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Vardhanti - Birth Anniversary or Death Anniversary or Both?

In Telugu Language, Vardhanti will be called/termed only for Death Anniversary Recently I came to know that in Kannada - Vardhanti will be termed/called for only Birth Anniversary. This confuses me and feels there's a grave error among them.

What exactly Vardhanti means? Which is the correct meaning as per Sanskrit? Or For Both of the cases does the word Vardhanti will be called? which is the right term to be called?

Kindly clarify.

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    It means death anniversary. It is used in stead of Jayanti when referring to the birthdays (ie the day they assumed the physical body) of sanyasis. A sanyasi's true birthday is the day they take sanyasa deeksha for it is a true rebirth for them. Both words are sanskrit.
    – user1195
    Dec 16, 2015 at 22:18
  • Vardhanthi means Death Anniversary. Birth Anniversary is called Jayanthi in Telugu. Dec 16, 2015 at 23:06
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    @moonstar2001 you say for Sanyasis, Vardanthi and Jayanthi are same?
    – The Destroyer
    Dec 17, 2015 at 2:47
  • @AnilKumar ordinary person's jayanti = sanyasi's vardhanti.
    – user1195
    Dec 17, 2015 at 3:09
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    @moonstar2001 what you said was, when normal people take up their Sanyasi deeksha, this deeksha is considered as rebirth and it is Jayanti for Sanyasi in them. So, Vardanthi of his former Human characteristics of him is Jayanti of Sanyasi (new form of him). What about the date that Sanyasi takes Samadhi and leaves his Physical body?
    – The Destroyer
    Dec 17, 2015 at 11:15

3 Answers 3

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The following is in part a reproduction (translation) from Shringeri MahaSamsthanam's Telugu Panchangam (Saarvari, 2020-21; page 14):

"Vardhanti has its root from 'Vrudhu.. Vruddhau" (Sanskrit Dhatu words). It reflects the meaning of Vrudhi i.e. development, increase, or growing. On the birthday, Ayushya Homam is performed for 'Ayur Abhivruddhi'. Hence, the word Vardhanti is appropriate to use for birthday celebration. However, this word is being used by some in Andhra in another extreme sense. It is very inappropriate to use that way.

As someone commented in this forum - "Vardhanthi means Death Anniversary." is very wrong. There is no more 'vruddhi' on death.

In conclusion, we should use Vardhanti for birthday celebration of someone living.

It's my observation that the word Jayanti is used for someone who passed away.

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Vardhanti is the start or continuance of growth. Hence applicable to. Living blokes and creatures only. Jayanti is victory so can be applied to.living and dead blokes

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  • Vardhanti is growth and applicable only to progress that is birth celebrations periodically within lifevspan.. . Vardhanti can be used for death anniversary only if we have trikals jnaana and in cases where we know that concerned soul soul has taken rebirth into a higher state of being
    – harihara
    Dec 12, 2022 at 5:01
  • Now, Jayanti is that which gives prospect of Jaya or whichnis Vijaya Prada. For bharatiya that is applicable to all beginnings of action including birth . Because birth is the start of action for purusharthas. Anniversary of birth is to rededicate.oneself into purushartha goals ie. Praying for Vijaya and new resolves.
    – harihara
    Dec 12, 2022 at 5:13
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VARDHANTHI is associated with growth and promotion. Since we don't see divine souls leaving earth as their death and rather reaching the divine abode or convergence with the greater power, we call their death anniversaries as VARDHANTHI. This is not an inappropriate usage at all.

JAYANTHI means birth anniversary.

See: https://www.learnsanskrit.cc/translate?search=jayanti&dir=se https://www.learnsanskrit.cc/translate?search=vardhayati&dir=se

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