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!