‘Ugadi’(beginning of the era ) is beginning of the Telugu New year. Day one of Telugu New Year
The name of this year is “Virodhi”. I think, hopefully, that in this year we try to win over our virodhi – ‘kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, mathsrya’ which are inimical to our progress. These six characters are the ones which make a person live with lot of struggle. When they are rightly understood and practiced all the same may help us to develop humanely and attain moksha. . ‘Kama’ means in general – desire; desire to have physical pleasure, desire to acquire things for physical happiness. Every desire when fulfilled, we realize, the pleasure it gives is short lived. We try something more. That something more will only end with knowing ‘god’ and enjoying ‘bliss’. It is said that “kami gani vadu moksha gami kadu” (a person who does not have any desire will never desire for moksha). When all the desires are fulfilled and still there is craving for something more enjoyable and everlasting pleasure then the realization comes that knowing god and attaining bliss is the final aim of life. Nothing else can give eternal happiness.
‘Krodha’ is something that generally destroys our peace. But if that is rightful anger directed against the persons or creatures causing harm to other beings and disturbing the ecological balance, then there can be heaven on earth as some religious people predict and are waiting for. As per Hindu scriptures god has come on to earth to fight against evil when the earth could no more bear their burden. Meaning less and unwanted krodha which we generally exhibit because of our ‘mada’ and ‘mathsrya’ will destroys us. So let us try to have only the rightful anger and not the anger which makes us lose our sanity.
But we are generally selfish (‘lobha’) and want to have so many things for us. We want everything for ourselves only, and we never think of others living and others wants. Some selfish people to prove their superiority they go warring destroying nations with all its inhabitants, its rich culture. Their selfish act will one day lead to their own destruction. It is said, ‘as you sow, so you reap’. When you have shown somebody a method for fulfilling your desires, someday the other person will take the same route. Selfishness to protect nature will gives us back the best living on this earth. Loving nature and its fauna and helping the beings to live in happiness will definitely make earth a paradise.
‘Moha’ is attachment. Attachment always leads to pain. When there is attachment, there has to be detachment some day. And the suffering to get detached is sorrowful. But as individuals we find it difficult to live alone. When alone, if we start enjoying that loneliness in getting connected to ‘Almighty’ then eternal bliss will be ours. And that is very difficult. So, if possible, if we try to follow the Hindu scriptural saying, to take up ‘vanaprastha ashrama’ after children come of age. I think it will be a step forward to slow and peaceful detachment and a step forward to tread the path to moksha – the goal of human life.
Do we ever like to give up these pleasures of life with its attachments when we are in good position socially and health wise? Our arrogance –‘mada’ will want us to continue imposing on others. As we are blessed with good fortune we feel ourselves no less than god and exert undue authority on others. Finally Almighty will have to end our being and turn into ashes. Of course, that is the end result of all of us. But before we mingle in mother earth it is worth to realize that whatever we are it is only for short period. So let us live peacefully and giving regard to every one that is their due.
We generally think we are the best. Only we should have all the best in the world. We are jealous if somebody is having more things and the things we love to have. Their possession of things makes us feel jealous –‘mathsrya’ and we try to put down them some way or other. Instead without jealousy if we appreciate their efforts for having those things, one day we may also have it. Huna philosophy says “Bless that which you want”. This can be practiced if we downplay the feeling of jealousy in us and know the efforts put by the person to achieve that we want. This reduces lot of heart burn in us and help to achieve the best we want.
These were some of my thoughts which I put in words after thinking about ‘Ugadi Pachadi’. This pachadi also has six main ingredients – sweet, bitter, sour, salt, vagaru (I do not know what to say in English) and spice (karam). All these are put in appropriate quantity in water – elixir of life. (In Telangana region Ugadi pachadi is made in the form of liquid-drink). This is specifically made in earthen pot. This earthen pot made out of clay (earth), mixed with water, heated on fire. The pot has unseen pores (air) in it. Space enclosed within the pot can be regarded as space (akasha). In this pot we put water and other ingredients and make a cool drink ‘Ugadi pachadi’. Ugadi comes in the early phase of summer - starting of summer season, and in olden days it was essential to buy a pot for summer to drink cool water.
When we think we find simple things do convey us so many facts about nature and culture. In this busy life, we rarely find time to think. We are either busy in struggle for existence or if we find ourselves at leisure and alone, we get bored. We always want to be preoccupied with some external activity. When we stop external activity and start enjoying loneliness life becomes peaceful and blissful.
On this Ugadi day, starting of Telugu New Year I wish all a bliss
‘sarvejana sukhinobhavanthu’
