Ugadi is the first day of the new year according to the Luni-solar calendar. Krodhi Samvatsara will be followed by Viśvāvasu in the Gregorian year of 2025. What do our Shāstras say about how to celebrate the New Year? Let’s find out!
The 60 Year Cycle
There are 60 names for each year in the Hindu Calendar System and they repeat cyclically. Each year is associated with certain characteristics. For example, Shārvari Samvatsara was the year of Covid-19 Lockdowns in the recent past ! A year of darkness figuratively embodied by the name of that year! See the list below –
प्रभवः Prabhava (Gregorian 1867, 1927, 1987, 2047)
विभवः Vibhava (Gregorian 1868, 1928, 1988, 2048)
शुक्लः Śukla (Gregorian 1869, 1929, 1989, 2049)
प्रमोद्युतः Pramōdyuta (Gregorian 1870, 1930, 1990, 2050)
प्रजोत्पत्तिः Prajōtpatti (Gregorian 1871, 1931, 1991, 2051)
आङ्गिरसः Āṅgīrasa (Gregorian 1872, 1932, 1992, 2052)
श्रीमुखः Śrīmukha (Gregorian 1873, 1933, 1993, 2053)
भावः Bhava (Gregorian 1874, 1934, 1994, 2054)
युवः Yuva (Gregorian 1875, 1935, 1995, 2055)
धातृ Dhāta (Gregorian 1876, 1936, 1996, 2056)
ईश्वरः Īśvara (Gregorian 1877, 1937, 1997, 2057)
बहुधान्यः Bahudhānya (Gregorian 1878, 1938, 1998, 2058)
प्रमाथी Pramāthi (Gregorian 1879, 1939, 1999, 2059)
विक्रमः Vikrama (Gregorian 1880, 1940, 2000, 2060)
वृषप्रजा Vr̥ṣa (Gregorian 1881, 1941, 2001, 2061)
चित्रभानुः Chitrabhānu (Gregorian 1882, 1942, 2002, 2062)
स्वभानुः Svabhānu (Gregorian 1883, 1943, 2003, 2063)
तारणः Tāraṇa (Gregorian 1884, 1944, 2004, 2064)
पार्थिवः Pārthiva (Gregorian 1885, 1945, 2005, 2065)
व्ययः Vyaya (Gregorian 1886, 1946, 2006, 2066)
सर्वजित् Sarvajit (Gregorian 1887, 1947, 2007, 2067)
सर्वधारी Sarvadhāri (Gregorian 1888, 1948, 2008, 2068)
विरोधी Virōdhi (Gregorian 1889, 1949, 2009, 2069)
विकृतिः Vikr̥ti (Gregorian 1890, 1950, 2010, 2070)
खरः Khara (Gregorian 1891, 1951, 2011, 2071)
नन्दनः Nandana (Gregorian 1892, 1952, 2012, 2072)
विजयः Vijaya (Gregorian 1893, 1953, 2013, 2073)
जयः Jaya (Gregorian 1894, 1954, 2014, 2074)
मन्मथः Manmatha (Gregorian 1895, 1955, 2015, 2075)
दुर्मुखी Durmukhi (Gregorian 1896, 1956, 2016, 2076)
विलम्बी Hēvaḷambi (Gregorian 1897, 1957, 2017, 2077)
विलम्बी Viḷambi (Gregorian 1898, 1958, 2018, 2078)
विकारी Vikāri (Gregorian 1899, 1959, 2019, 2079)
शार्वरी Śārvari (Gregorian 1900, 1960, 2020, 2080)
प्लवः Plava (Gregorian 1901, 1961, 2021, 2081)
शुभकृत् Śubhakr̥t (Gregorian 1902, 1962, 2022, 2082)
शोभकृत् Śōbhakr̥t (Gregorian 1903, 1963, 2023, 2083)
क्रोधी Krōdhi (Gregorian 1904, 1964, 2024, 2084)
विश्ववावसु Viśvāvasu (Gregorian 1905, 1965, 2025, 2085)
पराभवः Parābhava (Gregorian 1906, 1966, 2026, 2086)
प्लवङ्ग Plavaṅga (Gregorian 1907, 1967, 2027, 2087)
कीलकः Kīlaka (Gregorian 1908, 1968, 2028, 2088)
सौम्यः Saumya (Gregorian 1909, 1969, 2029, 2089)
साधरणः Sādhāraṇa (Gregorian 1910, 1970, 2030, 2090)
विरोधकृतः Virōdhikr̥ttu (Gregorian 1911, 1971, 2031, 2091)
परिधावी Paridhāvi (Gregorian 1912, 1972, 2032, 2092)
प्रमादी Pramādīca (Gregorian 1913, 1973, 2033, 2093)
आनन्दः Ānanda (Gregorian 1914, 1974, 2034, 2094)
राक्षसः Rākṣasa (Gregorian 1915, 1975, 2035, 2095)
नलः Nala (Gregorian 1916, 1976, 2036, 2096)
पिङ्गलः Piṅgaḷa (Gregorian 1917, 1977, 2037, 2097)
कालयुक्तिः Kāḷayukti (Gregorian 1918, 1978, 2038, 2098)
सिद्धार्थी Siddhārthi (Gregorian 1919, 1979, 2039, 2099)
रौद्री Raudri (Gregorian 1920, 1980, 2040, 2100)
दुर्मतिः Durmati (Gregorian 1921, 1981, 2041, 2101)
दुन्दुभी Dundubhi (Gregorian 1922, 1982, 2042, 2102)
रुधिरोद्गारी Rudhirōdgāri (Gregorian 1923, 1983, 2043, 2103)
रक्ताक्षी Raktākṣi (Gregorian 1924, 1984, 2044, 2104)
क्रोधनः Krōdhana (Gregorian 1925, 1985, 2045, 2105)
अक्षयः Akṣaya (Gregorian 1926, 1986, 2046, 2106)
As we get ready to celebrate the start of a new Samvatsara, let’s refer to the recommendations in our shāstras on what should be done on the new year.
7 Activities to be done on Ugādi are –
1🚩 Tailābhyangam
2🚩 Dhwajārohanam
3🚩 Nimbapatra Sevanam
4🚩 Vatsarādi Phala Shravanam
5🚩 Navarātra Ārambhaha
6🚩 Prapādānam
7🚩 Dharma Ghata dānam
Let’s understand what each activity means –
| CONCEPT | EXPLANATION |
| Tailābhyangam | Applying oil across the body and massage followed by hot water bath. A healthy start to a new year with a rejuvenation of your body according to Ayurvedic prescription. |
| Dhwajārohanam | This is nothing but the core practice of Gudi Padwa! It is recommended in our texts that everyone should hoist a flag, preferrably a saffron flag with Hanumān or Nandeeshwara ie the Sacred Bull). |
| Nimbapatra Sevanam | This day marks the first day of Chaitra Māsa for the Lunisolar calendar and marks the start of Vasanta Ritu (Note: Solar calendars like Tamil Calendars have a different date for Chaitra or Chittirai). Neem leaves are bitter, and according to Ayurvedic prescriptions for Ritucharya, bitter food should be consumed in spring to avoid Kapha Prakopa build up in the body. |
| Vatsarādi Phala Shravanam | This is about listening to Jyotisham predictions for the year based on Vedic Astrology. Essentially, preparing yourself mentally for the events ahead! |
| Navarātra Ārambhaha | Start of Vasanta Navarātri (the Dusshera festival is actually the Sharad Navarātri that happens in the Sharad Ritu) from Chaitra Shukla Pratipatha to Chaitra Navami. |
| Prapā Dānam | Prapā is where water is distributed free of cost. Its a Dhārmic duty to share free water with your fellow human beings. This is done for the next 4 months and in memory of your Pitrus. Let us set aside atleast one large container of water for the local workers and travellers passing outside your house or housing society during the hot summer season and give yourself a positive start to this Hindu New Year towards the service of others! |
| Dharma Ghata Dānam | A pot covered in cloth can be given away every day starting from the new year, it could be water or some other form of Dāna. This is done to fulfill your own wishes for the year. What are your Ugādi resolutions for the upcoming year? |
Note: Taila normally means Sesame oil (Til or Gingelly) but oil selection should be made based on your own Prakruti and Doshas.
Special thanks to Āchārya Jammaladaka Srinivas who made this article possible.
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