Vedic Aspect of Christmas

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VEDIC ASPECTS OF CHRISTMAS

(By Bh.Jan Mares)

 

Christmas atmosphere - snow, dazzling shop windows with Christmas

decoration, Christmas markets, traditional customs, trees, gifts, food,

carols, bells, churches with mangers and midnight Mass. Kids love it and

almost all people try to behave better to each other. Despite all the

commercialization and secularization of Christmas which manages to destroy

this atmosphere as well as a fact that Christmas feasting costs lives of

innumerable fish and other animals, spiritual atmosphere of Christmas still

survives.

 

Origin of Christmas

 

December 25, shortly after winter solstice, was in Mediterranean

region celebrated as "Dies Natalis Invict" (Day of Unconquerable One), an

appearance day of Vedic-Persian-Roman sun god and savior of mankind Mitra.

"Mitra" means in Sanskrit "friend" or "friendship" and his life resembles

that of Jesus'.

 

When the Christianity moved to new regions it pushed out aboriginal

religions (mainly forms of lower Vedic systems like nature and ancestor

worship whose features survived in many still extant folk customs). It was

done also by covering their holidays by Christian ones of similar nature.

This also happened in case of Christmas, now mainly celebrated as an

appearance day of Jesus.

 

There are two prominent Vedic aspects of Christmas whose origin and

meaning was in the course of time more or less forgotten. By learning about

them we can enrich our Christmas celebrations and the whole life.

 

Carols (bhajan/kirtan)

 

In course of centuries appeared in Europe many carols, inherent part

of Christmas. They are songs celebrating Jesus' birth and mercy. Eulogizing

God and His pure devotees is called kirtan, one form of devotional service

to God. The same goes for hearing (sravanam). In Vaisnava tradition there

are many such songs (bhajans) sung at various occasions. Majority of people

in the West has this chance to hear and sing carols once a year even though

they don't know its spiritual potency. This form of unknowing devotional

service is called ajnata-sukrti and it makes one ready for conscious

service. If God and His devotee are satisfied, all living beings are also

satisfied - this is the secret of popularity of carols which contribute

significantly to merry Christmas atmosphere.

 

On a personal note - before becoming a practicing Vaishnava I used

to listen often to carols during the year and others condescendingly

reminded me that carols are listened to at Christmas... But why only at

Christmas? Celebration of God and His servants is not limited by time, place

or in any other way. It is of eternal nature (nitya-bhagavata-seva).

 

Gift-giving (dana)

 

Second inherent aspect of Christmas are gifts. Shops are making

offers already long time before Christmas so to most people the idea of

Christmas blends with gifts. How the tradition of gift-giving started?

 

Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12 describes how from the East came sages to

pay respect to Son of God and they brought Him gifts. Although their

background is not known, to bring gifts to newborn baby is part of Vedic

tradition as we can see e.g. from the description of Shri Krishna's and Shri

Chaitanya's appearance. To present God or His servants with gifts is

devotional service and a symptom of love among devotees (priti-lakshana).

 

It is a nature of this material world that originally spiritual

activities turn into material ones under the influence of time. Thus later

people, not knowing God or enough of His servants, began to present gifts to

each other (especially to children) and spiritual essence was lost (not

everyone is a Son or a conscious servant of God). Someone may object that

identity of God is not known but Vedic tradition is clear: God, or the

Supreme Person, Purushottama, is Vishnu, or Krishna.

 

If we would follow the original way of gift-giving (shown by the sages) and

offered gifts to God and His servants, we would return to Christmas its

transcendent content for the benefit of all and we would experience until

now unknown joy.

 

 

(from www.veda.harekrsna.cz)