JIVEM SHARDA SHATAM...MAY WE LIVE A HUNDRED AUTUMNS (YEARS)

                                           

MAY WE  LIVE   A HUNDRED AUTUMNS (YEARS) ..JIVEM SHARDA SHATAM

 There are many temples in the US built by immigrants from India. Indians from the southern states and Gujarat have done something unbelievable in this area. Over the past few decades, these temples have become powerful symbols of devotion, cultural preservation, and community bonding. These temples are also centres that are engaged in the task of maintaining the continuity of the civilisational ethos of India.  Some temple trusts in the US impart knowledge of Hindi, Sanskrit, Indian classical music, Indian classical dances, and the value system of Indian society at large to young children. In September 2025, we visited Shree Umiya Dham Temple in New Jersey. The priest inside the temple said," Jivem Sharda Shatam”, the moment he put a Tilaka on every visitor’s forehead and gave him some Prasada. As a token of blessings, he put his hand on the head of every visitor.  The vibrations of positive energy and good feelings are always felt by such gestures.

Jivem Sharda Shatam is a common blessing, especially used for birthdays, that wishes for a long, healthy, and prosperous life. Jivem Sharda Shatam has come to us from Atharva Veda .A prayer Mantra from Atharva Veda (19.67) says this:-

पश्येम शरदः शतम्

जीवेम शरदः शतम्

बुध्येम शरदः शतम्

रोहेम शरदः शतम् 

पूषेम शरदः शतम् 

भवेम शरदः शतम्

भूयेम शरदः शतम्

भूयसीः शरदः शतात्

(A hundred autumns may we see.

A hundred autumns may we live.

A hundred autumns may we know.

A hundred autumns may we grow.

A hundred autumns may we thrive.

A hundred autumns may we be.

A hundred autumns may we bide.

A hundred years and even more....)

 

There are some more Mantras in the Atharva Veda where prayers for a life of a hundred years are made. The common Vedic understanding is that the natural or full span of human life is one hundred years. While one hundred years is the standard measure, some verses in the Atharva Veda include prayers to live "even more than a hundred autumns," suggesting the possibility of a longer life. There is a verse in the Atharva Veda (17.1.27) that uses the phrase "a thousand years, "Sahasra Ayuh sukritah chareyam"  (For all thousand years of our life, may we be doing good work).

The sentiment "May you live a hundred years" is also found in the Upanishads. This is often expressed in the Sanskrit phrase "Shatāyur vai purushah" (A man's life is indeed a hundred years). The Isha Upanishad (Verse 2) states that one should desire to live a full human lifespan of one hundred years while performing one's duties or actions (karma):

"In the world, one should desire to live a hundred years, but only by performing actions. Thus, and in no other way, can man be free from the taint of actions."

The Chandogya Upanishad, in one specific interpretation (Purusha Vidya), describes a person's life in terms of oblations, which can total up to a lifespan of 116 years.

This lifespan of approximately 100 years is generally considered the full potential for a human being, provided they live a healthy life and follow their dharma (duty). The ancient Hindu scriptures often divide this life into four stages (Ashramas) of approximately 25 years each:

 

Brahmacharya (student life)

Grihastha (householder life)

Vanaprastha (retirement/forest dweller)

Sannyasa (renunciation)

                                               

According to Hindu mythology, time is divided into four great ages known as Yugas, each with distinct characteristics. These are:

1.      Satya Yuga – The Golden Age of Truth and Purity

2.     Treta Yuga – The Age of Righteousness with a Gradual Decline

3.      Dwapara Yuga – The Age of Doubt and Conflicts

4.      Kali Yuga – The Age of Darkness and Corruption

According to Hindu  scriptures, Kali Yuga began in 3102 BCE, meaning over 5,000 years of Kali Yuga have already passed. According to the Bhagwat Purana and the Garuda Purana,  in the Kali Yuga, the life span of human beings will be a maximum of 100 years, and it will show a declining trend as the Yuga progresses, and at the end, it shall be just 12 Years.

Once a Muslim friend took me along to  a well read   and  progressive Muslim scholar .  When we left , he said , " sadd sii saal zinda rahein " or 'may you live for one hundred thirty years' . Kashmiri Pandits used to say "lachha trogun aay " ..And Persian knowing elders in Kashmir would say " Sadd bees Saal ". Sadd bees Saal means may you live for 120 years . What is meant by "laccha trogun aay" ? My mother used to say it frequently to all who came to our house . She would also say it to our vegetables seller, the milkman , and many more people everyday .In Kashmiri Lachha means one Lakh and Trogun means three times. It could mean 3,00,000 years .I am not sure..

 

(Avtar Mota )

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