Gudi Padwa

ll Hari Om ll

Gudi Pawda 

Importance of the Holy day:

1. The word padwa is derived from the Sanskrit word Pratipada for first day of a lunar month i.e. first day after new moon day (Amavasya). A Gudhi is also hoisted on this occasion giving this festival its name.

 

 

2. Being the first day of the first month of a year, Gudhi Padwa is the New Year's Day.

3. India is a predominantly agrarian society. Thus celebrations and festivals are often linked to the turn of the 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 this context, the Gudhi Padwa is celebrated at the end of the Rabi season.

4.Gudhi Padwa is one of the Saade-Teen Muhurta (translation from Marathi: 3 and a half auspicious days) in the Indian Lunar calendar. 

5.This is the day on which Brahma created the world after the deluge and time began to tick from this day forth.

"Narayan Narayan"

6.According to the Hindu calendar, this marks the commencement of the Vasanta ritu or the spring season.

 

7.Gudhi is seen as a symbol of victory associated with the conquests of the Maratha forces led by Chhatrapati Shivaji.

8.Gudhi symbolizes Lord Rama’s victory and happiness on returning to Ayodhya after slaying Ravan. Since a symbol of victory is always held high, so is the gudi (flag).

 

"वनवासातून परतल्यावर श्रीरामांचे औक्षण करताना कौसल्यामाता"

... Courtesy Pratayksha 11.04.13

 9. This festival is celebrated to commemorate the coronation of Rama post his return to Ayodhya after completing 14 years of exile.

10.Gudhi is believed to ward off evil, invite prosperity and good luck into the house.

11. It marks the beginning of  Shubhankar Navratri utsav.

 12. On this very day at the time of Sunrise the Bhargatma Atri and Aadimata Anasuya marriage took place.

13.In the year 1906, on the day of Gudi Padva, when our Dear Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu's Great Grand Father Shree Gopinath Shastri Padhye was immersed in his daily upasana, he had a vision. He saw Shree Swami Samartha Maharaj of Akkalkot, who instructed him to do the Shree Datta Upasana in the village of Nimba situated on the banks of the Tapi river. Shree Gopinath Shastriji immediately left for the village of Nimba and on the day of Ramnavmi, began the upasana of Shree Datta as per Shree Swami Samartha's instructions. This upasana continued for a total of three years, i.e. until the Ramnavmi of 1909.

On the day of Ramnavmi of 1909, Shree Swami Samartha actually appeared at this 'Punyakshetra' and asked Shree Gopinath Shastriji, ''What boon would you like to be granted? ''Shree Gopinath Shastriji replied, ''May the bhakti and the seva that is offered unto You, progressively grow in the Padhye family. I ask that You be with the family, at all times and that You grace this family by taking birth in it. ''Shree Gopinath Shastriji was ofcourse, a great bhakta and never yearned for anything but the Sadguru.

गोपिनाथजी दर्शन पावत l 

श्रीविठ्ठल के चरणा लागत ll ७ ll 

स्वामीकृपा से जप रट चालत l 

बंश तुम्हारे है प्रभु आवत ll ८ ll 

पाय आशिषा वृद्ध अपारा l 

कहत कहानी निजकुलदारा  ll ९ ll 

कुल अपने है विठ्ठल आवत l 

निरगुण से जब सगुण प्रकाशत ll १ ० ll 

Granting this wish, Shree Swami Samartha replied, ''You will have a daughter and she too, will have a daughter. The son to be born to your grand-daughter on the day of Tripurari Pournima, is the supreme 'bharga' of Shri Dattaguru. (the energy that blazes down sin). It is indeed the Ultimate and Supreme Divine Energy of the very core, the heart of Shri Vitthal that is going to assume human form.''

 हाचि नववा नववा आगळा l 

सजीव बनला पंढरीचा पुतळा ll 

चक्र कमळ लपवूनी आला l 

सावळ्या रंगे ठक पकडला ll  

 That was Shree Swami Samartha's Word and so it was infallible. It had to come true. Shree GopinathShastriji had a daughter, Pujya Malti Padhye (Shakuntalabai Pandit after marriage). Pujya Shakuntalabai had a daughter, Pujya Arundhati, who was her only daughter. The son born to her (to Mata Arundhati) is indeed the 'Parama Bharga' of Shri Dattaguru, none other than our Dear Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu.

Our Dear Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu's spiritual movement started with a modest handful of followers in 1996. Since then, the Bhakti-Ganga (ardent followers and devotees of Bapu) has grown to over four million in India and abroad. This phenomenal growth is without any 'poster publicity' and is singularly attributable to the personal experiences of his followers, who found in him a trustworthy savior and guide in their lives.

Our Dear Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu openly declares that He is not an incarnation or Avataar. He does not perform any worldly miracles. He firmly believes that purification of mind, body and soul is the greatest miracle in our lives. It is his hobby to teach those who want to fight against their ill fate and rise in life (spiritually as well as worldly) by making them capable in every aspect of life.

In His three Granthas (Satyapravesh, Prem Pravas and Anand Sadhana) Bapu has very aptly described Himself as:

On this Gudi Pawda (New Year day) we pray to our Dear Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Bapu, our Dear Aai and Mama, let the each moment of coming year be in His lotus feet, to guide us and be with us as always. 

Hey! our Sadgururaya we pray to your lotus feet, that this Gudi of Your love and Your Name, which You had hoisted in our life, may stand tall always and rise up towards You with Your blessings.

ll Hari Om ll

ll I am Ambadnya ll