Amma's Vishu Message 2003

Vishu [the Kerala New Year, April 15, 2003] is the day when the day and night are of equal duration. Astrologers calculate the positive and negative effects of the planetary positions on this day for the following year. During Vishu it is a tradition to keep an adorned image or the picture of the Lord along with fruits, vegetables and flowers around the image in the puja room. This puja setting is the first thing we look upon on the morning of Vishu. In this way we enter into the new year with the Lord's darshan. Surrender to the Lord is the basis of all success in life. Therefore we should give the Lord the highest place in our life. We also keep a mirror along with the other offerings in which we see our own reflection. This is to remind us that God is not somebody seated on a golden throne high up in the skies, but is the all-pervading consciousness within us, our true nature.

Vishu is a very auspicious day to start new things which we plan to do throughout the year. Any work which is well begun is already half done. If we perform good actions at an auspicious time, the benefits will be twofold.

Another achara (custom) observed on Vishu is the elders giving money to the younger generation. This is to remind us of Sri Krishna giving gold coins to the poor and small children. It also conveys the ideal that one should not be possessive of wealth and should be ready to share it amongst others. What really needs to be given by the elders to the younger generation is love. Only this love will help to bridge the generation gap.

Spiritual knowledge is the first and the most important thing that we have to gain in life. The successful application of all other knowledge is based upon this spiritual knowledge. Today, knowingly or unknowingly, we ignore spiritual principles. Vishu reminds us of the importance of transmitting the lessons in dharma and spirituality to the younger generations.

However we may try, it's difficult to change the world outside. The change should happen within us. If we change, there will surely be a change in others too. Actually it is our vision and our mental attitude which makes the world either beautiful or ugly. If we have the right attitude, we will be able to create heaven in hell. If our attitude is not proper, even heaven will be converted into hell by us.