People around the world look forward to celebrating the New Year. During this time, we try to inculcate new habits, reconnect with nature, go to our favorite places, and bury all misunderstandings with closed ones. 

Why should we observe such a beginning and shift only once a year? Why not make every day a celebration of life and divinity within and around us? 

We often think of time as moving in a straight line, and this perception informs the culture of celebrating the new year. Thus, we wait for it throughout the year, hoping for better moments to come. 

The idea of time in Bharatiya culture is starkly different. Our worldview is that a day from sunrise to sunset is one lifetime in essence. We are born every morning at sunrise and start dying gradually by sunset. Imagine how it would be to live by this worldview? Would it not help you forgive the mistakes and start afresh every morning? Would it not give you a chance to become a better version of yourself every day?

Then there is the question, “Is time real and the same for all?” Think about it: a human's lifetime is much longer than that of a mosquito. But the time is a great deal for the mosquito for its limited existence! So, the experience of time differs for different forms of life. 

The Vedic Idea of Time is that we experience time depending on our energy levels and mental state.

Surprisingly, that is why we greet each other with ‘Good Morning.’ We hope to have a good time, which informs how we greet each other. It is the experience of time that matters to us. 

That said, can we connect our daily new beginning with the will to experience time? Do you think joining both ideas can enrich your life?

A Sanskrit word can help us with the task. The word is: ‘Mangala’ (मङ्गल). Let us try and decipher the embedded knowledge in this simple term.

Anything that moves is known as ‘Mang’ (मङ्ग् ). Bharat considers anything that moves as auspicious, from our rivers, fountains, and streams. If time and life are also constantly moving, aren’t they auspicious, too? 

The head of a boat is also referred as ‘Manga’ (मङ्ग). In our tradition, whenever we embarked on a journey, we performed a prayer at the boat’s head to have a prosperous, safe, and successful trip without any obstacles and dangers. 

Therefore, Mangala (मङ्गल) talks about goodness, auspiciousness, prosperity, anything that brings the best.

This year onwards, can we resolve to follow a simple habit of starting our day with the sincere meditation and affirmation of Mangala? The practice will drastically affect our experience of time, bringing a fresh glow to our lives.

Wishing you a Shubha Nava Varsham!

Mangalam!
Mangalam!
Mangalam!
#newbeginnings #thevedicpond