Diwali ( Deepavali) .

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Hare Krishna ! Dear Krishna-Bhakthas ,

Deepavali Greetings to all of You !!!

Diwali ( Deepavali) festival marks the victory of good over evil, and uplifting of spiritual darkness . Symbolically it marks the homecoming of goodwill and faith after an absence, as suggested by the Ramayana .

On the day of Diwali, devotees wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks . Some North Indian business communities start their financial year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day.

Significant events associated with Diwali

Return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya :

Diwali also celebrates the return of Lord Rama , King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya after a 14 year exile, and a war in which he killed the demon king Ravana . It is believed that the people of Ayodhya lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness. Since Lord Rama traveled from South India to his kingdom in North India, he passed through the south earlier. This is the reason why the festival is celebrated a day earlier in South India .

The Killing of Narakasura :

Celebrated as Naraka Chaturdasi, two days before Diwali day, it commemorates the killing of Narakasura , an evil demon who created havoc, by Lord Krishna's wife Satyabhama . This happened in the Dwapar Yuga during this time of Lord Krishna's avatar . In another version, the Demon was killed by Lord Krishna (Lord krishna provokes His wife Satyabhama to kill Narakasura by pretending to be injured by the demon . Narakasura can only be killed by his mother, Satyabhama only . Before Narakasura's death, he requested a boon from his mother, Satyabhama (An Avatar of Bhudevi - Narakasura' mother), that everyone should celebrate his death with colorful light .

Sree Krishna defeating Indra :

Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali . It is the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra, the king of Devas . As per the story, Krishna saw huge preparations for the annual offering to Lord Indra and questions his father Nanda about it . He debated with the villagers about what their 'dharma' truly was. They were farmers, they should do their duty and concentrate on farming and protection of their cattle . He continued to say that all human beings should merely do their 'karma', to the best of their ability and not pray for natural phenomenon. The villagers were convinced by their beloved Sree Krishna, and did not proceed with the special puja (prayer). Indra was then angered, and flooded the village. Krishna then lifted the huge mountain Govardhan and held it up as protection to his people and cattle from the rain . Indra finally accepted defeat and recognized Sree Krishna as the God of Gods . This aspect of Krishna's life is mostly glossed over – and it actually set up the basis of the 'vedic' philosophy later detailed in the Bhagavat Gita .

Puja on the eve of Diwali.

While Deepavali is popularly known as the "Festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the new year of luck and wealth".

There is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman . Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, imminent and transcendent reality . With the realization of the Atman comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (Inner Joy or Peace).

Diwali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship. While the story behind Deepavali varies from region to region, the essence is the same - to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things .

Lakshmi Puja

Diwali marks the end of the harvest season in most of Bharath . Farmers are thankful for the plentiful bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest for the year to come. Traditionally this marked the closing of accounts for businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and the last major celebration before winter. The deity of Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity, and Her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.

There are two legends that associate the worship of Goddess Lakshmi on this day. According to first one, on this day, Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagar, the Ocean of Milk, during the great churning of the oceans, Samudra manthan . The second legend(more popular in western India) relates to the Vamana avatar of Vishnu , the incarnation he took to conquer the demon king Bali , thereafter it was on this day, that Vishnu came back to his abode, the Vaikuntha so those who worship Lakshmi (Vishnu's consort) on this day, get the benefit of her benevolent mood, and are blessed with mental, physical and material well-being.

As per spiritual references, on this day "Lakshmi-panchayatan" enters the Universe. Sri Vishnu, Sri Indra, Sri Kuber, Sri Gajendra and Sri Lakshmi are elements of this "panchayatan" (a group of five). The tasks of these elements are :

Vishnu : Happiness (happiness and satisfaction)

Indra : Opulence (satisfaction due to wealth)

Kubera : Wealth (Generosity; one who gives away wealth)

Gajendra : Carries the wealth

Lakshmi : Divine Energy which provides energy to all the above activities.

Om Namo Narayanaya !!!!

SrIKrishnaDasa Rajeev