VARSHA PRATIPADA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIO-HISTORICAL CONTEXTS

VARSHA PRATIPADA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIO-HISTORICAL CONTEXTS

20-MARCH-ENG 14

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------1. It marks the first day of all the *Samvats* (calendrical eras) prevalent in India.

2. The coronation of *Maryada Purushottam* (the Ideal Man) Lord Rama took place on this very day.

3. On this day, Emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjayini completely defeated the Shakas and inaugurated the *Vikrami Samvat*.

4. The second Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Angad Dev, was born on this day.

5. Maharshi Dayanand established the *Arya Samaj* on this day.

6. The worship of Mother Durga—known as 'Navadurga'—commences on this day.

7. Varsha Pratipada also marks the birthday of the renowned social protector and incarnation of Varuna, Saint Jhulelal of the Sindh province (celebrated as the *Cheti Chand* festival).

8. The founder of the *Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh* (RSS), the revered Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, was born on this day.

9. The first day of the *Shalivahana Shaka Samvat* (India's National Calendar)—Chaitra Shukla 1—marks the beginning of the New Year; hence, it is known as Varsha Pratipada. According to ancient Indian literature, the creation of the universe began on this very day. Brahma, the Creator of the Universe, commenced the creation of the cosmos on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada; this is the reason why all the calendrical eras prevalent in our country begin on this day.

The Most Prevalent Era: Despite the widespread influence of Western culture and the global acceptance of the Gregorian calendar, the *Vikram Samvat* continues to hold a significant place in the daily life of the Indian people. Many social activities and rituals remain intertwined with traditional Indian time-reckoning and the *Vikram Samvat* to this day. The *Vikram Samvat* was inaugurated to commemorate the victory of Emperor Vikramaditya, who decisively defeated the invading Shakas and completely expelled them from Indian soil.

*Yugabda*: Among the prevalent calendrical eras, *Yugabda* is the most ancient. It is also referred to as the *Yudhishthira Samvat*. The *Yugabda* is historically linked to the commencement of the *Kaliyuga* (the current epoch). More than five thousand years have passed since the commencement of the Kali Yuga. Dr. Ji's Inspiring Life:

1. A Born Patriot

Incidents from the childhood of the revered Dr. Ji—such as attempting to dig a tunnel to lower the British flag from the fort, refusing to eat sweets offered by the British, and declining to attend ceremonies held in their honor—serve as irrefutable proof of his innate patriotism. It was precisely because of his boundless love for his country that he was deeply distressed by its plight and remained ceaselessly engaged in various endeavors to ameliorate it.

[Section: Intellectual]

1. A Born Patriot

Incidents from the childhood of the revered Dr. Ji—such as attempting to dig a tunnel to lower the British flag from the fort, refusing to eat sweets offered by the British, and declining to attend ceremonies held in their honor—serve as irrefutable proof of his innate patriotism. It was precisely because of his boundless love for his country that he was deeply distressed by its plight and remained ceaselessly engaged in various endeavors to ameliorate it. He was also a revolutionary; indeed, he went to Calcutta to pursue his studies with this very objective in mind. He worked extensively within the Congress party and even endured imprisonment. However, his intense patriotism ultimately inspired him to undertake the monumental task of establishing the Sangh; driven by a profound sense of duty and love for his nation, he dedicated his entire life to this cause. He renounced all the allurements of the material world. Day and night, Dr. Ji would engage in a singular, ceaseless contemplation—constantly pondering *when* and *how* Hindu society would become organized, and *when* India would truly become 'Hindustan' in the fullest sense. In 1936, Dr. Hedgewar spent a few weeks in Nashik to undergo medical treatment; during that time, Shri Guruji was by his side. Shri Guruji observed that even while asleep, the words that escaped Dr. Ji's lips invariably reflected his deep preoccupation with the work of nation-building.

2. An Extraordinary Integrator of People

Dr. Ji was perpetually on the lookout for capable individuals, constantly seeking to identify them and integrate them into the Sangh. Even while incarcerated, he succeeded in enlisting numerous Satyagrahis as members of the Sangh. He would attend every public event, festival, and gathering held in Nagpur, and anyone he deemed promising or suitable there, he would draw into the fold of his work and ideology. He shared affectionate bonds with the nation's leaders, who were deeply impressed by Dr.ji's character, conduct, and work. Even those considered his adversaries held Dr.ji in high esteem. Responding to Dr.ji's call, numerous young men stepped forward to dedicate themselves to the work of the Sangh; Dr.ji, in turn, would empower these workers by entrusting them with responsibilities, thereby guiding them forward. Although he was the founder of the Sangh, he never once displayed—either through his demeanor or his actions—any air of superiority or the attitude of "I am the leader."

3. The Daily *Shakha* (Branch):

The daily *Shakha* is Dr.ji's unparalleled contribution. It is solely due to this daily *Shakha* that the Sangh organization has evolved into the formidable and archetypal structure it is today. A few years ago, an American author named Anderson—a researcher specializing in the political sphere—visited India. To introduce the Sangh to the American public, he authored a book titled *Brotherhood in Saffron*. In this book, the aforementioned foreign author suggested that not only the Congress party but even the Indian Army should adopt the daily *Shakha* methodology to enhance their efficiency. The process wherein Sangh volunteers gather daily at a designated time to smoothly execute their daily activities generates a unique form of organized power; witnessing this power, even seasoned and dedicated social workers like Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan felt inspired—during the final days of his life—to coin a new slogan: "Dedicate at least one hour every day to the service of the nation."

Intellectual Facets:

1. A Born Patriot

Incidents from the childhood of the revered Dr.ji—such as his attempt to dig a tunnel to lower the British flag from a fort, his refusal to eat sweets distributed by the British, and his refusal to attend ceremonies held in their honor—stand as irrefutable proof of his innate patriotism. It was his boundless love for his country that caused him deep anguish over the nation's plight, driving him to dedicate himself to various endeavors aimed at its upliftment. He was, in fact, a revolutionary; indeed, he had traveled to Calcutta to pursue his studies with this very objective in mind. [Regarding] the Congress... He worked tirelessly and even endured imprisonment. However, his intense patriotism inspired him to undertake the monumental task of establishing the Sangh; driven by a profound sense of duty and love for his country, he dedicated his entire life to this cause. He renounced all the allurements of the material world. Day and night, Dr. Hedgewar would engage in a singular contemplation—constantly pondering when and how Hindu society would become organized, and when India would truly become 'Hindustan' in the fullest sense. In 1936, Dr. Hedgewar spent a few weeks in Nashik for medical treatment, during which time Shri Guruji accompanied him. Shri Guruji observed that even in his sleep, the words that escaped Dr. Hedgewar's lips reflected his ceaseless concern for the work of nation-building.

2. An Extraordinary Integrator of People

Dr. Hedgewar was constantly on the lookout for capable individuals, seeking to bring them into the fold of the Sangh. Even while in prison, he succeeded in recruiting numerous *Satyagrahis* (non-violent resisters) as members of the Sangh. He would attend various public programs and festivals held in Nagpur, and whenever he encountered individuals who appeared promising, he would draw them into the sphere of his work and ideology. He shared affectionate relationships with the nation's leaders, who were deeply impressed by his character, conduct, and work. Even those considered to be his adversaries held him in high esteem. Responding to his call, many young men stepped forward to dedicate themselves to the work of the Sangh; Dr. Hedgewar would continually empower these volunteers by entrusting them with responsibilities, thereby fostering their growth. Although he was the founder of the Sangh, he never displayed—either through his attitude or his actions—any sense of personal authority or the sentiment that "I am the leader."

3. The Daily *Shakha* (Branch Meeting)

The daily *Shakha* is Dr. Hedgewar's unparalleled contribution; indeed, the unique and remarkable organizational structure of the Sangh owes its very existence to this system of daily gatherings. Some years ago, an American author named Anderson—a researcher specializing in the political sphere—visited India. To introduce the Sangh to the American public, he authored a book titled *Brotherhood in Saffron*. In this book, the aforementioned foreign author suggested that not only the Congress party but even the Indian Army could enhance their efficiency by adopting the methodology of the daily *Shakha*. Witnessing the organized power that emerged from the process of Sangh volunteers gathering daily at a designated time and smoothly executing their daily programs, even seasoned and dedicated social workers like Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan were inspired—during their final days—to issue a new slogan: "Dedicate at least one hour every day to the service of the nation."