Celebrating Sun-God

With the festive season on its way here’s the astrological significance of the Hindu New Year

Why is the Hindu New Year celebrated on April 14? A dive into the different facets of Hinduism comes up with some interesting facts.

Hinduism is a cosmological religion. It is a collection of accumulated facts perceived by Rishis in their meditation and uttered to their disciples. Indeed the facts are revelations. Guru Maharajji aptly said that “India has a long spiritual leg and a short material leg, while the US has a long material leg and a short spiritual leg!”

All Indological studies were perceived and the perceptions were revealed to the Rishis in their meditation. The facets of astronomy and astrology are two of them.

The scientific discovery by US satellites in the recent past that planet Saturn is surrounded by a ring is a very old story to the Hindus. They have been familiar with the Navagraha – nine planets – for centuries. Therefore, the Hindu New Year is also years old.

Both the Hindu New Year which falls in mid-April and Thai Pongal that takes place in mid-January have the Sun as their focus. Thai Pongal and Hindu New Year venerate the Sun which according to Hindu mythology is the Sun-God based on the fact that no raw material can be produced for food without sunlight.

The Sun is a fixed entity in the solar system, though astrologically it is a moving object. Astrology, according to the Hindu school of thought, is divided into three sections, and it is the first, Ganithaskandam, that is now known as Astronomy. Just as Greenwich is the meridian for the west, Ujain is that of Hinduism and this is proven by Pandit Dr. K. Sachithananthan, in his thesis for the FRAS qualification.

Hence, the 12 signs of the Zodiac transit around the Sun round the clock, and once Pisces or Meenam completes its journey, a fresh cycle begins on the first day of the month of Chithirai in the Hindu almanac, which falls in mid-April.

The birth of this fresh cycle is the Hindu New Year. According to Hindu mythology Brahma created the world on this day.

Similarly, the transit of Capricorn or Maharam is Maharasangranthi that falls in mid-January, which is celebrated as Thai Pongal where the first harvest is offered to the Sun.

As this celebration coincides with the harvesting season, Dravidian organisations and political parties in Tamilnadu named it Thamilar Thirunal – festival of the Tamils – and Ulavar Thirunal – Farmers’ Festival.

Interestingly, the Hindu New Year is only celebrated by the Hindus whereas Thai Pongal, which venerates Mother Nature, could be celebrated by all Tamils irrespective of their religion. Thus it is unfortunate that Thai Pongal has been given a religious orientation.

There are 60 Hindu New Years in one cycle of life, each year having a name of its own, depending on what is in store in the year ahead. The Hindu New Year which will dawn on April 14 is Sarva Siththiu, which means “Success in Everything”. The almanac of the 61st year of a person will be a repetition in many aspects of the first year of his or her birth year, and this is why the 60th birthday of a person is called ‘Shasdi-apta-poorthi’ in Sanskrit and ‘Mani Vila’ in Tamil.

Hinduism places much importance on health science, and could also be seen as intimidatory when taking into account the deities or minor gods who have to be appeased or threats held out in the name of evil spirits. However, the ultimate objective is to have a healthy community and that is why on New Year’s Day a brew of medicinal herbs obtained from the kovil is applied on the head before bathing.

Having taken a bath as the first activity of the day and donned brand new clothing which is part of being clean and healthy, ‘Saathwic’ or vegetarian food is eaten on visits to friends and relatives.

The good cheer spread by such visits is for better mental equilibrium while traditional sports and games contribute towards physical fitness.

All in all, the Hindu New Year is a festival that celebrates a new and joyful beginning.