The list hints at certain trends, correlations and coincidences? Kurma Jayanti and Buddha Jayanti both fall on the Purnima of Vaishakha; Parashurama Jayanti falls on the day of Akhshyatritiya. Kalkiavatara who is yet to dawn upon this terra firma has also been assigned a birthday. Parashuram Jayanti is a major festival confined to the Konkan region of Maharashtra alone.
Dattatreya was born with three heads and six hands. Anasuya's(wife of sage Atri) chastity brought forth this child, bearing imprint of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar. Dattatreya Jayanti is celebrated on Margashira Purnima in Maharashtra. Reciting Avadhutagita is a must for the day. Valmiki, the author of Ramayana in Sanskrit, was the contemporary of Sri Rama. It was he who had provided his hermitage (that falls in present Bundelkhand) as shelter to Sita and also groomed her sons Lava and Kusha. The innovation of ?Shoika?, an epic metre is owed to Valmiki. His birthday is observed on the full moon day of Ashwina during September-October. Hanuman Jayanti falls on Chaitra Shukla Purnima during March-April full moon day. Hanuman Chalisa is recited and Ram Namshankirtan is invoked maintaining a fast on the day. Mahavira Jayanti falls on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi. Mahavira in the fifth century BC was the last tirthankara.
India'stryst with Vedantic triumvirate has Advaita system of Shankara (AD788-820) Vishishitadaita system of Ramanuja (AD 1017-1137) and Dvaita system of Madhava (AD 1238-1317). The Jayantis of all these three avant-gardes are observed a grand ?clat by their monastic order in their respective mathas. Shankar Jayanti falls on Vaishakha Shukla Panchami. Ramanuja Jayanti popularly called Tirunaksatra falls sometime during Vaishakha Shukla Paksha. Madhava Jayanti is celebrated on Ashvayuja Shukla Dashami that is the day of Vijayadashami. During the Jayanti devotees and monks of these order lay emphasis on discourses on the prasthanatraya that includes the Upanishads, the Gita and the Brahmasutras.
Basavanna also known as Basaveshwara during 12th century AD dealt upon a significant reform movement that finally evolved the Lingayats with their Virshaivism. His Jayanti is celebrated on Vaishakha Shukla Dvitiya or Tritiya, confined to the state of Karnataka. Sri Krishna Chaitanya (AD 1485- 1533) instilled Vaishnavism in Bengal. His Jayanti coincides on Phalgun Purnima, the day celebrated as Dol Purnima day (Holi) in Bengal. Guru Nanak (AD 1469-1539) Jayanti falls on Kartika Purnima and Guru Govinda Singh (AD 1666-1708) Jayanti falls on Margashira Krishna Chaturdashi. Both the occasions are auspicious for the Sikh community. The composer of Ramacharitamanas, Sant Tulsidas (AD 1532-1623) Jayanti falls on Shravana Shukla Saptami. The entire Hindi heartland of India reverberates with piety. The musician-saint of South India, Tyagraja (AD1767-1847) is remembered on the day of his mortal demise. On this punyadina also called aradhanadina that falls on Pusya Krishna Panchami, musicians and lovers of music hold a flamboyant music festival annually at Tiruvayyar, his hometown in Tamil Nadu. The congregation of musicians sings songs from his great compositions. The doyen of Carnatic music, Purandara Dasa (16th century) is another such a saint who is remembered on punyadina falling on Pusya Amavasya day. Harikatha discourse and singing his songs mark the celebration.
These salts of the earth who steered our society from engulfing predicament deserve encomiums for their probity to enliven in our memory. Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Shri Narayan Guru, Shri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Aurobindo are some of such names in the recent past whose Jayanti have been in vogue lately. Besides, their observance relegates our own-self absolving us from any decadence.
