The New Almanac – Importance and Significance of Dassera

The full impact of this epoch-making event may not dawn on humanity for several decades.

By the time Shree realized what His Guru was asking of Him, Lord Parshuram had disappeared from the Math. Shree decided that He would take a vow of resuscitation of Vedas, which He did that very day. However, He became agitated on reflection of the momentous event which had transpired that day. For three days thereafter He was plagued with the recurring thought that once He had grasped the meaning of His Guru, it would have been good had He taken the vow then and there in the presence of His Lord. Finally at the end of these three days He decided to observe silence for the next three days and break it only by uttering the vow on Vijaya Dashmi (Dassera) three days hence. He also resolved to make a draft of the exact text of the vow in order that the words should reflect precisely His intention. He furthermore affirmed that He would take the vow exactly at 9 A.M.

All preparations were made as per His decision prior to the occasion. On the morning in question, as Shree waited for the exact moment to arrive, Lord Parshuram suddenly reappeared in the Math. Shree was filled with utmost joy, realizing that He would now be able to confirm this most powerful vow at the feet of His Guru. Exactly at 9 A.M. on Dassera, with full solemnity, Shree poured water over and put Tulsi (Sacred Basil) leaves on the holy feet of His Lord and Master and uttered the most potent vow:

On the same day, after He had taken the vow, Shree gave Sapta Shlokí (Seven Verses) to the world. Written in Sanskrit, Sapta Shlokí explain in simple terms the essence of Vedas. Its construction and choice of words clearly demonstrate that it is a Divine composition, since it is beyond human intellect to explain the essence of Vedas in so few words and yet in such simple and powerful language. Shree once explained that Sapta Shlokí was not actually composed like a typical poem, but it “descended” on the day He took the vow. Sapta Shlokí is recited daily by people from all over the globe after morning and evening Agnihotra.

Shree once told one of His devotees, Mr. S.K. Kulkarni from Pune: “You are witnessing and experiencing the age during which the entire Nature undergoes a tremendous transformation. For hundreds and thousands of years, that which was prophesied and that which was awaited is this era. Whenever the Divine Power incarnates (to re-establish religion) it descends charging the five primordial elements with the Divine Message. Now Nature’s cycle itself is bringing about the transformation of mind in line with the message of Vedas. You are going through this experience. How the mutation in the entire thought process is taking place is being witnessed by you. If you want to trace and identify the same kind of age in the past, then you will have to go back thousands of years in the annals of history. Whatever is now told (by resuscitating Vedas) will be everlasting in its effect. From now onwards this alone will be the regulation and discipline as far as religion is concerned.”

On another occasion Shree told another devotee, Sardeshmukh, who was residing in the Math: “Whenever a great resolve is made by a Divine Incarnation the Divine Power works in the direction of the fulfillment of that resolve. For the upliftment of your own self if you want to participate in this mission, you may do so. However, the Lord Divine does not need your participation. Divine Incarnations by virtue of Their Yogic powers establish religion the very moment They resolve to do so. They do not need help from anyone in this work.”

At another time Shree paraphrased the same message to S.K. Kulkarni, in a voice full of authority:
“The day We took the vow of resuscitation of Vedas, that very same day it grew into a giant tree. It pervaded the whole planet. Only an earthly manifestation remains to be witnessed by you. Satya Dharma (Eternal Principles of Religion) is not established by S.K. Kulkarni’s lectures. Instead, it is because the establishment of Satya Dharma has already taken place, that he can give lectures (and people will listen to him).”

On yet another occasion Shree said in reference to the tremendous change which resulted when He took the vow:
“Don’t expect the change to come in a day. The wheels are set in motion. Changes will be there but they would be experienced slowly. Satya Dharma is established but what you call practical change takes time.”

Interestingly enough, this particular date has been foretold as being significant a long time back. One Indian saint by name Surdas, a poet who was blind from birth, foretold the event in a poem written in old Hindi language. In that poem he declares that in the year “Sanvat 2,000” the time wheel will change and the whole world will experience the re-establishment of Satya Dharma. This refers to the date Vikram Samvat 2,000 of the Hindu calendar which corresponds to the year 1944 AD of the western almanac.

Another well-known saint from Maharashtra state in India, Swámi Ramdas, told his disciples: “A king will be born who will be well-read in Vedas and an ardent follower of Satya Dharma. He will study all the books of sacred knowledge and elucidate the essence of these books.” In one of his poems he subtly indicated that the actual day of the great change will be in fact Vijaya Dashmi (Dassera).

So this Vijaya Dashmi day in 1944 is arguably the most important day mankind has witnessed for the past several thousand years. From this day Satya Dharma has been re-established by the power and will of the Avatar. The sun has clearly risen on a New Era. Sunrise was that particular day. That day saw the close of the previous Age of Darkness which had lasted several millennia and the birth of the new Golden Age. The new almanacs and calendars will no doubt be reckoned from that date.

¹ The festival of Dassera is little known outside of India. It occurs on the tenth day after the new moon day of the Hindu month of Ashwin, which usually falls some time in September. Dassera is also known as Vijaya Dashmi.

² Math may be rendered in English as monastery. Balappa Math was constructed in Akkalkot by Sadguru Shree Balappa Maharaj, continuing the work of his master, Akkalkot Swami Samarth.

³ Being in the presence of a Guru or holy man.

⁴ Gurus traditionally ask of their disciples a fee of some kind in return for their teachings and guidance.