N. Raghuraman's column: Being older means life is more sacred, sensible and gentle.

On Wednesday, I asked the doctor when he could be discharged. I said, 'Not in a hurry, but on Thursday and Friday, I have to attend my uncle's 80th birthday.' He looked as if an educated person was prioritizing celebration over someone's ill health. Then I told them why we celebrate the age of 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 years with such pomp. If you have a question in your mind whether these numbers are spiritual or just a cultural tradition, the answer lies in the story of King Yayati of Mahabharata. Yayati lived life to the fullest – power, happiness, success and everything. But the sudden old age shook him. After deep introspection, he realized that 'there is a limit to happiness, but desires never end. This one understanding changed his life. He acknowledged old age and pointed out that there are five internal turning points in life – which are not based on age, but on understanding. These turning points are associated with Indian traditions of 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 years of age. Their explanation is as follows. Sixty Perfection at 60: At 60, something changes – not in the body, but in priorities. The question of 'How much more can I get?' begins to disappear and is replaced by 'What really matters now?' Introspection begins. No longer needs noise, praise and external validation. There is a search for clarity. This is not weakness, but the maturity that comes with ambition. Bhimrath Shanti at 70: Instead of proving oneself right, peace seems more powerful. You don't react immediately. The debates don't look attractive. Saving relationships is more important than winning arguments. Guess what's more valuable than being right is staying calm. Shatabhishekam at 80: Just your presence is comforting. At the age of 80, people don't come for advice. They look for something deeper—the trust that life can be lived and understood. At this age, your very presence becomes a blessing. Words are not necessary. Your very existence says that everything is in order. That is why the age of 80 is considered sacred. 90 on the 90s: Something rare happens here. The ego goes away. You don't want to improve others. You don't stick to your opinion. Things are not taken personally. Naturally, you don't get hurt. This is not because of weakness, but because life has shown you a lot. You don't spend energy on small things. A quiet stillness ensues. This humility is true spirituality. Century at 100: Life goes beyond personal stories. Reaching the age of 100 is not just a counting of years, but a stage where the broader scenario begins to appear. You get the sense that the worries that you carried were unnecessary. The love you gave was what really mattered. Life was always driven by a mysterious, kind force. At the age of 100, there is less of a person and more of a presence. The essence of these five states can be seen in the lives of our sages and ancestors. He celebrated not age, but the change that comes with age. Priorities change at 60. At 70, peace becomes strength. Presence at 80 is comforting. At 90, the ego is gone. Life reaches perfection at 100. That is why when we see the elderly of this age, we touch their feet and say that bless us, we also need the same qualities for a better life. If you see such elders, then definitely seek their blessings. The trick is that age is not a decline, but a filtration process — one that leaves wisdom, gentleness and dignity.