For all those who follow the lunar calendar –nearly 75 per cent subscribe to it, – we have just ushered in the ‘Khara' year (April 2011 to April 2012). Pronounced with a stress on the first syllable, the term ‘Khara' in Sanskrit has varied connotations, a common feature to this ancient language. “Split as ‘kha' and ‘ra' it denotes heavens/sky /space (vyoma) and experiencing joy (ramathe). From this fundamental meaning there are a number of derivatives,” says Sanskrit scholar Kandadai Ramanujacharya.
If we take a macro view of the space/sky (one of the pancha bhuta or five elements of nature) it means the almighty or Paramatma. And to experience the joy of this divine creator is the essence of this year. Since the omniscient, omnipotent form of God to many of the older civilisations across the world is the sun, and then ‘Khara' is deciphered as experiencing the ‘sun's super hot rays'. “This year is likely to bring in calamities in the form of health or natural disasters over which man has no control but there is a ray of hope. People tend to lean towards Godhead which is their only solace,” is the prediction underlined by many a pandit. But then, ‘ Que sera sera , whatever will be, will be the future is not ours you see….!'
Khara also denotes a lotus according to some Sanskrit scholars. This wide-petalled flower in the Hindu pantheon has divine attributes, one of them being its association with the sun on whose touch it blooms. More commonly it is viewed as the seat of the Goddess of prosperity and wealth (Lakshmi). While on one hand the ‘Khara' year augurs a seamless link between the paramatma (space) and the jeevatma (creatures), it also signals flow of wealth into the nation. This to many, is good news indeed.
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To this day, the spring festival approximately coinciding with our Ugaadi (Yugaadi or new year) is celebrated as a feast if not a new year day.
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The reasons are not far to seek. Among all the seasons, it is spring that brings in cheer and fresh lease of life. Hence spring was looked up to as the first season of the year. The tender new leaves are symbolic of new set of desires for a happy life ahead.
The same is true of our new year falling in the month of Vasantham (spring). The weather is a pleasant sunshine with green branches opening their tender leaves to life. There is colour and plenty from our agrarian lifestyle. “In ancient times, our new year began with Margashirsham (January) and later shifted to Chaitram as it heralded the Vasantha rithu which is symbolic of the beginning of prosperity in keeping with our agrarian culture,” says Dr. Kandadai.
Why is the new year called Ugadi? Well, it is actually Yuga and adi (beginning of an era or more conservatively a year) which dialectically turned into Ugadi. The months of the lunar almanac derive their names from the nakshatras. Since moon is our main source of calculation the star that falls on the full moon day gives its name to the month. For instance, the star Chitra rules the Poornima in the month of April and hence the name Chaitram. Similarly, Vishaka for Vaisakam, Mrigasheersha for Marghasiram, Pushya for Pushya maasam (month) and so on.
The custom of ‘Ugadi pacchadi' which in most houses is an early morning ritual to be taken after a ceremonial bath also has its significance in the scheme of things. The chutney is made of six ingredients representing six (shadh) shades of life- bitter, sweet, salty, spicy, tangy and sour. These six are attributed to six planets whose blessings are invoked at the beginning of the year by tasting this chutney. The moon (Chandra) stands for sweetness or joy, the planet ruling over sour part of life (turmoil) is the Rahu, the salty is represented by Shani/saturn and means anger, while the tangy belongs to Shukra (Venus) who stands for love, while the bitter which is actually healthy is ruled by the Sun (Surya) and the spicy by Budha.
The water that mixes these is the Brihaspati or Jupiter (knowledge).
Most often than not, the sentiment that the dominating taste in one's mouth foretells the future of that individual rules the roost in many a home.
On a more philosophical plane, Ugadi marks the beginning of a new way of life led by nature whose potency man can never challenge and hence time and again bows down in reverence seeking a peaceful, pleasant and prosperous life.