VASANTA RITU

Vasanta Ritu (Mid Mar-Apr-Mid May) An ideal period for accumulating Divine Energy
There is nothing more deterministic and powerful in an average Human Beings life than Time. Time is the supreme entity in our lives that both doles out the circumstances of our lives in which we act and also bestows the outcome of our actions. Our ancestors have attached a great importance to Time and its usage and the need to possess the knowledge about Time, because our life itself is a span of Time. Life is a chance given to us in Time so that we might act properly and progress further. Hence in Sanatana Dharma the knowledge about Time finds an important place in the day to day life of its followers. It should be very interesting to know that the concept of Time is connected so deeply with Bharathavarsha (India) and Sanatana Dharma that the God of Time, the Great Mahakalas Temple located at Ujjain was considered the centre of earth, i.e., the Greenwich of ancient world and the Time of this place was taken as a Standard Time the world over, until it was changed by Europeans. And even now Ujjain has the worlds oldest natural clock which uses the shadow to measure time. And not only this, the higher scale of Time, the Months, were also followed and even named as per Ancient Indian Standard all over the world, until it was changed by various vested interests. But the proof of it can be clearly seen by examining the names of the various months. For example September, October, November and December are directly derived from Sanskrit words of Sapta (septa in Latin meaning Seven), Asta (or Octa in Latin meaning Eight), Nava (Nano in Latin meaning Nine) and Dasha (Deci in Latin meaning Ten) as Septa+Amber= September (amber means Sky in Sanskrit), Asta or Octa + Amber = October, Nava + Amber = November and Dasha or Deci + Amber = December. [This is one more proof that the whole world used Sanskrit in olden days.] The Fifth month was originally called Quintilis meaning 5th in Latin which was later changed to July by Julius Caesar who named it after himself after reforming (?) the Roman Calendar, now known as Julian Calendar and the sixth month or Sasta in Sanskrit was called Sextilis or 6th in Latin which was later changed to August after the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar. Even the name of the month of April, named after the Roman Goddess of Love, Aphrodite is connected to Sanatana Dharma. This falls in Vasanta Ritu, the period also related with fun and frolic just as the name Vasanta implies. According to Sanatana Dharma Vasanta or Spring is the friend of God of Love, Kamadeva. So September to December were actually 7th to 10th Months and hence the New Year commenced from March, as is still the case for the followers of Sanatana Dharma. Now coming back to the main topic, in the ancient world various cultural and traditional elements were put in place so that we do not miss the various windows in Time, when it is the most potent and hence most beneficial for our progress to perform certain actions that bring in positive results. Its more akin to knowing the right time of the season to sow the seeds so that you can reap a great harvest in due course. It is considered very auspicious for the followers of Sanatana Dharma to listen to the yearly Almanac known as Panchanga Shravana on the day of Yugadi or New Years Eve (This occurs on the 1st day of Vasantha Ritu) and thus ready oneself with this knowledge of Time to the extent possible, so that we have a clarity about our course, our action and the unique issues that are to be considered when we go about performing the same. Now coming to the current topic of Vasanta Ritu or Spring Season, which is one of the six seasons that occur in Bharatha Varsha unlike the only four that occur in most other parts of the world, the Masters of Wisdom have spoken of highly about this particular period of time when it is very conducive for spiritual progress. This season elevates the consciousness of whole of the Earth itself and fills the humans with enthusiasm and pleasure and takes away the irritation, tiresomeness and dullness. They say that in this time of the year every cell is full of Divine Consciousness and this gives rise to lofty feelings in us. And since many thousands of years the great and inspiring incidents on this Earth occurred only in this period it seems. Masters of Wisdom suggest that we take up special spiritual practices during the first nine days of this season. These nine days are known as Vasanta Navaratris or the Nine Nights of Vasanta or Spring. And those who extend these practices up to fifty more days assimilate enough spiritual energy sufficient for whole of the year. The Masters desire that the spiritual aspirants lead a disciplined life during this auspicious period. As I have said, our Rishis have introduced various festivals and celebrations to match these auspicious times so that even the common folks who have no mastery and knowledge will be able to participate and reap the benefits along with the knowledgeable people. The festivals that fall in this period are Vasantotsav or Holi the festival of colors, fun and frolic, Ugadi or Yugadi, the New Years Eve, Vasanta Navaratri - the nine nights for worship of Divine Mother, Sri Rama Navami - the birthday and marriage day of Lord Sri Rama Chandra, Hanuman Jayanthi - birthday of Lord Hanuman, Vaishakha Suddha Poornima the day on which the Divine Hierarchy Suddha Dharma Mandalam was reorganised by Lord Narayana at Vishala Badari region of Badarinath in Himalayas this day is considered most auspicious for whole of creation and whatever resolve made on this day would result in immense good for whole of the world and Akshaya Tritiya, the 3rd day of the bright half of the month of Vaishakha the day of infinite prosperity. It is said that whatever is learnt on this day or whatever charity given on this day bestows unending prosperity. This is also the date of birth of Lord Parasurama and also the day on which Ganga descended upon this Earth. It is very good day to worship the Goddess of prosperity Lakshmi Devi as even Kubera the god of wealth worships her on this day to seek her blessings. I wish that all of us would follow the advice of the Masters of Wisdom and take the advantage of these above occasions for progressing on the Path of Light.

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