|
July 22 2009
Here’s a bit of feedback I received over my previous posting about devotee’s celebrating birthdays. Its from Gita Vadhwana-Gandhari dasi:
“I was very happy that you asked such an important question listed on Planetiskcon.com as well as on your blog. Having come from Vedic background I can share some insights for your pleasure and the pleasure of other devotees and Vaisnavas.
I came across an article on one of the Hinduism websites. This is how it was explained, that on one’s birthday, we are supposed to plant seedlings of trees starting from five trees on first birthday
and increasing by five every five years or so. Because it was mentioned that it is more sinful to cut a tree than kill a human being because a tree supports millions of living entities so it is more valuable.
Also one should distribute prasada, feed brahmanas, give in charity, pay respects to elders and get their blessings on birthdays. The reasons for this is that it is understood in Vedic culture, that as soon as one is born, he is indebted to Devas, Rsi, Nars, Pitris and all living entities. Therefore performing charity, sacrifice and austerities is recommended, especially on special days.
There were specific details how one should observe 50th and 80th birthdays. I think, it was something like younger people should get blessings from these elders because they have lots of wisdom.
Another explanation which was quite interesting is that in Vedic Culture one gives lights (or deepas, candles) in charity or place lights up the pathways, which signifies knowledge or gift of knowledge. E.g. in Nectar of Devotion it is written that one should construct sitting places, dig wells and give lamps or create street lights for charity as pious activities.
But in the Western Culture, they blow off the candles on the cake, which is completely opposite to the Vedic Culture of lighting the lamps in celebrations e.g. Diwali and other festivals. So it makes sense, to give lamps and candles in charity instead of blowing the candles out on the birthday.
So in conclusion, one should give gifts to brahmanas instead of receiving gifts on birthdays, and feed the brahmanas and Vaisnavas and elders to get their blessings. Moreover in Vedic Culture on special occasions one always gives gifts first to the girls and women of the house then to others e.g. brahmanas, guru and Vaisnavas.
Hope this helps. Aspiring Sevak, Mother Gandharidasi (Wife of Svayambhuva Manudas)
Thanks to Gandhari for these insights. Does anyone else have any comment or further information on celebrating birthdays and special days?
Your humble servant,
Hari-sauri dasa
May 25 2009
Here’s a question about observing birthdays from someone who prefers to be anonymous:
“During Prabhupada’s time, was there anything special done on devotee’s birthdays — particularly temple/ashram brahmacharis/devotees. Anything like a festival/program/feast or glorification for that devotee on that particular day. What was Prabhupada’s mood regarding this. Did he offer any special mercy to you on your birthday? What is our standard today?”
Answer:
There was no special observation of regular devotees’ birthdays. We were always taught that the only birthdays that should be observed were that of the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord.
Sometimes Srila Prabhupada followed traditional culture and offered some bangles or ornaments to small children on their birthdays. When his son Brindaban Candra had a baby girl, Srila Prabhupada gave him one of his gold rings as a gift for the child.
In Folio also you can find a letter addressed to Sally Agarwal where Srila Prabhupada gives his blessings to her baby girl on her third birthday and says:
New York
19 November, 1965
65-11-19
My dear daughter Sally,
I beg to thank you for your kind letter of the 16th instant and I have noted the contents carefully. I am glad to learn that you had been to your parents house for a few days and now you have returned home. I am still more glad to learn that you are going to observe the third birthday of Miss Kamala Agarwal on Saturday next. On this occasion I should have presented her some ornaments but as I am a Sannyasi I can simply offer my blessing for her long life and good prosperity. She cannot now read otherwise at least I should have presented a set of my books. But you set aside one set of my books for her future reading when she will grow up a beautiful and educated girls with full god consciousness. …”
I know a lot of devotees like to observe the birthday of other devotees with a cake or some other observation. Personally I don’t have any enthusiasm for observing birthdays and I have been known to completely forget my own.