Gudhipadwa, the Hindu New Year (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada) - a spiritual celebration      

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Celebration of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada

2.1 Ablution with oil (abhyangasnaan) - an auspicious bath

2.2 Raising the flag (DharmaDhwaj)

2.3 Position of the flag (DharmaDhwaj)

2.4 Taking down the flag (DharmaDhwaj)

2.5. Prayer to be done while worshiping and taking down the flag (DharmaDhwaj)

3. Essential qualities required for imbibing Prajaapati frequencies on this day

3.1 Difference between Yam and Prajaapati frequencies

4. Spiritual experiences of seekers who observed the Hindu New Year as per the science of spirituality

1. Introduction

In the Understanding section of this website we have seen the importance of celebrating the Hindu New Year on the day of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada that is Gudhi Padwa or Yugaadi and the importance of hoisting a special flag (DharmaDhwaj). This article is about how to celebrate Gudhi Padwa in a spiritually correct manner, so that a devotee can get maximum benefit of the day not only at a psychological and intellectual level but also at a spiritual level.

2. Celebration of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada*

2.1 Ablution with oil (abhyangasnaan) - 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 1/100,000 % and the spiritually pure (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 elasticity of 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.

2.2 Raising the flag (DharmaDhwaj)

On Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the frequencies of the fire element (Tejtattva) and the creative  element (Prajaapati) are activated on a large scale. The Divine Consciousness (Chaitanya) emitted from these frequencies during sunrise on this day, can be retained for a longer period. It is accumulated in the cells of the embodied soul and is used by the embodied soul as and when required. Therefore within 5-10 minutes of sunrise one should raise and perform the ritualistic worship of the flag (DharmaDhwaj).

2.3 Position of the flag (DharmaDhwaj)

Care should be taken to raise the flag (DharmaDhwaj) 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 symbolises the active state of the soul.

1. The place for raising the flag (DharmaDhwaj) should be cleaned and then a Swastik rangoli should be drawn on the ground. Turmeric and vermillion (haldi-kumkum) should be offered at the center of the Swastik.

2. While raising the flag (DharmaDhwaj), the 'Shiva-Shakti' element in the Universe should be invoked. This enables all the constituents of the flag (DharmaDhwaj) to accept divine elements.

3. The flag (DharmaDhwaj) symbolises the central energy channel (Sushumna naadi) of our body. Hence, the flag (DharmaDhwaj) should be raised at the entrance and it should be kept tilted at an angle. 

2.4 Taking down the flag (DharmaDhwaj)

The flag (DharmaDhwaj) should be taken down with the same kind of spiritual emotion with which it was hoisted. Only then the person receives the Divine Consciousness from it. Before taking it down an offering (naivedya) of sweet saattvik food is made along with prayers. The articles used for the flag (DharmaDhwaj) should be kept separately from articles of daily use. The flowers and tender leaves offered to the flag (DharmaDhwaj) should be immersed in flowing waters. The flag (DharmaDhwaj) should be taken down immediately after sunset. Negative energies become active in the atmosphere after that time. If the flag (DharmaDhwaj) stays up after the sun has set then negative energies can enter it and we may suffer distress due to them.

2.5 Prayer to be done while worshipping and taking down the flag (DharmaDhwaj)

While doing ritualistic worship: 'O Lord Brahmadev, O Lord Vishnu , let the Prajaapati, Surya and saattvik frequencies present in the atmosphere be received by us through the medium of this flag (DharmaDhwaj). The Divine Consciousness obtained through them be retained constantly. Let the energy received by me be utilised for my spiritual practice.' This is my prayer at your feet!

While taking it down: 'O Lord Brahmadev, O Lord Vishnu, let me receive the energy that has accumulated in this flag (DharmaDhwaj) throughout the day. Let that energy be spent for the mission of Nation and Dharma.' This is my prayer at your feet!

3. Essential qualities required for imbibing Prajaapati frequencies on this day*

An ordinary person has very little capacity to imbibe divine frequencies. An individual with the following qualities can imbibe them in a higher proportion:

• Remembering God constantly through his inner mind.

• Unshakeable faith in Guru and God

• God's energy of resolve is active through him

• The energy is utilised for the mission connected with Nation and Dharma.

3.1 Difference between Yam and Prajaapati frequencies:

4. Spiritual experiences of seekers who observed the Hindu New Year as per the science of spirituality

1. Feeling fresh after getting very little sleep
On 8th April 2005, that is the day before Hindu New Year (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada), after completing the typing seva (service unto Guru or God) of the received divine knowledge from God, I went to bed around 12 a.m. and got up around 4 a.m. the next day. In spite getting less sleep, on Hindu New Year day, I was feeling quite fresh.

- Ms Madhura Bhosale, Pune, India.

Spiritual experiences of Shri Shrikrushna Upadhye while spreading awareness about celebrating the New Year by sending SMS messages on his mobile phone.

1. Getting a thought of spreading awareness in society, by SMS, regarding celebrating the New Year on Hindu New Year Day instead of January 1st:

On getting up in the morning of December 30th, 2006 God suggested to me, 'I may get a lot of greeting messages for the New Year on December 31st and January 1st. So before I receive them I shall send them the message through SMS that they should celebrate the New Year not on January 1st but on Hindu New Year day (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada), as per Hindu religion. This may create awareness amongst them.' Thereafter the following matter came in my mind, 'Hindus, celebrate the New Year not on January 1st but on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada and follow Hindu Dharma. Kindly forward this matter to your near and dear ones.'

2. Experiencing that, in spite of sending an SMS message to 225 people, the balance amount in the mobile account increased every time:  

I then sent the matter above via SMS to one of the seekers. At that time I had a balance of only 2.20 rupees left in my mobile. While going to work I wanted to refill the mobile but the store was closed and so I could not refill it. I felt bad that now I would not be able to send the message to anybody. Thereafter I send the message to one more seeker. Then I was surprised to note that the balance amount on my mobile had increased to 3.20 rupees. Then again I sent the message to two more people worrying about the balance but to my surprise the balance was 5.20 rupees. Thereafter I found the balance to be 15.20 rupees even after sending messages to 10 more people. Like that I sent a total of 225 messages but the balance, instead of decreasing, became 120 rupees. Thus I was convinced that because I was serving (doing seva) Dharma and spreading spirituality, God helped me.

3. Some friends cancelling their New Year programs:

After receiving my SMS message about celebrating the New Year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, some of my friends informed me that they would be cancelling their New Year celebrations. Thus God taught me that even SMS can become an effective media to spread spirituality. Therefore I was constantly expressing my gratitude unto God for giving me the opportunity to serve Him. 

- Shri Shrikrushna Upadhye, Khanda Colony, Panvel.

* Divine knowledge received by some seekers doing saadhanaa per Gurukrupaayoga.

  To know more about this divine knowledge please visit the about us section of this website.

**Ref: Spiritual Science Research Foundation - Levels of spiritual evolvement

Related Links

• Hindu New Year - an introduction

• Saadhanaa per Gurukrupaayoga

• The method of celebrating Chaitra Shukla Pratipada

• Ganesh Jayanti: a spiritual celebration