WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VIKRAM SAMVAT &SAKA SAMVAT?

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VIKRAM SAMVAT;- 06 FACTS;- 1-Indian Calender System (Vedic Time Keeping)also termed as Hindu Calender System is the one started in the name of famous Emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain 57 years before Christ when he got victory over Sakas. 2-The date marks the day when the King Vikramāditya beat the Sakas, who had invaded Ujjain. A new calendar was started to honor this achievement. 3-Hence if we add 57 to current Gregorian Calender we will arrive at Indian Calender Year ie Vikram Samvat 2073. This year the Hindu new year is starting on 18th MARCH 2018- Indian Tithi for same is Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. Which means first day of Shukla Paksha in Chaitra Maas. 4-More clearly it means – first day of waxing moon in the month which marks Chitra Nakshatra (Name of Constellation on full moon day.Now this is the time when astronomically Sun crosses from southern hemisphere to northern hemisphere and intersects the celestial equator and ecliptic. 5-Sun enters the Aries Rashi (Zodiac Sign). This is the day which also marks the first day of Navratri followed by celebration of Ram Navami. 6-Dates of Hindu Calender (Vikram Samvat) are called Tithi. Which are named as per condition of moon in a particular month. There are 15 Tithis in the waxing cycle of the moon also called as Shukla Paksha, and 15 tithis in the waning cycle of the moon also called as Krishna Paksha. First Tithi is just after the no moon day (Amavasya) or full Moon Day (Purnima) of a month. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAKA SAMVAT & VIKRAM SAMVAT;- 07 FACTS;- 1-Samvat is a term that is used to refer to an era that is described through the Indian calendar. Thus, samvat as a term can be used to refer to any of the various hindu calendars. 2-Saka Samvat and Vikram Samvat are two commonly used calendars in India. Saka Samvat has been adopted as an official civil calendar by India. Saka Samvat starts from 78 AD, whereas Vikram Samvat starts from 57 BC. 3-Shaka samvat and Vikram samvat are based on lunar months and solar years. However, the traditional shaka samvat follows the solar sidereal years, and the modern Shaka samvat follows the solar tropical years. 4-Both are based on the Chaitra calendar years that are named after the solar months named as: - 1. Chaitra 2. Vaisakha 3. Jyaishtha 4. Ashadha 5. Sravana 6. Bhadra 7. Asvina 8. Kartika 9. Agrahayana or Margasirsha 10. Pausha 11. Magha 12. Phalguna 5-Saka Samvat is believed to be based on the celebration that took place at the time of crowning Shalivahan king in the 78 AD. Gudi Padwa (March-April) indicates the starting of this particular year. 6-Reformulated Saka calendar is officially used in India as a civil calendar. Its year zero begins near the vernal equinox of the year 78 AD. Thus, by adding 78 to Saka year, we get Christian year. e.g. Saka 1752 + 89 = A.D. 1841. It is India’s National Civil Calendar and was accepted by Govt. of India on 22th March 1957. 7- It is also used in Java and Bali with Hinduism religion in Indonesia. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GUDI PADWA;- 09 FACTS;- 1-Gudi Padwa is a popular festival in Maharashtra and the Konkan area, and this year it falls on March 18. According to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, this festival is considered as the new year and is celebrated with all the fanfare as any new year should. 2-In Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the festival is celebrated as Ugadi. In Tamil Nadu, the lunisolar festival is known as Puthandu, in Assam as Bihu, Naba Barsha in West Bengal, Pana Sankranti in Orissa and Vaisakhi in Punjab — albeit (though)these other regional festivals are celebratd about a month later. It is believed that the day marks the beginning of a cycle of 60 years or 60 Samvatsaras, and each year is identified by a unique name. 3-People celebrate this festival by decorating their homes with flowers and beautiful colourful rangoli as it signifies the onset of the harvest and spring season. They make ‘gudi‘, which is an erected flag with a red or yellow cloth, and hang it on on a raised platform. 4- It symbolises an army’s victory and devotees worship the gudi, which is later covered with an inverted silver or copper vessel. 5-The day also marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri, that lead up to Ram Navami, Lord Rama’s birthday to be celebrated on the ninth day. 6-The festival begins with the eating of a specific mixture called Bevu-Bella, which consists of neem and jaggery. This symbolises that life is a mixture of both good and bad, happiness and sorrow, and that we must accept both with equal openness. 7-In terms of the actual celebrations, much of it is linked to the change in season and to the sowing and reaping of crops. This day marks the end of one agricultural harvest and the beginning of a new one. In a way, Gudi Padwa is celebrated at the end of the Rabi season. 8-And where there is celebration, there must be food. Traditionally, the Maharashtrians make and eat Sakkar Bhaat (sweet rice), Shrikhand and Puri, and Puran Poli on this day. The Konkanis make Kanangachi Kheer, which is a sweet dish made of sweet potato, coconut milk, jaggery and rice. 9-Many of us also believe the day is auspicious for ‘vaastu puja’, and for starting new business ventures. On this day, several processions are also taken out.

......SHIVOHAM....