Introduction
The first Holy festival which marks the beginning of the New Year, new month and new day for the Hindus falls on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. It is known as Gudhi Padwa (Maharashtra), Ugadi (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh). [In other parts of country it is celebrated during Nau Roz (Kashmir), Baisakhi (Punjab), Cheti Chand (Sindhi), Naba Barsha (Bengal), Goru Bihu (Assam), Puthandu (Tamil Nadu), Vishu (Kerala)] On this very day Lord Brahma created the Universe. Therefore for Hindus, this day carries special importance. The day is celebrated with an auspicious bath, followed by decorating the doorway with a ‘toran’, performing ritualistic worship and hoisting the Dhwaja or Gudhi.
Celebrate New Year only on Gudi Padwa!
Presently in Bharat New Year is being celebrated on 1st January as per the Western calendar. Celebration on the eve of the Western New Year includes a lot of malpractices like indulging in eve teasing after drinking, etc. So, instead of beginning the New Year on an auspicious note it begins unpleasantly. To ensure that the beginning of the New Year begins on an auspicious note celebrate it according to the Hindu scriptures, on Chaitra Shuddha Pratipada as per the Hindu lunar calendar, as this date is glorious in all ways – as per the cycle of Nature and it also has historical and spiritual significance. All this contributes to endowing the one celebrating it as per the Hindu scriptures with several benefits. It is the duty of each individual to arrest the loss being caused to the society by emulating the Westerners.
Hindus! Strive to prove the superiority and eternity of Hindu Dharma!!
As we approach Gudi Padwa, Hindus must take stock of the direction in which they are heading. Sanatan Dharma is important not only from a Hindu viewpoint, but also from the viewpoint of human culture. Hinduism supports the ideology of multiple deities. The concept of multiple deities itself has made human beings tolerant. Even then we come across Hindus who question, ‘What is the need for so many deities?’ Such Hindus do not take any action against those who attack Hinduism or Dharma incessantly in all forms. Such Hindus were sleeping when Christianity was being propagated at the Tirupati temple. Even when the Islamic terrorist activities are posing a constant danger, we find politicians being partial to Muslims in every possible way. Even this does not seem to disturb these Hindus. They are asleep even when the Government is busy enforcing the ‘Temple Takeover Act’, so that it can control all temples and subsequently loot them.
Hindus seated in important posts find it so imperative to maintain the moods of their so-called ‘secular’ bosses that they don’t even feel the need to talk about the tyranny faced by Hindus. Even the ousting of Kashmiri Hindus does not awaken their conscience. A society, which does not have even this much morality left, is fit for extinction. This is the future for such ‘Janma-Hindus’ (Hindus only by birth, not by action). Thus, be sure that the coming year has more blows in store for the few existing alert Hindus. Hence, these Hindus should get ready to bear and at the same time even to face these blows. They should mentally prepare themselves for the ensuing struggle necessary for the survival of Dharma during the dark hours. The time has come when we have to prove the superiority and the eternity of the values of Dharma through struggle.
Science in the worship of the Gudi
The divine consciousness emanating during sunrise, absorbed at that time lasts longer. Thus the Gudi should be worshipped within 5-10 minutes after sunrise!
On Gudi Padwa, the waves consisting of the fire element (Tej tatva) and the creative element (Prajapati element) are activated on a large scale. The divine consciousness emanating during sunrise, absorbed at that time lasts longer. This consciousness is stored in the body cells and used as required. Hence the Gudi should be worshipped within 5-10 minutes of the sunrise.
Method of raising the Gudi
Position of the Gudi: Care should be taken to raise the Gudi next to the main entrance of the house. The spot selected should be on the right side (when sighted from the house) of the entrance. The right side symbolizes active state of the soul.
1. The place for raising the Gudi should be cleaned and then a Swastik rangoli should be drawn on the ground. Turmeric and vermilion (Haldi-kumkum) should be offered at the center of the Swastik.
2. While raising the Gudi, the ‘Shiva-Shakti’ element in the Universe should be invoked. This enables all the constituents of the Gudi to accept divine elements.
3. The Gudi symbolizes the ‘Sushumna nadi’ of our body. Hence, the Gudi should be raised at the entrance. And it should be kept tilted at an angle. – A Scholar.
Prayer
‘O Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu! Please enable me to absorb the elements of creation, fire and Sun present in the atmosphere. Let the Divine consciousness present in these elements be preserved constantly. Let the energy thus received, be used for my spiritual practice.’
Celebration of Gudi Padwa
Ablution with oil (abhyangasnan) – an auspicious bath: On this day one should wake up early in the morning and take an oil bath. With an ordinary bath the raja and tama components decrease by 1/1,00,000 % and the sattva component increases by the same amount for a duration of only three hours. However with an oil bath it lasts for four to five hours. An oil bath consists of an oil massage to facilitate the absorption of oil by the skin followed by a warm water bath. Oil should be applied to retain the elasticityof the skin. Warm water is auspicious and pleasing to the body. Bathing after an oil massage retains only that amount of oiliness that the skin and hair require. Hence an oil massage is necessary before a bath. Application of oil after a bath is inappropriate.
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