Reap the true benefits of Holi
होलिकां आगतां दृष्ट्वा हृदयी हर्षन्ति मानवाः ।

पापमुक्तास्तु संजाता क्षुद्रता विलयं गताः ।।

The mere arrival of the festival of Holi delights people; makes them sinless and free from meanness. The narrowness of the heart and the unhappiness of the heart is meanness. To get delighted in one’s own heart is to get rid of meanness.

It is good to get delight in the heart but with the condition that it is not through sinning but removing sin. If the heart is delighted by sinning, that delight will last for some time and cause grief for a long time. The person who is delighted by removing sin will become a qualified aspirant to have the experience of the Truth of Supreme Brahman, Supreme Self which is free from all modifications of mind as his own being. One, who gets pleasure through sinning, heads towards downfall and one who rejoices in removing sin gets elevated. The peace experienced by the removal of sin, doing virtuous acts and hearing pious satsang is the sign of journey to real uplift.

So poverty of heart should go. One is the material poverty –there is a dearth of materials and the other is the poverty of heart- a dearth of materials may or may not be there but the heart is narrow, stingy. On such festivals, things should be brought for the many.

The festival of Holi points towards breaking the narrow boundaries of the mind but unfortunately people do such acts even on such festivals that increase the narrow-mindedness. In fact, all these festivals have national, social, spiritual and hygienic elements in them but petty minded people suffer harm in place of getting benefit and cause harm to others also by indulging in all sorts of vices. To derive pleasure in hurling abuse at somebody or insulting somebody or sprinkling harmful chemical colour on somebody is not true joy. To smear chemical colour, coal tar etc. on someone’s body, to behave indecently or to drink alcohol will degenerate the heart to the meanest level.

The unique message of health care

This is a spring festival. Therefore people should take out Prabhatferis (chanting procession in early morning) for protecting both their health and mind (from thought pollution) besides spreading vibes of divine love and gentlemanliness in society. Such processions should move in each and every street and alley. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born on the full moon day of Holi. We should stage dramas based on the lives of such saints who distributed divine joy in society.

Parched grains like maize, grams, wheat etc. should be consumed and fed to others in order to eliminate Kapha etc. accumulated in the body due to the change in season. Huge bundles of wood are burnt and people circumambulate it so that the heat from the fire provides warmth to the body and melts the Kapha within. We offer a coconut into the fire signifying the offering of our head of egotism in the fire of Knowledge. If you want to see in which culture the arrangement based on subtle studies is made for the uplift of man on physical, mental, social and spiritual planes, you will find it in Indian culture.

होलिका आगतां दृष्ट्वा… The mere thought of the arrival of Holi delights people’s hearts. Even modern science claims that when man is restless, disturbed and sad within he indiscriminately indulges in drink and sex. One whose heart is pure and peaceful does not indulge in drink or sex. He will drink cups of wine divine himself and give the same to others. He will wake up in the bliss of Narayana and help others do the same.

Celebrate Holi this way

A 20 days’ long celebration from the Ekadashi day to the 2nd lunar day should be organised on the occasion of Holi. The youngsters and the youth should find themselves a noble act of social service during these days. The pious morning environment as well as the sublime influence of the divine chanting will also prove beneficial to them. It would be a great service on the part of the youngsters and youth if they persuaded other youngsters and youths on the right path by saying affectionately, “This festival is for drinking the wine divine in the pegs of hearts rather than ruining one’s family by drinking the poison of alcohol.”

The womenfolk may fill enthusiasm in their family by way of singing Holi songs; while brothers may make a resolve to start their life afresh after burning the garbage of ill feelings on this day. Reading, hearing and teaching religious stories like Bhagavata, Ramayana and biographies of great men is beneficial during these days.

After Holi, the rays of the sun fall vertically on the earth and days start getting longer. Due to this, the Kapha deposited in the body melts and comes into the stomach reducing the appetite. It initiates a disturbance in the seven dhatus and seven colours of the body which increase the chance of an increase in Pitta causing some anger in one’s nature.

In order to make natural and wholesome Holi colours, soak Palaash (Butea Frondosa) or Marigold flowers in water one day before the Holi. Then add a few drops of oil to it in the morning and boil it. The flowers will give more colour. If you are using Marigold flowers, you may mix some turmeric powder to it; if Palaash flowers are used instead, you may add some food colour used in preparing Jalebis if you so wish. Celebrating Holi using such colours balances the seven dhatus and seven colours in our body and increases our tolerance to heat.

This festival of Holi brings joy and happiness and if we celebrate it sensibly it also brings good character and affection along. So let’s all together take a pledge, that, as a female demon Dhondha was burnt on this day, we too burn the evil tendencies present in our mind. Like the Brahmins offer oblations to fire, we too mentally offer the oblations of lust, anger, fear, grief and worry in the gastric fire and become luminous.

Rishi Prasad Issue – 290