Sacred and Auspicious Deepavalli

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DEEPAVALI is the Sacred festival which marks the

victory of good over evil. The Sanskrit word Deepavali means array of

lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. As the

knowledge of Sanskrit diminished, the name was popularly modified to

Diwali.

 

According to the Skandha Purana, the Divine Goddess

Shakti observed 21 days of austerity starting from Ashtami of Shukla

Paksha to get half part of the body of Lord Shiva. This Divine Vrata is

known as Kedhara Vrata. Deepavali is the completion day of this

austerity. This is the day Lord Shiva accepted Shakti into the left

half of the form and appeared as Ardhanarishvara. The ardent devotees

observe this 21 days vrata by making a kalasha with 21 threads on it

and 21 types of offerings for 35 days. The final day is celebrated as

kedhara gauri vrata.

 

Deepavalli also celebrates the return of Lord Rama,

King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya .

It is said that the people lit oil lamps along the way to light their

path in the darkness.

 

Deepavalli also commemorates the killing of Narakasura by Lord Krishna's wife Sathyabhama.

 

Traditionally, Deepavalli is a four-day celebration

beginning with Dhantraiyodashi when Lamps are lit as an offering to the

Divine Lord. The second day is Narak Chaturdashi when demon Naraksura

was killed by Lord Krishna.

 

Laxmi Pooja is celebrated on the third day with

prayers for the blessings of the previous year. This is also the

special day on which Ram, Sita and Lakshman returned to Ayodhaya. This

Pooja is conducted to welcome the New Year the following day, a day for

new beginnings.

 

Om Sai Ram

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