Telugu New Year Archives - Tirumala Tirupati Yatra

UGADI

‘U’ means Joy, Shiva and Vishnu. ‘Ga’ means movement and acquisition.

Time will move on with the command of Lord Srimannarayana. The Chakra (wheel) in the hands of the Lord is Kalachakram – Time wheel.

The Lord said in Gita “I am solely responsible for Shrusthi, Sthithi, Laya (Creation, Existence and Destruction) of the universe”. Time is formless, omnipresent and most powerful.

Mahavishnu regulates time with all these traits. We divided endless time into different seasons with specified names. Our ancestors have made this arrangement.

Telugu people follow the Lunar calendar and mostly the name of the month is associated with the movement of Moon with a particular star on Full Moon day (Pournami). According to Lunar calendar, the year begins with Vasantha Ruthuvu (season). “Among all seasons or Ruthus, I am Vasantha Ruthuvu’’ said Lord Krishna in Gita.

Ugadi Asthanam – Tirumala

Ugadi starts with Vasantha Ruthuvu (spring season). All trees and plants bloom with flowers and fruits and the onset of Vasantha Ruthuvu is considered the first season of the year with a new beginning. This appears to invite nature for the service of God and humanity.

That’s why, elders call Vasantha Ruthuvu as

Kusumakara,
Madhumasa and
Madhavam.

Most glorious Madhava Ruthuvu is formed as Ugadi and after conducting Ugadi Asthanam in the presence of Lord Venkateswara Swami in Tirumala temple, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, worshipped by millions of people and the name of Ananda Nilayam becomes meaningful.

Ugadi Festival or Ugadi Asthanam - Tirumala Temple — Ugadi Festival or Ugadi Asthanam – Tirumala Temple

Why do we have festivals?

Time being considered divine, every day and every minute is absolutely a happy festival. If this feeling is absent, all the festivals celebrated are fruitless. The people who just enjoy feasting on various sumptuous food items would result in the generation of Rajo and Tamo Gunas and they will never develop Satvika Guna or Cult.

Keeping in mind, our ancestors have framed certain rules and food habits for various festivals, while worshipping a particular God or Gods. All activities we do, with a pious mind, would be the happiest occasion.

Ugadi is not celebrated just like other festivals or rituals and this is not associated with the worship of any specified God. The infinite time is calculated yearly.

On the new year day, the time is worshipped as our favourite deity or as a resemblance to different Gods. Forecasting of coming time of the new year in advance, how to worship deities and get their blessings, and achieving results with certain means of effort are some of the plans and special programmes to be followed on the day of Ugadi.

Ugadi – In the months of Margasira, Vaisakha, Kartika and Aswiyuja

According to our ancient literature, Ugadi was celebrated in the months of Margasira, Vaisakha, Kartika and Aswiyuja. Similarly, there are differences on the beginning of ‘Yuga’ thithi on the basis of Kalpa and Manvantaras. Stars or Nakshatras are treated as Yugadi Nakshatras. Brahma created the Universe in the early morning of Chaitra Suddha Pratipada.

To express our gratitude and in tune with the remembrance of that event, we celebrate Ugadi. Panchanga Sravanam helps to know the auspicious and inauspicious events which may happen in one’s own life in the forthcoming year. This also helps to formulate the path of action to make one’s life happy and blissful with foresight and good behaviour.

Panchanga Sravanam is highly useful for everyone and all people of different countries. This also brings cohesion between the Universe and Earth.

What UGADI means

‘U’ means Joy, Shiva and Vishnu as well. ‘Ga’ means movement and acquisition. Therefore, ‘Uga’ means the bestowing of blessings of God. One can get happiness with all planned righteous activities to be carried out for the forthcoming year.

The word Ugadi starts with the creation of the Universe and it indicates its philosophy and it proves to be an occasion for a happy life.

Ugadi and Yugadi signify TRIVENI SANGAMAM in which Karya (Action), Karana (Cause) and Phala (Result) are involved and they are interdependent and are said to be the main source of development and happiness.

“Mulakando Mukunda”— Worshipping Mukunda is the soul of Ugadi.

Ugadi – New Year for most of the states in INDIA

Seasons change. So are the accomplishments that seasons give to us. Because of variations, nature is always juvenile. The trees which shed their leaves in winter, sprout new leaves in spring and flourish with dexterity.

Of all the seasons, spring is the most invigorating and appealing. Lord Krishna says that “Rutunaamkusumaakarah”, I am the Spring in seasons. Because of this reason, the beginning of the new year will be counted from this season.

The first month in Spring is “Chaitram”. In the case of thidhi, Paadyami is accredited as the first. Brahma Purana says that Lord Brahma had commenced the creation of this universe on this day in the aeon.

This is the starting of a Yuga. This day is celebrated by all Telugu people as the first festival because all the above were commenced on this day of yore.

The learning also said that Lord Rama had been crowned, and Lord Krishna ceased his incarnation on this day. The beginning of Kali Yug was also on this day. As per the computations of Varahamihira, the astronomer and the astrologist, Chaitra is the first month in a year.

On this great day, he had consecrated the first Panchangam (Almanac) to us. Famous kings like Vikramaditya and Andhra king, Salivahana ascended the throne on Paadyami thidhi of Chaitra month.

Ugadi Pachhadi (chutney)

The moment you think of Ugadi, then comes instantly to anybody’s thoughts is “Ugadipachhadi”.

Mixing up the green mangoes, neem flowers, fresh jaggery, tamarind, chilly, and salt, the Ugadi Pachhadi is made to reflect the six tastes of life which are the spokes of happiness and sadness. However, keeping this aside, it is mentioned in Ayurveda that, consuming this pachhadi on Ugadi day will remove phlegm, gas, and many other health problems.

The neem acts as antiseptic, antibacterial. It also removes skin diseases.
Raw Mango cures the defects in blood circulation in the body.
Tamarind helps in digestion.
New jaggery reduces the heat in the body.
The chilly cures an earache, throat swelling.
Salt restricts growing of fat in veins.

Normally this chutney is made in new earthen pots and hence keeps the body cool. Some people also add pieces of sugarcane and banana to the chutney.

Panchanga Sravanam

(Rendering of Almanac)

This is invariably done on Ugadi day. There is a meaning in this. This is the scientific way of showcasing our rituals. There are five parts. Thidhi, Vara (week), Nakshatra (star), Yoga and Karana.

Chatra Chamara Sekarana

(Collection of umbrellas, hand fans)

Commencing from the month of Chaitra, the rays of Lord Sun get intense and hence people collect umbrellas and hand fans to protect themselves from the scorching heat.

Pravadana Prarambham

(Starting by Providing Cool Water)

Prava means “cool hut” and Prasaadanam means sources of providing cool water. Such huts set up to provide cool water are also started on this day.

Vasanta Navaratri Utsavam

(Celebrations of Nine Nights)

Starting from Ugadi, celebrations are done for nine days. People pray Lord Rama during these nine days to bless them with good luck during the entire year.

Even though small changes occur, there is always an inherent meaning and purpose in our customs and rituals. Our elders thus made such festivals as part of our daily life.

May the Lord Sri Venkateswara with his consort goddess, Padmavathi bless us all every year.

Tag: Telugu New Year

Ugadi – Telugu New Year