Why January 1st is a special day for many Hindus
Date : 18/05/2024
Thanks to Sri Ramakrishna & Sri Vallimalai Swamigal, Western New Year Day is blessed with rich spiritual connotations too. It's a special day to any lover of Sri Ramakrishna and Lord Muruga. Hope you will enjoy reading about these two Great Masters!.
Significance of Kalpatharu Day
1st Jan is celebrated as Kalpatharu Day in all Ramakrishna Mutts all over the world. It's a great day of Sri Ramakrishna's self-revelation. On Kalpatharu Day in Kasipore Garden House, where Sri Ramakrishna was treated for throat cancer, Sri Ramakrishna came down to take stroll in the garden & blessed all in a Samadhi state.
Of this event in Sri Ramakrishna's Divya Charithram, Swami Nikhilananda writes as under in his introduction to Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna:
"'I shall make the whole thing public before I go,' the Master has said some time before.
On January 1, 1886, he felt better and came down to thI shall make the whole thing public before I go,' the Master e garden for a little stroll. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon. Some thirty lay disciples were in the hall or sitting about under the trees. Sri Ramakrishna said to Girish (Ghosh), 'Well Girish, what have you seen in me, that you proclaim me before everybody as an Incarnation of God?' Girish was not the man to be taken by surprise. He knelt before the Master and said with folded hands, 'What can an insignificant person like myself say about the One whose glory even sages like Vyasa and Valmiki could not adequately measure?' The Master was profoundly moved. He said: 'What more shall I say? I bless you all. Be illumined!' He fell into a spiritual mood. Hearing these words the devotees, one and all, became overwhelmed with emotion. They rushed to him and fell at his feet. He touched them all, and each received an appropriate benediction. Each of them, at the touch of the Master, experienced ineffable bliss. Some laughed, some wept, some sat down to meditate, some began to pray. Some saw light, some had visions of their Chosen Ideals, and some felt within their bodies the rush of spiritual power."
Of the very same event, Swami Saradananda writes in his great work "Ramakrishna, the Great Master" as under:
"Those words of profound blessing, untouched by the slightest tinge of selfishness, directly entered the devotees' hearts where they raised high billows of bliss. They forgot time and space, forgot the disease of the Master and forgot their previous determination not to touch him till he recovered, and had the immediate feeling that sympathizing with their misery, and heart overflowing with compassion, had come down to them from heaven and called them affectionately to Him for protection, like a mother sheltering her children against all ills."
After this incident, Sri Ramakrishna felt a severe burning sensation all over his body. He asked for Ganges water and sprinkled it all over his body. It is normally interpreted that the Master acquired to himself the sins of those whom he touched that day.
Tiruttani Tiruppugazh Padi Tiruvizha
In the 19th Century, Tamil people developed a custom of calling on dignitaries and foreign bureaucrats under British Raj on New Year's Day, January 1st every year, offering fruits and garlands, to get or continue to get pecuniary benefits from them. Swami Satchidananda of ValliMalai, a born patriot and devout personality, found no reason for such a custom. On the other hand he wanted and fervently desired that this way of submission if moved Godward, will enable everyone to get the merciful Blessings of the Lord.
Over six hundred years ago, Saint Arunagirinathar tasted the sweetness and bitterness of mundane life alike and turned out to be a gifted poet chanting Tiruppugazh and attained salvation as a parrot (sukha). For the jeevatmas suffering from the pains of Maya, Swami Satchidananda felt the only way out is to go to Tiruttani singing the Tiruppugazh of Lord Subrahmanya, at each of the 365 steps invoking His mercy at year's end and further blessings in the New Year.
With this aim in mind, Swami Satchidananda started the Tiruttani Tiruppugazh Tiruvizha in the year 1917 with just a few disciples. The festivity was so planned as to obtain His mercy in the year's end, against our misdeeds committed throughout the year, in order to crave His indulgence and to invoke His blessings for a progressive New Year. This invocation has to be made by prayers singing Tiruppugazh on the Lord.
Sri ValliMalai Swami Satchidananda Tiruppugazh Sabha has been carrying on this mission annually since 1917 as ordained by Swami Satchidananda. Even today Tiruttani Tiruppugazh Tiruvizha (New Year Step Festival) is celebrated every year on 31st December and 1st January by Sri VallimalaiSatchidananda Swamigal Thirupugazh Sabha followed by a mass feeding (annadanam) at Tiruttani for His devotees at (Nagarathar Choultry) Tiruttani.
The entire process has by now gained momentum and spread its roots through many associations and bhajan troupes. This shows that a noble endeavour well started by a saintly person like Swami Satchidananda never fails but only grows by strides, proving the words of Arunagirinathar's Tiruppugazh.
May Sri Ramakrishna & Sri Vallimalai Swamigal fulfill all your temporal & spiritual aspirations!! May Sri Ramakrishna awaken and strengthen our spiritual instincts and bless us all to live a meaningful life.
Happy 2021 & beyond!
Post Script:
1) Sri Ramakrishna passed away 8 months later on 16th August 1886.
2) It is the Tradition for the followers of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa to celebrate January 1st as Kalpatharu Day (Kalpatharu: The wish-fulfilling tree). On January 1st, between 3 to 4 PM, Sri Ramakrishna Temples (in all Sri Ramakrishna Mutts) will be kept open and ardent followers of Sri Ramakrishna will undertake meditation during this auspicious period. Many devotees feel that an unusual sense of peace could be experienced during this meditating period.
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