TAMIL NEW YEAR

Tamil New Year falls on Saturday April 14th 2007. The Tamil name is Sarvajit meaning victory and prosperity for all across the globe.

Why this year is called sarvajit? What is the significance of this year??

Goddess Parvati is responsible for this year being named as Sarvajit. She did severe penance for a number of years with an ambition to marry Lord Siva, giving up food and sleep. Lord Siva was pleased with her penance and appeared before her.

He enquired, “For whose sake are you doing this penance?”
She replied, “Oh! Lord! I am doing this penance to win your grace.”
Lord Siva then informed her, “Your wish is fulfilled today. You can join Me now.”

Before Parvati could join Lord Easwara, several divine ladies tried to dissuade her from marrying the Lord, criticising thus:

Oh! Gowri! You are very young and
Sambasiva is old;
He has matted locks and
wears a tiger skin;
He rides a bull and
is constantly on the move;
He is adorned with snakes;
How did you court Him?
Don’t you know all this?
He has no house of His own and
sleeps in the cremation ground.

They enquired, “Why do you wish to marry such an old man who goes about begging in the streets?” Parvati replied “You do not know, you are seeing only his external form. You are not making any effort to realise the Atma Tattwa in him. I am, in fact, aspiring for the divinity in him. Divinity is changeless and eternal.”
Lord Easwara accepted Parvati as His consort. She was happy in every aspect. The day on which Goddess Parvati could fulfil her desire surmounting all difficulties, is celebrated as the New Year day of Sarvajit. In fact, this name to the New year was given by goddess Parvati herself!

(thanks to astrosites for detailed description of the tamil new year)