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.
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.
