samaya

This mirrors the geometry of the Saptarishi Mandala in the night sky across the 4 seasons: Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall.

First, here is an image of the saptarshi mandala, commonly known in the western world as “the big dipper” comprised of multiple stars which form a panhandle:

Second, this is the configuration / orientation of the saptarishi mandala at different times of the year, in relation to the “pole star” or “Dhruva tara” (Dhruva nakshatra):

You will notice that this rotational pattern around the pole star is really just the Hindu svastika (sauvastika):

Dhruva nakshatra is one of the most important nakshatras in our calculations, because the entire night sky rotates around this star (due to the orientation of the earth in relation to it … it is directly above). The actual tilt of the earth’s axis produces a precession which is measured in relation to this dhruva nakshatra, resulting in the familiar 26,000 year cycle which measures the passage of the 4 yugas across history.

These astronomical cycles have tremendous significance in the changes in human consciousness, as per the changes in the yugas themselves: satya [krita] yuga, treta yuga, dvapara yuga, and kali yuga. The passage through these 4 yugas comprises a mahayuga. When 2000 cycles of these mahayugas have completed, this is one kalpa.

This svastika has many spiritual meanings, including ‘dharma’ and ‘kala’ (mahakala or ‘Great Time’). These 4 branches represent the 4 pillars or 4 legs of the Bull of Dharma. This svastika also symbolizes the sudharshana chakra of Sri Maha Vishnu.

The significance of Dhruva tara is understood when reading the related purana of the child sage Dhruva, who represents total bhakti (to Sri Maha Vishnu). Dhruva’s Narayana bhakti is most famous and became legend. It is that supreme bhakti which is the ultimate aim of Hindus. So the svastika symbolizes that bhakti, and the rotation (parikrama) “to the right” (pradakshina) keeping the ishta devata in the center, is the hidden inner meaning of this symbol. That bhakti is the highest goal, and is equivalent to moksha or mukthi. The physical action of circumambulation is a symbolic equivalent of seeking total freedom (mukthi) from the bondages of samsara. It is a silent prayer. When Hindus do ‘atma pradakshina’ this shows us our self (atma), if we pay attention to our awareness as we do it. This is atma darshana.

Whatever Hindus do has tremendous practical significance to the spiritual process. Nothing we do is meaningless. No words we use are meaningless or frivolous.

Here, Nilesh Oak walks us through the Hindu calendar:

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