Why we celebrate birthdays of the divine

January 15, 2011

For many of us — parents and nonparents, believers and nonbelievers alike — birthdays are special. We go out of our way to observe and celebrate our own or a loved one’s special day.

I too celebrate several birthdays. Not just close family members’ but others that are celebrated by many Hindus throughout the year. In our faith tradition, we are blessed with many such celebrations — birthdays for Lord Krishna, Shiva, Sri Ganesh, Sri Rama and Hanuman. These celebrations are observed according to our traditional Hindu lunar calendar and fall on different dates each year.

We also celebrate our spiritual teachers’ birthday. Guru Purnima (the great Guru Vyasa’s birthday) is a day on which many Hindus honor and celebrate all spiritual teachers. As practicing Hindus, we know that because we are more than our physical bodies, the spirit is indestructible. We are neither born nor does death take us away.

As a child, I’d often wonder: Was Lord Rama, my chosen, beloved deity, really born like us ordinary mortals on the day celebrated as Ram Navami? How can a god be born? Isn’t god eternal — beyond birth and death? Then, why do we celebrate god’s birthday?

My spiritual teacher, Amma, explains why we observe these special festivals. She says it is not that gods or gurus need these celebrations; they have nothing to gain from them. We don’t do it to please a spiritual teacher or god. We observe such occasions to increase our devotion, our focus, and to enhance our spiritual practice. These observances help us advance to higher levels of awareness.

Perhaps this is the reason that many of these Hindu celebrations have an aspect of fasting as a part of the celebration. As a child, it was rather hard to appreciate that but as an adult, I sometimes wish these spiritual practices would last a lot longer.

On Sept. 27, I observe the birthday of Amma, my eternal mother and spiritual teacher. During her birthday celebration, we offer our puja (worship) and prayers, in front of a portrait of Amma, knowing very well that she, like any spiritual teacher and god, is omnipresent. We chant Amma’s 108 names (expressions of her various attributes) as we worship her. This involves symbolically washing her holy feet (with water and/or five nectars) and then anointing the feet with an auspicious red powder, sandalwood paste and flowers.

Then we wave a camphor flame clockwise three times. We offer a flower garland and a lit lamp signifying that we are offering our own life flame to her. This is also our way of welcoming and worshipping any holy person.

We sing devotional songs and chants in glory of the divine, and yes, we do have a feast to celebrate life with joy before going home.

Back to my own birthday. I started my day early with a warm shower, remembering my divine parents who brought us to this world. Then, I tried to reflect the true divine nature as much as I could.

Arun Toké belongs to Amma’s Eugene Satsang and is editor of Skipping Stones magazine, an international multicultural magazine for children and youth. This column is coordinated by Lane Interfaith Alliance to offer inspiration, share personal spiritual experiences and bring a deeper understanding of faith perspectives. For more information, visit www.laneinterfaithalliance.org or call 541-344-0430