New Year New Nartana Ritau
Everyone likes to have something new, how about having a happy new Year!
Today, the Sun moved into the sign of Mesha (Aries) which marks the beginning of a new year on many Indian calendars including those of South India.
For us it is the time for beginning our new spring season, the Nartana Ritau!
Nartana Ritau, the season of Dancing with Siva, begins on Tamil New Year. This is the period of creation, the warm season, from mid-April through mid-August. The key word of this season is planning. The colors are orange, yellow-gold and all shades of green-orange for renunciation, yellow-gold for action and green for regeneration.
High above, the main flag flies the color orange, heralding the Nartana Ritau throughout this season, symbolizing sadhana and self-control. The other colors adorn smaller flags. This is the season of giving special attention to those in the grihastha ashrama. It is a time of awakening, renewal, review. The emphasis is on seeing ahead, planning for future years. It is a time of planning retreats and other activities for youths and adults for the entire year.
The Saiva Dharma Shastras are studied; and any needed additions in supplementary manuals, representing new growth, are made. The practical focus is completion of unfinished projects. Secular holidays to observe among the families include Mother's Day in May, Father's Day in June and Grandparent's Day in August.
This season of harvest and new growth is also the time to review and reestablish picking and planting routines for the gardens. It is a time for ordering seeds and plants for the year, of planting trees, fragrant vines and the annual crop. Review is made for scheduling the care of all realms of the Aadheenam's acreage. Kadavul temple and the Guru Temple are cleaned and renewed during this season and the adjacent grounds receive special, abundant attention. Karma yogis are invited to help in this and other areas with planting and weeding, digging, fertilizing, fence repair and more.
The daily sadhana is the Sivachaitanya Panchatantra: experiencing nada, jyoti, prana, bhakti and darshana. In Sanskrit, it is a time of learning new slokas and mantras. In the family community, prasnottara satsanga is held for one and all to attend. Families plan for their annual pilgrimage. Shrine rooms are renewed and redecorated for the year, and the clothing of all is renewed in the Hindu style of the current fashion. It is a time of doing things for others, religious outreach. It is a time of hatha yoga and philosophical teaching.
May your new year be filled with blessings, enjoy the photos of our monks raising the season's bright orange flag. Aum!
4 Responses to “New Year New Nartana Ritau”
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April 14th, 2022 at 5:17 am
Happy New Year to all the monks of kauai , whom i feel closer to even myself.
April 14th, 2022 at 9:53 am
Love the writing. Brings me laughter and joy. Mulingshum Tyebabalingna!
April 14th, 2022 at 4:53 pm
“AUM”!.
April 14th, 2022 at 5:06 pm
Aum Namasivaya!
Aum! Sri Pancha Muga Ganapathi Thunai!
Aum! Nalluran VETRI VEL Thunai!
Aum! Guru Parampara Thunai!
Aum! Vanakkam! Satguru & All Sivathondars,
Aum! HAPPY TAMIL, HINDU NEW YEAR-2022,
Let us All Pray the ALMIGHTY SIVAN, with the FLAG Hoisting
Ceremony at the KAUAI Aatheenam that, LIGHT OF LIFE will
be the Blessing for the GLOBAL HUMANITY, to bring PEACE,
HARMONY & HAPPINESS, for ever.! Aum Shanthi! Aum!
Wish you ALL, a Happy & Prosperous NEW YEAR,2022.
Aum Siva, Siva!
Mikka Nanri,
Anpudan,
Siva,
(T.Sivayogapathy)