Diwali

Diwali festivities start today…Happy Diwali to all…Deepavali! Diwali! Diyavali!

The greatest, brightest and sacred-most Hindu festival, celebrated across the world with fervor and devotion.

Diwali, which probably had its origin in celebration of bountiful harvests, like most Hindu festivals, also is an inherent part of Hindu culture for various beliefs and faiths. Lord Ganesha, the obstacle-remover and success-ensurer, is also worshipped on this day. It is the day to celebrate the marriage of Lord Vishnu with Goddess Lakshmi. Bengalis dedicate this festival to Mother Maa Kali, the dark Goddess of strength. Jains observe this day as the day Lord Mahavir attained Nirvana.  Diwali is celebrated world over to rejoice the return to Ayodhya (Avadh) of Lord Rama, Lakshman and Sita after fourteen years of exile, after vanquishing the demon king Ravana.

Diwali is a five-day festival. 

The first day is Dhanteras or Dhana Trayodashi, the festival of wealth. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on this day, houses and homes cleaned, decorated with flowers, leaves, lights, rangoli, and Goddess Lakshmi is welcomed into homes by lighting lamps.  It is a practice to worship Lord Kubera also (the God of wealth on this day).

The second day is Narak Chaturdashi.  One should know the significance and the relationship between Dhan Teras and Narak Chaturdashi.

The son of King Hima was predicted to die of a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage.  To avert this, his wife did not let him sleep through the night.  To keep him awake, she was narrating stories and anecdotes, singing bhajans; heaped all her gold, jewelry, diamonds, silver and valuables at the entrance of bed room and lighted lamps profusely all over. 

When Yama, the God of Death arrived in the guise of a serpent to inflict a death-bite to the prince at the appointed time, the snake could not move an inch, dazzled by the gold, ornaments, diamonds all shining in the array of lamps lighted.  The snake could do nothing except listening to the bhajans.  The time gone, the serpent had to go back.  And the prince was saved by the clever bride.  Thus, the day is known as Dhan Teras.

Narak Chaturdashi is the day when earthen lamps are kept burning through the night glorifying Yama, the God of Death.  That is why the day is also known as Yamadeepa Daan Din.  The day is also known as Choti Diwali, being the day preceding Diwali. Narak Chaturdashi is also the day, when Satyabhama, the wife of Lord Krishna vanquished the dreaded demon Naraka.

Amavasya, or Diwali is the day which marks the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, wealth-incarnated, who blesses the devotees with wealth and riches in all magnificence and benevolence on this day.  According to another legend, when Suras (Gods/Devas) and Asuras (Demons/Rakshasas) were involved in Amrit Manthan, churning out the sea, it was the Lord Mahavishnu in the form of the Divine Doctor Dhanvantari emerged carrying a pot of the elixir ‘Amrit’.  Some legends depict Lord Vishnu incarnated Himself as Mohini.  All are right.  The day signifies such great importance. The Goddess of wealth, Lakhsmi, incarnated on this day during the Manthan. This is the day the Pandavas returned to Hastinapur past-exile; the day of the greatest Hindu king Vikramaditya’s coronation.

This is the day when Lord Vishnu, in the guise of the dwarf incarnation Vaman banished the tyrant king Bali to hell (paataal lok).

Kind hearted as He is, Lord Vishnu blessed King Bali with a boon to return to the world once a year on the next day of Diwali, known as Bali Padyami (Kartika Shuddha Padyami) and rule the world for a day.  In anticipation of King Bali’s return, millions of lamps are lighted night-long, that dispel ignorance, darkness, hatred and ignite enlightenment, light and love.

The last and fifth day is called Bhai Dooj or Yama Dwitiya which is celebrated as the strongest bond between brothers and sisters. Traditionally Bhai Dooj used to be celebrated by married sisters.  Over time, the bond extended to all sisters and brothers.  Brothers visit sisters on this day and give them gifts; and in return, as ever, sisters pray for the health, wealth and progress of brothers.

There are a couple of interesting legends behind the celebration of Bhaidooj.

The Sun God, Surya Bhagavan had twins, Yama and Yamuna (Varani) from his earthly princess-wife Sangya or Sandhya.  Unable to withstand the brilliant radiance of her husband she returned to earth, and left behind her replica, or shadow called Chaya (literally means shadow) with Sun God.  Our epics are nothing but real life.  Chaya, the step-mother, after bearing her own children, started harassing Yama and Yamuna and threw them down.  Varani reached earth, and became river Yamuna, and Yama rached the underworld (paataal lok) and became the Lord of Death.

Many decades or centuries later, Yama happens to visit his sister Yamuna two days after Diwali, when still the neighbourhood is resplendent with millions of lamps. Yamuna treats her brother to a great bash, and in return Yama wanted to give a gift to his sister, but had none.  The sister says that his visit itself is the most valuable gift, but seeks a boon that on Bhaidooj, all brothers should meet their sisters and exchange love and pleasantries.  The wish was granted.

Legend also says that it was on Bhaidooj day that Lord Krishna, after the annihilation of Demon Naraka came back, and went to meet his sister Subhadra and there was a celebration between brother and his dearest sister.

According to Devi Bhagawata and other scriptures, the Raasa of Devas starts in the month of Kartika, the day after Diwali.  Raasa is the central process of creation around which the universe revolves.

Visakha (Vaisakha) masa and Krittika (Kartika) masa are the two points of intersection of the ecliptic and equator.  The earth’s axis moves in a circle in 26,000 years.  At the first point, these two branches start like the blades of a pair of scissors (Krittika) and the opposite point joins the two branches (Dwi-sakha or Visakha).  As such the pair also signifies the pair of a brother and a sister.

There is only one place on the earth which signifies this (Dwisakha or Visakha), where the only couple of rivers that start from the same origin, but separate their journeys till reaching the sea are located.  These two rivers are Nagavali and Vamsadhara, which originate from the same place, but track their own courses throughout and join the sea separately.  That place is Srikakulam.  Is there any link of Visakhapatnam getting this name?

Like all festivals and rituals the lights and crackers also have a significance.  The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with firecrackers is an expression obeisance to the Heavens for the showering of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity.  The sound of firecrackers is an indication of the joy and thanks of the people living on earth, making Gods aware of their plentiful state.  Scientifically, the fumes produced by the crackers kill lot of insets and mosquitoes, found aplenty after rains, and with advent of winter.

Diwali, in short signifies the victory of good over evil; light over darkness; enlightenment over ignorance and hope over despair.  It is an embodiment of the Shanti Matra.

Asatoma Sadgamaya – Lead me from unreal (bondages) to real (realization)

Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya – Lead me from darkness (ignorance) to light (enlightenment)

Mrityorma Amritamgamaya – Lead me from death (mundane) to immortality (divine)

Aum Shanti Shanti Shantihi – Let there be peace alone (Adi Daivika, Adi Bhautika, Adhyatmika)