Kalpataru Day: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Riquix
Last edited January 8, 2025
VisualWikitext
>Riquix
No edit summary
 
m quick update
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Hindu religious festival}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
[[File:Ramakrishna.jpg|thumb|alt=photo of Rmakrishna|Ramakrishna]]
[[File:Ramakrishna.jpg|thumb|alt=photo of Rmakrishna|Ramakrishna]]
[[File:Kolkatatemple.jpg|thumb|alt=photo of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple|Dakshineswar Kali Temple]]
[[File:Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Dakshineswar, West Bengal, India (2007).jpg|thumb|alt=photo of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple|Dakshineswar Kali Temple]]


'''Kalpataru Day''' also called '''Kalpataru Diwas''' or '''Kalpataru Utsav''' is an annual religious festival observed by monks of the [[Ramakrishna Math]] monastic order of [[Hinduism]] and lay followers of the associated [[Ramakrishna Mission]], as well as the worldwide  [[Vedanta Society|Vedanta Societies]].  These organizations follow the teachings of [[Ramakrishna]], the 19th century Indian mystic and figure in the [[Hindu Renaissance]].
'''Kalpataru Day''' also called '''Kalpataru Diwas''' or '''Kalpataru Utsav''' is an annual religious festival observed by monks of the [[Ramakrishna Math]] monastic order of [[Hinduism]] and lay followers of the associated [[Ramakrishna Mission]], as well as the worldwide  [[Vedanta Society|Vedanta Societies]].  These organizations follow the teachings of [[Ramakrishna]], the 19th century Indian mystic and figure in the [[Bengali Renaissance]].


The event commemorates the day on 1 January 1886, when his followers believe that Ramakrishna revealed himself to be an [[Avatar]], or God [[Incarnation|incarnate]] on earth.  It is held each 1 January. Although the observances are held in many locations, the most significant celebration takes place at Cossipore Garden House or  Udyanbati near [[Kolkata]] (then called Calcutta), present Ramakrishna Math, a branch of Ramakrishna Order, the place where Ramakrishna spent the last days of his life.  It is classified as one of the "Lord's special festivals" by followers of Ramakrishna.<ref>{{Cite book
The event commemorates the day on 1 January 1886, when his followers believe that Ramakrishna revealed himself to be an [[Avatar]], or God [[Incarnation|incarnate]] on earth.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balakrishnan |first=S |date=2003-10-28 |title=The spiritual significance |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2001/12/31/stories/2001123100080200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031028063338/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2001/12/31/stories/2001123100080200.htm |archive-date=2003-10-28 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=The Hindu}}</ref> It is held each 1 January. Although the observances are held in many locations, the most significant celebration takes place at Kashipur Garden House or  Udyanbati near [[Kolkata]] (then called Calcutta), present Ramakrishna Math, a branch of Ramakrishna Order, the place where Ramakrishna spent the last days of his life.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Basu |first=Kinsuk |date=2021-12-12 |title=Cossipore Ramakrishna Math to be closed for Kalpataru Utsav from January 1 to 3 |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/cossipore-ramakrishna-math-to-be-closed-for-kalpataru-utsav-from-january-1-to-3/cid/1842973 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=My Kolkata}}</ref>
  | title = Sri Ramakrishna, the Great Master
  | publisher = Swami Saradananda
  }}</ref>


In India on 1 January 2010, as in other years, "Devotees from all over the country thronged the famed Kali Temple at Dakshineshwar for Kalpataru Utsav, which is celebrated on this day every year."<ref>{{Cite web
The day was named as Kalpataru Day by Ramakrishna's disciple Ramachandra Dutta. This event carried meanings and memories of cosmic import for the disciples and also prepared them for Ramakrishna's death, which occurred only a few months later, on 16 August 1886.
  | title = Kolkatans start new year with prayers and picnics
  | publisher = BombayNews.net [[Mumbai]]
  | date = 1 January 2010
  | url = http://www.bombaynews.net/story/584099
  | access-date = 2 January 2011
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111004235937/http://www.bombaynews.net/story/584099
  | archive-date = 4 October 2011
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>
India's [[Eastern Railway Zone (India)|Eastern Railway]] scheduled two special trains on 1 January 2010, to carry the crowds to Kali Temple.<ref>{{Cite news
  | title = The City Diary 25-12-2009 - Special trains
  | newspaper = [[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]
  | location = Calcutta, India
  | date = 25 December 2009
  | url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/the-city-diary-25-12-2009/cid/1164630
  | access-date = 3 February 2020}}</ref> The event includes providing medical care, blankets and clothing to the poor.


==Origins==
== References ==
 
<references />
The first Kalpataru Day, 1 January 1886, was "an event of unusual consequence and meaning" in the life of Ramakrishna and his followers.<ref name=Kali>{{Cite book
  | last = Kripal
  | first = Jeffrey John
  | author-link = Jeffrey J. Kripal
  | title = Kālī's child: the mystical and the erotic in the life and teachings of Ramakrishna
  | publisher = [[University of Chicago Press]]
  | year = 1998|edition=2nd
  | location = Chicago
  | pages = 258–261
  | url = https://books.google.com/?id=ZUnBqcyTA3kC&dq=%22Kalpataru+Day%22+-inpublisher:icon
  | isbn =978-0-226-45377-4}}</ref>  Ramakrishna was suffering from [[throat cancer]] at that time, and his health was declining.  He and his closest followers had moved to a garden house in the northern Calcutta neighbourhood of [[Cossipore#Culture|Cossipore]]. 1 January was a relatively good day for him, and he took a walk in the garden.  There, he asked one of his followers, Girish, a question he had often asked before, "Who do you say that I am?" <ref name=Kali/>  Girish responded that he believed that Ramakrishna was "God incarnate, come to Earth out of mercy for humankind".<ref name=Kali/>  Ramakrishna replied, "What more shall I say?  May you be awakened."<ref name=Kali/>  Ramakrishna then entered an "ecstatic state" and began touching all of his followers.  Those he touched reported experiencing a variety of new states of consciousness, including vivid visions.  For one, Vaikuntha, the visions persisted and interfered with daily life, so that he feared that he might be going insane.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
 
One disciple, Ramachandra Dutta, explained that Ramakrishna had, in effect, become [[Kalpataru]] (also called ''Kalpavriksha''), the "wish-fulfilling tree" of [[Sanskrit]] literature and Hindu mythology.<ref name=Kali/> Dutta named the commemoration of this mystical event "Kalpataru Day" as a result.<ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = Balakrishnan
  | first = S.
  | title = The spiritual significance: On January 1, 1886, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa experienced divine bliss. That day is celebrated as "Kalpataru Day" by his followers.
  | journal = [[The Hindu]]
  | location = [[Chennai]]
  | date = 31 December 2001
  | url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2001/12/31/stories/2001123100080200.htm
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20031028063338/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2001/12/31/stories/2001123100080200.htm
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 28 October 2003
  | access-date = 3 January 2011}}</ref> This event "carried meanings and memories of cosmic import for the disciples<ref name=Kali/> and also prepared them for Ramakrishna's death",<ref name=Kali/> which occurred only a few months later, on 16 August 1886.
 
None of Ramakrishna's monastic disciples were present during this event. Most having spent the night in meditation and keeping watch over the ailing Ramakrishna were taking rest, while others took the opportunity to clean Ramakrishna's room, bedding, etc. One of these disciples was Saratchandra Chakravarty, later known as Swami Saradananda. Having witnessed the day's event from the rooftop of Ramakrishna's residence, Saradananda later commented that "Kalpataru Day" is a misnomer, since the mythological wish-fulfilling tree (Kalpataru) grants anything, good or bad, and Ramakrishna gave only what was spiritually beneficial. Saradananda rather referred to the event as "the bestowal of freedom from fear on all devotees by revealing himself" {{citation needed|date=December 2017}}
 
==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150101180535/http://www.ramakrishna.org/jan1st.htm 1 January: The Day of Sri Ramakrishna's Self-Revelation]
*[http://rkmissionashrama.org/ashrama-rel/737/ Kalpataru Day (1 Jan) Celebrations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005010011/http://rkmissionashrama.org/ashrama-rel/737/ |date=5 October 2011 }}
*[http://rkmissionashrama.org/ashrama-rel/737/ Kalpataru Day (1 Jan) Celebrations]
*[https://www.scribd.com/doc/46155538/Kalpataru-Diwas Presentation by Volunteer of Vivekananda Kendra]


{{Ramakrishna}}
{{Ramakrishna}}
{{Bengali Hindu people}}
{{Bengali Hindu people}}


[[Category:Hindu holy days]]
[[Category:Ramakrishna Mission]]
[[Category:Ramakrishna Mission]]
[[Category:New Year celebrations]]
[[Category:New Year celebrations]]
[[Category:Vedanta]]
[[Category:Vedanta]]
[[Category:January observances]]
[[Category:January observances]]

Latest revision as of 14:22, 8 January 2025


photo of Rmakrishna
Ramakrishna
photo of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Kalpataru Day also called Kalpataru Diwas or Kalpataru Utsav is an annual religious festival observed by monks of the Ramakrishna Math monastic order of Hinduism and lay followers of the associated Ramakrishna Mission, as well as the worldwide Vedanta Societies. These organizations follow the teachings of Ramakrishna, the 19th century Indian mystic and figure in the Bengali Renaissance.

The event commemorates the day on 1 January 1886, when his followers believe that Ramakrishna revealed himself to be an Avatar, or God incarnate on earth.[1] It is held each 1 January. Although the observances are held in many locations, the most significant celebration takes place at Kashipur Garden House or Udyanbati near Kolkata (then called Calcutta), present Ramakrishna Math, a branch of Ramakrishna Order, the place where Ramakrishna spent the last days of his life.[2]

The day was named as Kalpataru Day by Ramakrishna's disciple Ramachandra Dutta. This event carried meanings and memories of cosmic import for the disciples and also prepared them for Ramakrishna's death, which occurred only a few months later, on 16 August 1886.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Balakrishnan, S (28 October 2003). "The spiritual significance". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 October 2003. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  2. ↑ Basu, Kinsuk (12 December 2021). "Cossipore Ramakrishna Math to be closed for Kalpataru Utsav from January 1 to 3". My Kolkata. Retrieved 11 February 2023.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Ramakrishna

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalpataru_Day&oldid=458142"
Discover more