why should birthday be celebrated as per hindu lunar calendar

7/25/2019 Why Should Birthday Be Celebrated as Per Hindu Lunar Calendar

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Why should birthday be celebrated as per Hindu

lunar calendar?

By : mandar

Rating : Not Rated

ContentsBirthday

1. Spiritual meaning

2. History and importance of a birthday celebration

2.1 Birthday of an embodied soul in the Satyayug

2.2 Birthday of an individual in the Tretaand Dvaparyugs

3. Importance of celebrating the birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar

4. Method of birthday celebration

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4.1 Method 1

4.2 Method 2

5. Science behind the ritual of birthday celebration

5.1 Three rites in birthday celebration and the science behind them

5.2 Wearing new clothes after the bath with oil massage is like wearing an armour of chaitanya

6. Spiritual experiences during the celebration of a birthday

7. Acts forbidden on a birthday and the science behind it 8. Subtle analysis of a birthday celebrated in western style

8.1 Subtle analysis

8.2 Distress experienced by the invitees

9. A saints birthday

10. The birthday celebration of children, contemporaries, the aged and saints

Birthday1. Spiritual meaning

Celebrating a birthday is actually expressing gratitude to God for the opportunity to do sadhana(spiritual

practice) during the past year and praying for His grace in the coming year.- A Scholar (Through the medium

of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil , 21stJanuary 2005, 4 p.m.)

The birthday is the day to assess spiritual progress of the embodied soul:The word vad-divas, in

Marathi language literally means day of growth. Here growth indicates spiritual progress. For the soul to

progress spiritually, purification of the subtle body and imbibing of the three components also known as

trigunas) from Deities in appropriate proportions is necessary. The spiritual progress of an embodied soul

begins at birth. Even if an individual does not undertake actual spiritual practice, due to various spiritual

rituals performed on him the sattvacomponent in him increases thus initiating his spiritual progress. Birthday

is the day to take stock of the effect of spiritual rituals on his subtle body. From a spiritual perspective,

birthday is the day to assess ones spiritual progress and if there is spiritual progress then it signifies actual

growth.- God (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale,13thMay 2005, 8.04 - 8.22 p.m.)

Birthday is the day to enhance ones ability to imbibe chaitanya:Birthday is the day for enhancement of

the ability of an embodied soul to imbibe chaitanya, through the benevolent frequencies gained by invoking

Deities. Through this action which raises the sattvacomponent in the atmosphere, the embodied soul

achieves stability of the inner mind. A Scholar (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 28th

August2005, 11.40 a.m.)

2. History and importance of a birthday celebration2.1 Birthday of an embodied soul in the Satyayug

In the Satyayugthe first birthday was celebrated with an evolved soul making a silent resolve and either

showering unbroken rice grains (akshata) on the appropriate chakraof the spiritual energy system (kundalini

), touching the chakraor initiating the journey (activation) of the kundaliniwith a mere glance: An individual is

born with a spiritual level which is carried forward from the past birth. Accordingly, that particular centre in the

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spiritual energy system is already in an activated state or a state where the journey of the spiritual energy has

halted. In the Satyayug, Tretayug and Dvaparyug evolved individuals would be invited to bless the

individual whose first birthday was being celebrated or the child would be taken to Him. The evolved soul

would perform the ritual of aukshan for the child and making a silent resolve would shower unbroken rice

grains on various parts of its body thus activating the chakrasof the spiritual energy system in that area, till

the chakrawhere the spiritual journey had halted was reached. He would touch the chakrabeyond the one

where the spiritual energy flow was arrested with unbroken rice grains in the fingers. This would resume the

further journey of the spiritual energy. The evolved soul progressed beyond 75% would know merely by

looking at the embodied soul upto where his spiritual energy was activated. So, a mere glance at that chakrawould restart his spiritual progress. God (Through the medium of Ms.. Madhura Bhosale, 13thMay 2005,

8.04 -8.22p.m.)

2.2 Birthday of an individual in the Tretaand Dvaparyugs

Saints blessing an embodied soul only after assessing his spiritual progress in the previous year:In

the Satyayug the spiritual level of the average individual was 60%. The embodied soul himself was capable

of perceiving the progress of the spiritual energy in his chakras. In the Tretayug too some embodied souls

had this potential. However, in the Dvaparyug most embodied souls lost this ability.

In the Treta and Dvaparyugs either the individual would visit saints or vice-versa and the saint would

bestow His blessings for rapid spiritual progress. After having received blessings the embodied soul would

seriously enhance his efforts to increase spiritual progress. On the subsequent birthday when the individual

would go for blessings to the saint He would bless him only after assessing if his spiritual progress had

occurred in the past year. Since the seeker was fully aware that his progress was a consequence of the

saints blessing there were less chances of inflation of his ego. - God (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura

Bhosale, 8thMay 2005).

3. Importance of celebrating the birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar

Even though according to astrology, the date of birth as per the Hindu lunar calendar is inauspicious, it is still

advisable to celebrate it on that day as the benefits derived are more than if celebrated on the date of birth

according to the Western calendar. - Compiler: We advise that the birthday should be celebrated as per the

Hindu lunar calendar.

However astrology says No auspicious action should be performed on the date that one is born because that

day is inauspicious. So what stand should be adopted?

A Scholar: The implied meaning of the word inauspicious in this context is different. The attributes of the

embodied soul born on that particular day match with the frequencies present on that date as per the Hindu

lunar calendar (tithi). The sorcerers with their prowess to do black magic, can make a replica of an

embodied soul and can cause distress upto 70%. Thus this day is considered inauspicious due to the

probability of suffering which could be maximum on that date.

In Kaliyug this is an excellent example of the misconceptions harboured by people. On this day the

probability of harm is more means that, chances of obstacles in any auspicious task is high so the

misconception that was formed was that one cannot perform any holy ritual for the embodied soul on this

date of the Hindu lunar calendar. On the contrary, when celebrating the birthday on this date, through the

ritual of aukshan and a prayer made unto the family deity, the chaitanyagenerated helps the embodied soul

to combat the distressing energy attacks at various levels. Thus, there is no rule that one must not performany ritual on this day and the statement from astrology is baseless.- (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali

Gadgil, 4thMarch 2006, 7.17 p.m.)

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Blessings and good wishes endow maximum benefit:The frequencies of the date of birth according to

the Hindu lunar calendar match the individual maximally.Since the blessings and good wishes of relatives

and well-wishers bring maximum benefit to the individual celebrating the birthday as per the Hindu lunar

calendar is more beneficial.

One develops the strength to combat obstacles in life:Since the frequencies in the universe on the

birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar match the temperament of the person born on that date, the sattvik

and chaitanya-enriched rituals done by an individual on that day leave a deep impression on his

subconscious mind. As a result, he derives spiritual prowess to combat problems in his future life.- A Scholar(Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 21stJanuary 2005, 9.11p.m. and 28thAugust 2005, 11.40a.m.)

Benefits of celebrating a birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar (tithi) as against the date of birth

as per the Western calendar

Celebrating birthday as per

date by Western calendar

Celebrating birthday as per

Hindu lunar calendar

1. Body involved Physical body only Physical body 5% and subtle

body 95%

2. Effects on body Since it is related only to thephysical body the embodied

soul benefits from the sattva

frequencies negligibly. As a

result the covering of the

embodied soul by raja-tama

attributes may not get reduced

Sattva component of thesubtle body increases

3. Effects on the spiritual

energy channels (naadii)

Even after aukshan the

sattva component in the

subtle body does not grow as

much as required; mostly the

sun channel and at times the

moon channel gets activated.

However this does not benefit

the embodied soul spiritually.

After a tithi begins, every

moment an embodied soul

derives sattvik frequencies

matching his subtle body,

which are necessary for

purification of the body. As a

result of aukshanthe

Sushumna channel in the

embodied soul gets activated.

If the spiritual level of the

embodied soul exceeds 60%,

the Sushumna channel

remains active throughout theday.

4. Effects on the attitudes of

an embodied soul

As the sattva component in

an embodied soul does not

increase, his extroverted

attitude does.

As the sattva component in

an embodied soul grows, so

does his introverted attitude.

- God (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale, 13thMay 2005, 8.04 p.m.)

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4. Method of birthday celebration

There are as many temperaments as there are people and so also the corresponding number of paths of

spiritual practice. This is one of the basic tenets in Hinduism. Based on this, the methods of performing

religious rituals also vary. Though the methods vary, the benefit of the ritual is the same, which is all methods

endow the Divine principle. Thus one can decide the method as per convenience. Following are the two

methods for celebration of a birthday.

4.1 Method 1

A.In the first year of life every month and thereafter every year on the date of birth as per the Hindu lunar

calendar one should bathe after an oil massage. This should be, followed by application of tilakof kumkum

(vermilion)on the forehead.

B.With the resolve

() fistful of rice are placed

on a wooden seat or platform in seventeen small heaps in the name of the family deity (kuladevata), lunar

asterism at birth (nakshatra), parents, Deities Prajapati, Surya, Ganesh, Parshuraam, Raam, Hanumaan ,

Shasthidevata, Sages Maarkandeya, Vyaas, Krupaachaarya, Ashwathaamaa, Bali, Pralhaad and Bibhishan .

The corresponding deity is invoked in each heap and their ritualistic worship with sixteen substances is

performed. The Shasthidevata is offered a sacrament (naivedya) of curd and rice which is later fed to a cow

or any other animal. The other Deities are offered sugar cubes (khadisakhar) or pedhas (a sweetmeat)

which is then distributed as holy sacrament.

C.With a prayer, a drink made from a cube of jaggery, a fistful of sesame seeds and half a cup of milk is

partaken of by the one celebrating the birthday.

D.Relatives and friends are invited for a meal. Offering of food and other items should be done on this day as

much as possible.

E.Avoid receiving money or gifts on this day.

4.2 Method 2

The method of celebration is given below.

A.Bath after an oil massage: On the birthday, after an oil massage, have a bath with clothes on (bath taken

in this way is symbolic of forgetting the past, with a prayer to The God for constantly remaining in the

present.) When bathing the spiritual emotion should be that The pure and holy water of river Ganga is

purifying my body and mind.

B.Wear new clothes after the bath.

C.Offer obeisance (namaskar) to parents and elders in the family.

D.Perform the ritual of abhishek (ablution with liquids like milk and water) or ritualistic worship of the family

deity wholeheartedly.

E.Ritual of aukshan: The ritual of aukshan is performed on the one whose birthday is being celebrated.

Both, the one performing it and the one on whom the ritual is being performed, should harbour the spiritualemotion that, Through our medium, God Himself is performing this ritual and bestowing His blessings on us.

At the end of this ritual unbroken rice grains (akshataa) are sprinkled on the head of the one on whom

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aukshan is performed after venerating ones family deity or deity of worship.

F.A gift is presented to the one celebrating the birthday with the following perspective. As ones duty a child

is given a gift to express appreciation. While gifting an adult,one should not have a sense of doership. When

one gifts something without expectation, after a while one forgets about it. The gift given on a birthday should

be such. If doership or expectations are harboured in the mind when gifting then a give and take account is

created between the two. When the one receiving the gift has the attitude that it is the holy sacrament (

prasad) that he is receiving with Gods grace, then a give and take account is not created.

G.Clothes worn when bathing should be given away, without any expectations. This offering should be made

to one who is deserving hence it is advisable to give it to a devotee of God or to one serving in the mission of

betterment of the nation and righteousness, instead of a beggar.

5. Science behind the ritual of birthday celebration5.1 Three rites in birthday celebration and the

science behind them5.2 Wearing new clothes after the bath with oil massage is like wearing an

armour of chaitanya6. Spiritual experiences during the celebration of a birthday7. Acts forbidden on

a birthday and the science behind it8. Subtle analysis of a birthday celebrated in western style8.1

Subtle analysis8.2 Distress experienced by the invitees9. A saints birthday10. The birthday

celebration of children, contemporaries, the aged and saints

For details on these topics refer to Sanatan's publication: Science underlying various family religious

traditions and social customs

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why should birthday be celebrated as per hindu lunar calendar

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