This year, on
April 14th, we celebrate the New Year of the Hindu Viram Sambat
calendar, which was made official by the High caste Hindu rulers of
yesteryear, and the Rana aristocracy, more than a century ago.
On April 14th we
enter the year 2067 Vikram Samvat (Vikram Era). The Vikram Samvat
Era was established by the legendary Indian Emperor Vikramaditya of the
Gupta dynasty -
VIKRAMADITYA or
CHANDRAGUPTA II (380 to 413 AD)
Vikramaditya is THE
legendary
emperor of India. More stories/legends are associated with him than any
other ruler of India. It was during his (and his son Kumargupta's)
reign, India stood at the pinnacle of prosperity and opulence. Although
he was named after his grandfather Chandragupta, he took the title of
Vikramaditya, which became a synonym for a sovereign of tremendous
power and wealth. This title was later assumed by scores of other
sovereign rulers of India. Chandragupta minted a prodigious number of
gold coins. Even today, the largest number of Gupta coins found in
various hoards are the ones minted during his rule, a solid testimony
to the prosperity of his reign.
Vikramaditya's
reign was perhaps THE most prosperous and progressive reign in the
entire history of India. The contemporary Chinese traveller and
Buddhist monk, Fa-hein, was struck by the prosperity of the subjects
during Gupta rule. He admired the royal palaces and houses for
dispensing charity medicine. He speaks highly of the system of
government.
Vikramaditya is responsible for the era, popularly known as Vikram Samvat which commenced in 58 BC. This era has been used by major Hindu dynasties and still is in use in modern India. Nepal is the only country that uses it as the official calendar. So far. There has been a lot of pressure from the Newari community, and to some extent, other groups, to use another calendar other than the (former) royal one. The Newaris would like their calendar, which begins during the Tihar holy-days in Oct/Nov, to be the official calendar.
Be that as it may, this New Year, the ancient solar New Year of the Aryans, marking the sun's entering Aries, coincides with many Jatras (ceremonial outdoor processions, usually of a local deity, cum festival) celebrated by the Newar community. The New Year coincides with Newari Jatras, like Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur -
and Thimi Jatra in Thim -
Both of these a sometimes solemn,
sometimes very raucous affairs, are celebrated with much rakshi
(homebrewed rice liquor) and merriment. A lot of tongue piercing as
penance goes on...
Vikramaditya is responsible for the era, popularly known as Vikram Samvat which commenced in 58 BC. This era has been used by major Hindu dynasties and still is in use in modern India. Nepal is the only country that uses it as the official calendar. So far. There has been a lot of pressure from the Newari community, and to some extent, other groups, to use another calendar other than the (former) royal one. The Newaris would like their calendar, which begins during the Tihar holy-days in Oct/Nov, to be the official calendar.
Be that as it may, this New Year, the ancient solar New Year of the Aryans, marking the sun's entering Aries, coincides with many Jatras (ceremonial outdoor processions, usually of a local deity, cum festival) celebrated by the Newar community. The New Year coincides with Newari Jatras, like Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur -
and Thimi Jatra in Thim -
This year, this solar event
coincides with a lunar one, Mata-tirtha aunshi, the new-moon day of
Mata-tirtha.
This new moon day is celebrated
in Nepal as 'Mother's-face-looking-day'. Everybody who can,
visits their mother with gifts for her, and receives her
blessing. In Kathmandu Valley, those whose mother is dead, make
the pilgrimage to the ponds of Mata-tirtha, on the outskirts of the
Valley near Thankot.
Here, in ancient times, a young
cowherd, grieving after his mother, came to this place on this new moon
day, and made an offering to her near one of the ponds.
Miraculously, his mother's face appeared in the water, and her hand
accepted the food. Since then, people come to Mata-tirtha on this
new moon day in the lunar month of Vaishakh, in the hope of seeing
their deceased mother's face in the water, and many do. Only now,
people don't stare too closely at the pond, because legend has it that
a certain girl jumped into the water and drowned, when she saw her
mother's face in it.
So on this day I wish you the good fortune to be able to look upon your mother's face, and/or feel the warmth of her love and blessings... And Happy New Year !
So on this day I wish you the good fortune to be able to look upon your mother's face, and/or feel the warmth of her love and blessings... And Happy New Year !
Love
and Pranams,
Billy
Billy