in all beings, from the tiny ant to Lord

Brahma and Lord Shiva. He also commented on the present situation where man in

his greed and selfishness is fast depleting the resources that God has endowed

him with and said that it is only when man sheds his selfishness that he can

rise to the level of divinity. Bhagawan also narrated episodes from the

Ramayana and said that the Ramayana is a timeless epic that holds out the

ideals of love and sharing to all mankind. He declared that very soon the world

will be transformed into that divine order when there will one religion and one

caste and all humanity will be united as one. Bhagawan concluded His discourse

with the Bhajan, “Rama Rama Rama Sita …”Following the discourse, members of the

Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization, Visakhapatanam, ladies and gents, presented a

music programme. At the end of the programme, prasadam was distributed to the

devotees, and after accepting arati, Bhagawan retired to His Poornachandra

residence.Jai Sai Ram!

sourced: http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/pages/ugadi_05_report.htm

Latest links updated:

 

Latest Release of the New Video CD "Arpanam - Sai Bhajan Darshan Video"

Shri Sathya Sai Railway Station Photos

Images from Ugadi Celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam 2005

Ugadi Picture Collage

PRASHANTI BULLETIN

SWAMI TEACHES (updated upto 11.04.2005)

With love and Light

Deepak

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