Deepavali

[Guest guest]

Dear Devotees,

Another Note to share, particularly with your children too.

Dasan,

Krishnaswamy M.K

 

 

DEEPAVALI

 

Deepavali is a festival which everyone enjoys. On that day we get up early

in the morning, bathe, wear new clothes and pray. We let off fireworks to

drive away evil. We greet friends and relatives and share with them a lot of

sweets. We decorate our houses with rows of lights.

 

Looks like a day of great celebration, isn't it? Yes, it is; for, the people

are celebrating a happy event which happened during the time of Lord

Krishna.

 

The modern State of Assam on the Eastern border of India was known as

Pragjyotisha in the olden days. In Sanskrit, Praak means light and Jyoti

means light. So, the name means the same as the Land of the Rising Sun; for,

the Sun rising in the east first sheds its Jyothi or Light on the land along

the Eastern border.

 

Once, the king of Pragjyothisha performed a severe tapas and obtained from

God a great power as his reward. But soon, he became very proud of his

strength, started to misuse this god-given power and oppress people

everywhere. He put in prison thousands of his people from different parts of

the country and even dishonored women. In this manner, he became a terror to

his people. He literally made the country a hell for them to live in and

therefore, they began to refer to him as Narakaasura, meaning the demon-king

of hell

 

In course of time, the people could not bear the sufferings any more. They

appealed to Lord Krishna to come, save them and punish the wicked

Narakasura. And Krishna who, as we all know, always comes to the rescue of

his devotees, decided to put an end to this evil king.

 

Krishna flew to Prag-jyotisha riding on His Garuda, the bird-king which is

the vehicle of Lord Vishnu; his wife Satyabhama also went with him. A great

fight ensued between Krishna and Narakasura. At last, Krishna slew the king

with his weapon known as Sudarshana Chakra. The people of the region all

rejoiced with great joy and thanked Lord Krishna for delivering them from

the evils of Narakasura. Some say that at the time of his death, the king

repented for his evil nature and obtained a boon from Krishna that his death

anniversary would be celebrated everywhere with joy by lighting lamps, since

he realized that the God had come to deliver him.

 

We celebrate this day every year as a day of deliverance from evil and call

it by its other name: Naraka-Chaturdasi; for, the day that the demon

Narakasura was killed was the day before the New Moon which is known as

Chaturdasi. To express of our gratitude to the Lord, we welcome him with

specially prepared sweets and decorate our houses with rows of brightly lit

lamps. For this reason, the day is also called Deepavali, which in Sanskrit

means "rows of light." Those who speak the Hindi language in North India

call it the Diwali.

 

For businessmen in many parts of India, Deepavali-day is also the start of

the new-year for their business accounting. They worship Goddess Lakshmi on

this day and seek her blessings for a prosperous new-year; for, this is the

day when the Lord Himself removed evil and made the country safe for the

people of the land. What better day to start an activity or a new year for

the old business than this auspicious day when Krishna had assured safety

and freedom to live our lives without fear from evil-doers?

 

The story of Narakasura tells us that the great power given to us by God

should not be misused to oppress others. One who becomes bad in this manner

becomes an Asura or demon, who will certainly be punished by God. Every

year, on Deepavali day, we remember with great faith that God is on the side

of good people like us everywhere and we celebrate with happiness the

destruction of Narakasura and all evil persons like him.

 

In the State of Kerala, Deepavali is celebrated as Mahabali-Deepa in honor

of the annual visit of the demon King Mahabali from the nether world. We may

recall the story of Vamana-avatara; Lord Vishnu appeared before King Bali as

a dwarf brahmin boy and begged for three steps of land. When it was granted,

he assumed his Vishwaroopa and measured in two steps the entire universe and

for the third, placed his noble feet on Bali's head, sending him to the

nether world. At that time, he granted Bali's request for an annual visit to

his country. The occasion of this visit is celebrated with welcoming lights

by the people of Kerala on Deepavali day.

 

In North India, many celebrate Diwali as the auspicious occasion of Lord Sri

Rama's coronation in Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana.

 

There are thus many reasons for the joyous celebration of the festival of

Deepavali. But one thing is common in its observance: it is celebrated as

the day of deliverance from evil forces and as a festival of light. Light

represents spiritual enlightenment and release from the bondage of ignorance

which is truly the demon which takes us to the darkness of Naraka, hell.

Whenever our mind is filled with the Light from God, we are delivered from

the darkness of false knowledge and ignorance into the bright kingdom of the

divine. We are reminded of this fact through the celebration of the festival

of lights, the Deepavali. The heroes of the day are the devotees of the Lord

who are assured of victory over the demon of darkness and ignorance. That is

why we recite at the end of every satsang the Asatho Maa sat gamaya slokam

and pray to the Lord to lead us from darkness to light:

tamaso' maa Jyothir Gamaya.

 

 

-

<RaamaBhakthi>

<RaamaBhakthi>

Friday, November 12, 2004 11:42 PM

[RaamaBhakthi] Digest Number 167

 

 

 

> Fri, 12 Nov 2004 > Sadagopan <sgopan

> Fw: Saranagathi Happy DipAwaLi Celebrations !

>

> Dear all,

>

> Wish you all a very happy Deepawali.

> Thought I will share this note on the Deepawali festival.

 

> > DEEPAWALI

> > The festival of Lights

> >

> > Deepawali or Diwali means a row of lights. It is celebrated on the

> > New(No) Moon day of the month of Kartik (Nov. 12 for the year 2004).

> > Deepawali is actually a five day festival! It is connected with many

> > episodes from the Hindu holy books.

> >

> > Dhan Teras (Thrayodashi)

> > The Shopping day

> >

> > Two days prior to Deepawali is known as Dhan Teras. On this day a new

> > utensil is bought for the house. House is spotlessly cleaned, washed,

> > white washed. and decorated. The children are taken out to buy fire

works

> > (crackers), earthen diyas (lamps) and new clothes.

> >

> > Naraka Chaturdashi

> >

> > Lord Krishna killed a wicked demon by name Narakasura on the eve of

> > Deepawali. This day prior to Deepawali is called Naraka chaturdashi and

> > celebrated by lighting Fire crackers. This is the part children enjoy

the

> > most!

> >

> > Choti Diwali

> >

> > In some parts of India, the day prior to Diwali is celebrated as Choti

> > Diwali. This is to commemorate Hanuman coming to Ayodhya with the news

of

> > the arrival of Lord Rama & his party from Lanka.

> >

> > The Deepawali Day

> >

> > Deepawali day is believed to be the day on which Lord Rama, and his

party

> > returned to Ayodhya from Lanka. They are greeted by lighting hundreds

of

> > clay lamps. This gives the festival the name of Deepawali. Special puja

> > to Lakshmi are performed.

> >

> > On the main Diwali day, a morning bath is very essential. In Southern

> > India to bathe before Sunrise, after a good oil massage, is considered

> > very auspicious. Children finish this and start firing crackers in the

> > early dark minutes before the Sunrise.

> >

> > Goverdhan Puja

> > Anna Koot

> >

> > The day after Deepawali is celebrated as Goverdhana Puja. The sacred

hill

> > of Goverdhan, near Mathura and Kamadhenu (the cosmic cow) which are

> > connected with Lord Krishna are worshipped. Krishna lifted up the

> > Goverdhan mountain and held it like an umbrella, under which people and

> > animals took shelter from the relentless rain. Once the rain subdued,

the

> > people gathered around the hill and had a great feast (Anna Koot). This

> > festival is especially popular among the devotees of Srinath Ji (Bala

> > Krishna), as popularized by the 15th century CE philosopher, Sri

> > Vallabacharya (composer of Madhurashtakam). He founded Pushti

> > Marga(Pantha). There are about 30 million Hindus (mostly from Gujarat

and

> > Central India) belonging to this tradition.

> > In some other parts, this day is celebrated as Bali Padyami. On this

day

> > king Bali, who was humbled by Lord Vishnu as Vamana, pays a visit to

his

> > lost empire.

> >

> > Deepawali also is the New year day for the followers of Vikrama

calendar,

> > founded after the great king Vikramaditya.

> >

> > For Jains, Deepawali marks the day on which their founder Mahavira

> > attained Nirvana.

> >

> > Arya Samajis spend this day in memory of their founder guru Swami

> > Dayananda, who was killed on this day.

> >

> >

> > Deepawali is a great national festival in India. It is celebrated by

> > Hindus with extraordinary festivity. Houses are cleaned and painted.

> > People wear new clothes. Shops and offices are decorated with colored

> > lights. Businessmen close their old account books and open new ones.

> > People exchange gifts, cards and visit friends and relatives. Another

> > custom practiced on Deepawali day is the early Morning (5 am) oil bath.

> >

> > In short, you might as well call Deepawali as the Christmas of India,

> > because all communities participate at least in the secular aspects of

the

> > festival. It is also the July 4th, because of the fire works.

> >

> > WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY DEEPAWALI

______________________

> ______________________