Why should birthday be celebrated as per Hindu

lunar calendar?
By : mandar
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Contents Birthday
1. Spiritual meaning
2. History and importance of a birthday celebration
2.1 Birthday of an embodied soul in the Satyayug
2.2 Birthday of an individual in the Treta and Dvaparyugs

3. Importance of celebrating the birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar

4. Method of birthday celebration

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 4.1 Method 1
4.2 Method 2

5. Science behind the ritual of birthday celebration

5.1 Three rites in birthday celebration and the science behind them
5.2 Wearing new clothes after the bath with oil massage is like wearing an armour of chaitanya

6. Spiritual experiences during the celebration of a birthday

7. Acts forbidden on a birthday and the science behind it
8. Subtle analysis of a birthday celebrated in western style
8.1 Subtle analysis
8.2 Distress experienced by the invitees

9. A saints birthday
10. The birthday celebration of children, contemporaries, the aged and saints

Birthday 1. Spiritual meaning

Celebrating a birthday is actually expressing gratitude to God for the opportunity to do sadhana (spiritual
practice) during the past year and praying for His grace in the coming year.- A Scholar (Through the medium
of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil , 21st January 2005, 4 p.m.)
The birthday is the day to assess spiritual progress of the embodied soul: The word vad-divas, in
Marathi language literally means day of growth. Here growth indicates spiritual progress. For the soul to
progress spiritually, purification of the subtle body and imbibing of the three components also known as
trigunas) from Deities in appropriate proportions is necessary. The spiritual progress of an embodied soul
begins at birth. Even if an individual does not undertake actual spiritual practice, due to various spiritual
rituals performed on him the sattva component in him increases thus initiating his spiritual progress. Birthday
is the day to take stock of the effect of spiritual rituals on his subtle body. From a spiritual perspective,
birthday is the day to assess ones spiritual progress and if there is spiritual progress then it signifies actual
growth.- God (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale,13th May 2005, 8.04 - 8.22 p.m.)
Birthday is the day to enhance ones ability to imbibe chaitanya: Birthday is the day for enhancement of
the ability of an embodied soul to imbibe chaitanya, through the benevolent frequencies gained by invoking
Deities. Through this action which raises the sattva component in the atmosphere, the embodied soul
achieves stability of the inner mind. A Scholar (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 28th August
2005, 11.40 a.m.)

2. History and importance of a birthday celebration 2.1 Birthday of an embodied soul in the Satyayug

In the Satyayug the first birthday was celebrated with an evolved soul making a silent resolve and either
showering unbroken rice grains (akshata) on the appropriate chakra of the spiritual energy system (kundalini
), touching the chakra or initiating the journey (activation) of the kundalini with a mere glance: An individual is
born with a spiritual level which is carried forward from the past birth. Accordingly, that particular centre in the

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spiritual energy system is already in an activated state or a state where the journey of the spiritual energy has
halted. In the Satyayug, Tretayug and Dvaparyug evolved individuals would be invited to bless the
individual whose first birthday was being celebrated or the child would be taken to Him. The evolved soul
would perform the ritual of aukshan for the child and making a silent resolve would shower unbroken rice
grains on various parts of its body thus activating the chakras of the spiritual energy system in that area, till
the chakra where the spiritual journey had halted was reached. He would touch the chakra beyond the one
where the spiritual energy flow was arrested with unbroken rice grains in the fingers. This would resume the
further journey of the spiritual energy. The evolved soul progressed beyond 75% would know merely by
looking at the embodied soul upto where his spiritual energy was activated. So, a mere glance at that chakra
would restart his spiritual progress. God (Through the medium of Ms.. Madhura Bhosale, 13th May 2005,
8.04 -8.22p.m.)

2.2 Birthday of an individual in the Treta and Dvaparyugs

Saints blessing an embodied soul only after assessing his spiritual progress in the previous year: In
the Satyayug the spiritual level of the average individual was 60%. The embodied soul himself was capable
of perceiving the progress of the spiritual energy in his chakras. In the Tretayug too some embodied souls
had this potential. However, in the Dvaparyug most embodied souls lost this ability.
In the Treta and Dvaparyugs either the individual would visit saints or vice-versa and the saint would
bestow His blessings for rapid spiritual progress. After having received blessings the embodied soul would
seriously enhance his efforts to increase spiritual progress. On the subsequent birthday when the individual
would go for blessings to the saint He would bless him only after assessing if his spiritual progress had
occurred in the past year. Since the seeker was fully aware that his progress was a consequence of the
saints blessing there were less chances of inflation of his ego. - God (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura
Bhosale, 8th May 2005).

3. Importance of celebrating the birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar

Even though according to astrology, the date of birth as per the Hindu lunar calendar is inauspicious, it is still
advisable to celebrate it on that day as the benefits derived are more than if celebrated on the date of birth
according to the Western calendar. - Compiler: We advise that the birthday should be celebrated as per the
Hindu lunar calendar.
However astrology says No auspicious action should be performed on the date that one is born because that
day is inauspicious. So what stand should be adopted?
A Scholar: The implied meaning of the word inauspicious in this context is different. The attributes of the
embodied soul born on that particular day match with the frequencies present on that date as per the Hindu
lunar calendar (tithi). The sorcerers with their prowess to do black magic, can make a replica of an
embodied soul and can cause distress upto 70%. Thus this day is considered inauspicious due to the
probability of suffering which could be maximum on that date.
In Kaliyug this is an excellent example of the misconceptions harboured by people. On this day the
probability of harm is more means that, chances of obstacles in any auspicious task is high so the
misconception that was formed was that one cannot perform any holy ritual for the embodied soul on this
date of the Hindu lunar calendar. On the contrary, when celebrating the birthday on this date, through the
ritual of aukshan and a prayer made unto the family deity, the chaitanya generated helps the embodied soul
to combat the distressing energy attacks at various levels. Thus, there is no rule that one must not perform
any ritual on this day and the statement from astrology is baseless.- (Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali
Gadgil, 4th March 2006, 7.17 p.m.)

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Blessings and good wishes endow maximum benefit: The frequencies of the date of birth according to
the Hindu lunar calendar match the individual maximally.Since the blessings and good wishes of relatives
and well-wishers bring maximum benefit to the individual celebrating the birthday as per the Hindu lunar
calendar is more beneficial.
One develops the strength to combat obstacles in life: Since the frequencies in the universe on the
birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar match the temperament of the person born on that date, the sattvik
and chaitanya-enriched rituals done by an individual on that day leave a deep impression on his
subconscious mind. As a result, he derives spiritual prowess to combat problems in his future life.- A Scholar
(Through the medium of Mrs. Anjali Gadgil, 21st January 2005, 9.11p.m. and 28th August 2005, 11.40a.m.)
Benefits of celebrating a birthday as per the Hindu lunar calendar (tithi) as against the date of birth
as per the Western calendar

1. Body involved
2. Effects on body

3. Effects on the spiritual

energy channels (naadii)

4. Effects on the attitudes of

an embodied soul

Celebrating birthday as per Celebrating birthday as per

date by Western calendar
Hindu lunar calendar
Physical body only
Physical body 5% and subtle
body 95%
Since it is related only to the
Sattva component of the
physical body the embodied
subtle body increases
soul benefits from the sattva
frequencies negligibly. As a
result the covering of the
embodied soul by raja-tama
attributes may not get reduced
Even after aukshan the
After a tithi begins, every
sattva component in the
moment an embodied soul
subtle body does not grow as derives sattvik frequencies
much as required; mostly the matching his subtle body,
sun channel and at times the which are necessary for
moon channel gets activated. purification of the body. As a
However this does not benefit result of aukshan the
the embodied soul spiritually. Sushumna channel in the
embodied soul gets activated.
If the spiritual level of the
embodied soul exceeds 60%,
the Sushumna channel
remains active throughout the
day.
As the sattva component in
As the sattva component in
an embodied soul does not
an embodied soul grows, so
increase, his extroverted
does his introverted attitude.
attitude does.

- God (Through the medium of Ms. Madhura Bhosale, 13th May 2005, 8.04 p.m.)

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4. Method of birthday celebration

There are as many temperaments as there are people and so also the corresponding number of paths of
spiritual practice. This is one of the basic tenets in Hinduism. Based on this, the methods of performing
religious rituals also vary. Though the methods vary, the benefit of the ritual is the same, which is all methods
endow the Divine principle. Thus one can decide the method as per convenience. Following are the two
methods for celebration of a birthday.

4.1 Method 1
A. In the first year of life every month and thereafter every year on the date of birth as per the Hindu lunar
calendar one should bathe after an oil massage. This should be, followed by application of tilak of kumkum
(vermilion)on the forehead.
B. With the resolve -‌
() ‍ fistful of rice are placed
on a wooden seat or platform in seventeen small heaps in the name of the family deity (kuladevata), lunar
asterism at birth (nakshatra), parents, Deities Prajapati, Surya, Ganesh, Parshuraam, Raam, Hanumaan ,
Shasthidevata, Sages Maarkandeya, Vyaas, Krupaachaarya, Ashwathaamaa, Bali, Pralhaad and Bibhishan .
The corresponding deity is invoked in each heap and their ritualistic worship with sixteen substances is
performed. The Shasthidevata is offered a sacrament (naivedya) of curd and rice which is later fed to a cow
or any other animal. The other Deities are offered sugar cubes (khadisakhar) or pedhas (a sweetmeat)
which is then distributed as holy sacrament.
C. With a prayer, a drink made from a cube of jaggery, a fistful of sesame seeds and half a cup of milk is
partaken of by the one celebrating the birthday.
D. Relatives and friends are invited for a meal. Offering of food and other items should be done on this day as
much as possible.
E. Avoid receiving money or gifts on this day.

4.2 Method 2
The method of celebration is given below.
A. Bath after an oil massage: On the birthday, after an oil massage, have a bath with clothes on (bath taken
in this way is symbolic of forgetting the past, with a prayer to The God for constantly remaining in the
present.) When bathing the spiritual emotion should be that The pure and holy water of river Ganga is
purifying my body and mind.
B. Wear new clothes after the bath.
C. Offer obeisance (namaskar) to parents and elders in the family.
D. Perform the ritual of abhishek (ablution with liquids like milk and water) or ritualistic worship of the family
deity wholeheartedly.
E. Ritual of aukshan: The ritual of aukshan is performed on the one whose birthday is being celebrated.
Both, the one performing it and the one on whom the ritual is being performed, should harbour the spiritual
emotion that, Through our medium, God Himself is performing this ritual and bestowing His blessings on us.
At the end of this ritual unbroken rice grains (akshataa) are sprinkled on the head of the one on whom

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aukshan is performed after venerating ones family deity or deity of worship.

F. A gift is presented to the one celebrating the birthday with the following perspective. As ones duty a child
is given a gift to express appreciation. While gifting an adult,one should not have a sense of doership. When
one gifts something without expectation, after a while one forgets about it. The gift given on a birthday should
be such. If doership or expectations are harboured in the mind when gifting then a give and take account is
created between the two. When the one receiving the gift has the attitude that it is the holy sacrament (
prasad) that he is receiving with Gods grace, then a give and take account is not created.
G. Clothes worn when bathing should be given away, without any expectations. This offering should be made
to one who is deserving hence it is advisable to give it to a devotee of God or to one serving in the mission of
betterment of the nation and righteousness, instead of a beggar.

5. Science behind the ritual of birthday celebration 5.1 Three rites in birthday celebration and the
science behind them 5.2 Wearing new clothes after the bath with oil massage is like wearing an
armour of chaitanya 6. Spiritual experiences during the celebration of a birthday 7. Acts forbidden on
a birthday and the science behind it 8. Subtle analysis of a birthday celebrated in western style 8.1
Subtle analysis 8.2 Distress experienced by the invitees 9. A saints birthday 10. The birthday
celebration of children, contemporaries, the aged and saints
For details on these topics refer to Sanatan's publication: Science underlying various family religious
traditions and social customs

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