Vedic Concept of the New Year
Abhaya Mudra Dasi
“Now these Christmas holidays you have begun in your country. Throughout the whole month of December you'll observe nice festivals, festivities. Why? Where it began? God consciousness. Lord Christ he came to give you God consciousness, and in his relationship these festivities are going on. It may be degraded in another form. The beginning is God consciousness, but we have lost it. So people cannot be happy without reviving God consciousness. It may be named in a different way—“Krishna consciousness.” -Lecture by Shrila Prabhupada, SB 2.2.5 - Los Angeles, December 2, 1968
In Vedic India, the New Year is celebrated on two occasions, on the solar and lunar new years. It is significant that both of these New Years are celebrated in the spring season or vasant ritu. The solar month begins when the Sun enters the first sign of the zodiac or Aries the Ram (which begins in 2012 on 13 April). The lunar year begins with the first day of Chaitra-masa and corresponds to the Gaudiya lunar month of Vishnu. (In 2012 the first day of Chaitra or Vishnu begins on 9 March). Vedic India has a system of six seasons of two months each, and Chaitra is also the first month of Vasant-ritu or springtime.
It is quite natural that cyclic new beginnings should be recognized when fresh green leaves appear and flowers are starting to bloom. Here in Bulgaria to welcome the earth’s rebirth in spring, the people tie martenitsas (from “Mart” which means “March”) on each others’ wrists. Martenitsas are woven white and red threads symbolizing ida and pingala (the two pranas in the body which are male and female in nature.) These two threads are woven into each other and symbolize the rise of the kundalini or the life-giving force. This thread in Bulgaria often has a male or female figure attached on both ends called Pizho (pingala) and Penda (ida).
Today all over the world, a time that should be reserved for the rebirth of life is celebrated in the dead of winter on one of the years’ bleakest days, the 1st of January. This is an example of a worldwide misconception of the importance of the meaning of earthly renewal. How did this mistaken belief come to pass? To find out we must look to another ancient Vedic tradition, that of Makara Sankranti.
Makara Sankranti (which occurs in 2012 on 15th January) is the day when the demi-god of the Sun, Lord Surya Narayana, turns and embarks upon his northern course. This day is very important because without this change of the sidereal ecliptic the lushness of spring will not be possible. On this day the Sun enters into his northern route as gradually the days grow longer in the Earth’s northern hemisphere.
Although Makara Sankranti falls on 15th of January for most of the world this year, it was not the case some 400 years ago when Makara sankranti occurred on the 6th of January. The stars are moving ahead of our clock every year by 50". Every year our clock should be adjusted to the Universal clock in order to keep up with time. Unfortunately, the West has not kept track of this ayanamsha and there is an increasing gap between tropical (Western) and sidereal (jyotish) calculations. The difference or ayanamsha correction between tropical and sidereal measurements of planetary positions is now nearly 24 degrees making for a great difference in dates.
According to Western astrology the change of planetary positions occurs 24 days later than it actually happens in the heavens. Many people have been turned away from astrology for this simple reason: western astrology reads an unlikely position of stars while Vedic astronomy or gola shastra reads them as they are observed in the heavens. Modern astrology does not keep track with astronomy and for this reason it has been excluded from the pantheon of sciences. Over time with the decline of the once-universally popular science of astrology in the Western world, the symbols and significant dates have been quietly absorbed and re-adapted by the Christian church and others. Christianity’s popularity gained momentum about 500 years after the crucifixion of Lord Jesus Christ. Around the year 500 AD Makara Sankranti occurred on December 25th. This is not a mere coincidence but a historic fact.
In 380, the Roman Emperor Flavius Theodosius accepted Christianity as an official religion. In 410 Rome collapsed while leaving the Eastern Roman Empire to continue its legacy. There were many tribes who came under the rule of the Roman Empire bringing with them their various forms of demi-god worship. Rome had been much influenced by the system of worship in Greece and adopted their demi-gods by only slightly changing the names. But the name of the demi-god of the Sun, Apollo was not changed. Not only were the ancient residents of Bharatvarsha devoted to Lord Surya-Narayana, but the Greeks, Romans, Thracians, Germans, Slavs, Arabs, Egyptians and many others had cults devoted to the solar deity. When Christianity was accepted by way of compromise, many of the current celebrations and traditions were incorporated into the new religion with royal support. The leaders of the Christian church simply compromised the Biblical teachings by tailoring the shape of old traditions to fit the concepts of the new religion of the cross. Thus the very important day of Makara sankranti was kept as a day for celebration but was artificially given a new meaning as the birthday of Christ. Gradually the day of Makara sankranti was celebrated on this fixed day of 25th December as its astronomical significance was forgotten. The modern conception of the European connection to the winter solstice, which was called the yuletide season, is well known including how it has been absorbed into Christianity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule.
Let us examine that Christian symbol of generosity, the mythological Santa Claus, who is said to live on the North Pole. The concept of North is another significant pointer to the worship of the Sun god Vivasvan and his change of course to the northern route on the day of Makara Sankranti. It is an ancient tradition that Makara sankranti is a favorable day for dana, distribution of gifts and charity. Therefore Santa comes down from the North Pole to distribute gifts.
As we all know, today there is practically no sampradaya or disciplic succession anywhere in the world. Society has based its traditions on the blind following of meaningless customs most of which eventually are turned into superstitions because no clue remains as to their origins. Christmas is one such example of a superstitious belief whose origins lie in some supernatural causality. To be understood, the origin of Christmas, as well as the festivals associated with its saints, the teachings of Jesus Christ and all other aspects of the religion should be seen through the eyeglass of Krishna consciousness. Thus Christmas is not entirely a Christian celebration. We have seen that in fact the day is not even the birthday of Jesus Christ but is rather a complex concoction of cultural views.
In the predominantly Christian world of the West, Christmas and the New Year celebrations are officially pushed as the most important days for the entire world. Of course the basis of this is sheer consumerism and has really nothing to do with the sacred memory of the Son of God, shaktyavesh avatara Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas and the New Year day are basically part of the same yuletide festival as indicated by old sayings like “Christmas season” or “twelve days of Christmas.” How can a birth have a season or last twelve days? New Year’s Day simply fits better the modern calendar and allows for a longer holiday. And for the big corporations and chain stores Christmas means profits, up to 30% for the entire year.
But getting back to the situation of the Sun god, over time his name was changed from Ra in Egypt to Apollo and then incorporated into the legend of Saint Nicholas or later Santa Claus. It was the Cola Cola company that really took the image of the old man to extremes and made him into a commercial star.
Red is associated with the color of the Sun in astrology. Santa is depicted as an old man who wears red clothes. Shri Krishna is actually the oldest of all living entities. Thus the concept of an old man dressed in red is a reflection of the demi-god of the Sun, who was mistakenly considered as the Supreme Lord in ancient demi-god worshipping societies. In fact, the Sun in his obedience to Lord Krishna is a representation of the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna in the material world and hence he is sometimes called Lord Surya-Narayana.
When Coca Cola adopted red as the color of their trademark logo, it was a sign of the approaching rule of the giant corporation. This modern demon-crazy society exploits everything, not only the Sun god but mother Earth, the Moon as giver of different tastes and electricity as power coming from Mars. Ultimately, the modern materialistic society seeks even to exploit God Who provides so generously for His parts and parcels.
As far as gift giving on Christmas is concerned, offering presents is a natural emotion found in each of us as infinitesimal expansions of the all-giving Lord. But the actual day meant for giving is Makara sankranti. Even the Sun god gives more of himself on that day. On that day two Suns can be observed in the sky. According to Vedic principles it is auspicious to present gifts on auspicious occasions, especially to the worthy members of the family and society.
The importance of the Sun in ancient times of worship was not exaggerated. The Sun predominates over the facility of sight and he creates space and time in the Universe. He is the direct manifestation of Lord Narayana in the material world. During the presence of Lord Shri Krishna on Earth about 5000 years ago even Shrimati Radharani worshiped the Sun god. This worship was favored by all of the inhabitants of Vrindavana. Shri Krishna did not stop this practice as he did with the worship of Indra, the king of heaven. The reason was that the worship of the Sun god was facilitating many of His intimate pastimes. Shrimati Radharani used the excuse of making puja to the Sun god for arranging private meetings with Shri Krishna and pilgrims still visit her place of puja called Surya Kund.
The demi-god of the Sun planet Lord Vivasvan should be remembered on Makara sankranti celebrations. Gifts which would have been given at Christmas should be offered at that time because proper charity performed at the correct moment is fruitful and is never wasted. Even Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa on this day of Makara sankranti signifying a major step towards a new age, the Golden Age of Kali Yuga. ·
written 23 Dec. 201
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