Why do we celebrate 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 so grandly? Are these numbers spiritual—or simply cultural milestones?
To answer this, our tradition turns to the profound story of King Yayati in the Mahabharata. Yayati lived with abundance—power, pleasure, achievement. But when old age struck without warning, he was shaken. In that moment of truth, he realised one eternal insight:
“Pleasure has a limit. Desire does not.”
That clarity transformed him. He accepted ageing, and discovered that life unfolds in five inner turning points—not marked by years, but by awakening.
Interestingly, these very turning points align with our Indian celebrations at 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100.
Here is their deeper meaning for each of us:
At 60 – Shashti : When Priorities Shift from Having to Understanding
Around 60, something quiet changes—not in the body, but in the mind.
You stop asking, “How much more can I get?”
Instead, you begin to ask, “What truly matters now?”
Noise becomes unnecessary. Applause becomes irrelevant.
Clarity begins its gentle work.
This is not old age.
This is maturity finally overtaking ambition.
At 70 – Bheemaratha Shanthi : When Peace Becomes More Powerful Than Proving
In your 40s and 50s, you told the world who you are.
But at 70, something soft and wise emerges.
You react less.
Arguments lose their charm.
Friendships start mattering more than winning.
You finally see that being peaceful is greater than being right.
This is why 70 is blessed.
At 80 – Sathabhishekam : When Your Presence Itself Becomes Healing
By 80, people no longer seek your advice—
they seek your presence.
Because your life silently tells them:
“It’s okay. Life can be lived, survived, understood.”
At this age, you don’t have to speak much.
Your being becomes a blessing.
At 90 – Navathi : When the Ego Quietly Retires
At 90, a rare beauty appears.
You don’t rush to correct.
You don’t cling to opinions.
You don’t take things personally.
Not because you’re weak,
but because you’ve seen too much to waste energy on the small stuff.
A gentle softness dawns—
and that very softness is spirituality.
At 100 – Shatamanam : When Life Expands Beyond Personal Stories
Reaching 100 is not about the count of years.
It is about seeing the larger pattern of life.
You realise most worries were temporary,
and love was what mattered all along.
You sense that life was always held together
by a quiet, mysterious kindness.
At 100, one becomes less of a person—
and more of a presence.
✨ Essence
Our rishis never celebrated age.
They celebrated the inner evolution that age brings.
- 60: Priorities shift
- 70: Peace becomes strength
- 80: Presence becomes healing
- 90: Ego becomes quiet
- 100: Life becomes complete
Age is not decline.
Age is distillation.