Diwali
The word Diwali has been derived from Dipawali which in turn is formed by dipa + avali (row). Dipawali is thus a line or a row of lamps. During Diwali, lamps are lit everywhere. It is celebrated on four consecutive days - the thirteenth day (Dhanatrayodashi), the fourteenth day (Narak chaturdashi) and the new moon day (Amavasya) [Lakshmipujan] of the dark fortnight of Ashvin and the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik (Balipratipada). Some exclude the thirteenth and consider only the remaining three days as Diwali. Since Vasubaras and Bhaubij respectively precede and follow Diwali, they are included in it. However in reality they are separate holy festivals.
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Dhanatrayodashi: The thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashvin
This itself is called Dhanteras in common language. Businessmen worship their treasuries on this day. A commercial year comprises of the period between one Diwali and another. New account books are begun on only this day.
Dhanvantari jayanti
According to the Ayurveda it is the birthday of the deity Dhanvantari, so on this day Ayurvedic doctors (vaidyas) worship Him. They make an offering (prasad) of small pieces of neem leaves and sugar to visitors. This is of great significance as the neem fruit has originated from divine nectar (amrut) and Dhanvantari is the deity bestowing immortality. If one chews five to six neem leaves everyday then there is no chance of suffering from any malady. Such is its importance. It is for this very reason that it is distributed as a sacrament (prasad) of Dhanvantari.
Yamadipadan
Shri Yama (Yamaraj) is alloted the task of abducting one's life (pran). None has escaped or will escape death, according to time. However to prevent untimely death, on Dhanatrayodashi thirteen lamps made of wheat flour should be placed lit with oil, outside the house, facing southwards, in the evening. A lamp is never kept facing southwards except on this day
Narak chaturdashi: The fourteenth day (chaturdashi) of the dark fortnight of Ashvin
According to Shrimadbhagvat Puran on this day Shri Krushna slayed Narkasur. A powerful demon called Bhoumasur or Narkasur formerly ruled a place named Pragjyotishpur. He began harassment of both deities and people. This cruel demon began to harass women. He kept sixteen thousand princesses of marriageable age whom he had won over in battles, in prison and planned to marry them. This created chaos everywhere. When Shri Krushna heard this, along with Satyabhama He attacked the demon, slayed him and set the princesses free. The dying Narkasur asked Shri Krushna for a boon, "On this date (tithi) let one who takes an auspicious bath (mangalsnan) not suffer in hell". Shri Krushna granted him that boon. Consequently, the fourteenth (chaturdashi) day of the dark fortnight of Ashvin also came to be known as Narak chaturdashi and on that day people started bathing before sunrise. On this day when Krushna returned home at dawn, after slaying Narkasur, adorning a spot (tilak) of Narkasur's blood on His forehead, Nanda gave Him an auspicious bath. The women expressed their joy by moving lit lamps about His face (ovalani).'
Yamatarpan (offering to Shri Yama)
After a bath with an oil massage one should make an offering to Shri Yama to overcome untimely death (apamrutyu). This ritual of offering (tarpan) is explained in the religious almanac (panchang). One should consult the religious almanac and then perform it, accordingly. Thereafter the mother moves lit lamps in front of her children's faces (ovaLani). Some break karit (a bitter fruit) with their toes to signify the slaying of Narkasur while some apply a little of its juice onto the tongue as his blood.
Lakshmipujan: The new moon day (amavasya) of Ashvin
Worship of Lakshmi (Lakshmipujan)::
Though generally the new moon day,Though this day is considered auspicious it is not so for all events. Hence it would be more appropriate to call it a day of happiness rather than auspicious.
Sree Laxmipujan 'After an auspicious bath at the break of dawn one should worship the deities. In the afternoon a rite for the departed souls (parvanshraddha) and an offering of meals to Brahmans (Brahmanbhojan) is done and in the evening in a pandal decorated with creepers and leaves Lakshmi, Vishnu and other deities and Kuber are worshipped. A legend says that on this day Shri Vishnu along with Lakshmi liberated all the deities from BaLi's prison and thereafter they all slept in the ocean. To represent that, everyone should enjoy themselves at home and light lamps everywhere.
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When ritualistically worshipping Lakshmiji (Lakshmipujan) an idol of Lakshmi should be installed on a seat on which either an octapetalled lotus or a svastik is drawn with consecrated rice (akshata). Next to Her an idol of Kuber is placed on a pot (kalash). Then all these deities including Lakshmi are offered a sacrament (naivedya). Then items like coriander, jaggery, and any sweet are offered to Lakshmi and then distributed to well-wishers and friends. Holding a bundle in the hand guidance is offered to ancestors. Brahmans and the hungry are offered meals. One keeps awake in the night. The Puran narrates that on the new moon night of Ashvin the deity Lakshmi wanders everywhere in search of an ideal home. Though undoubtedly cleanliness, beauty and excellence attract Her yet She loves to live in a home inhabited by men who are faithful, dutiful, merciful, righteous, have control over passions and are devotees of God, and women who are virtuous and chaste.' Diwali is a holiday filled with joy, giving and sharing.
Just as the deities Lakshmi and Indra are worshipped on the religious festival of Kojagari, Lakshmi and Kuber are worshipped on this new moon day. Lakshmi is the deity of wealth but Kuber is the treasurer. Several people possess the art of earning money but do not know how to save it. However saving money and spending it appropriately is far more important than earning it. Since most people do not know how to spend money, their spending is unwarranted and ultimately, they become bankrupt.
Kuber is the deity who teaches the art of saving money as He Himself is the treasurer. Therefore in this ritual the worship of Lakshmi and Kuber has been recommended. Though all people celebrate this festival, the business community in particular does so with great enthusiasm and splendour.
Coriander seeds and parched corn from parched, the reason for this being that coriander seeds (dhane) denote wealth and parched corn represents prosperity. If a few grains of parched, uncleaned rice are roasted one gets a handful of parched corn. Since one aspires to acquire the prosperity of deity Lakshmi, parched corn is offered symbolically
The victory of Lord Krishna over Narakaasura or the fall of Bali, Diwali is a holiday, which symbolizes the vanquishing of evil by good, the return of righteousness and spirituality
Diwali is the day that, after 14 long years of exile in the forest Lord Rama returned to the kingdom of Ayodhya. The people were so blissful at the return of their King, that they lined the roads of the town, the shops, the homes, and every place with brightly burning lamps. Today, throughout India and wherever Indians have settled in the world, one can see beautifully lit oil lamps and candles glowing in the darkness of night. Bhagwan Rama’s life was truly a divine lamp, burning for others and bringing light wherever He went.
Brightly burning oil lamps called Diyas. What is the deeper meaning of the Diwali Diyas? From the oil lamp, one learns humbleness; one learns to be a nameless part of a team working for the betterment of humanity. There is a beautiful saying, which goes as follows: “Karta kaam koi hai. Naam kisi ka hota hai. Jalte tel aur bati. Naam diya ka hota hai.” It means, “Someone may do the work. Someone else may get the credit. In an oil lamp it is the wick and oil which burn, but we give credit to the diya.” In life, also this happens. There are always those who get the credit, those who are always in the center receiving the appreciation and reward, while those doing the nitty-gritty work frequently find them in the background. This should not bother us. We must learn to be like the wick and the oil of the lamp. Just keep burning and bringing light to others. Do not worry whether people acknowledge you or not. Whose name gets the credit is not what is important. What is important is that light has been brought to the world. Let us All Burn Like Dias – Giving Light and Life to Others
Typically, when we find ourselves in the position of the wick and oil, feeling like we do all the work and not getting the credit or appreciation, what do we do? We complain and grumble lot. This is not the message of Diwali. As we watch the Diwali lamps burn, bringing beautiful illumination, we must take the message that all parts of are crucial. If there were no oil, or no wick, or no clay pot in which to hold them, there could be no flame. Each part is essential and of equal worth. No one is small and no one is big.
In our lives as we work to bring light to our families, our communities and our world, let us worry less about who is doing what and who is getting credit and let us worry more about whether we are being the very best wick, the very best oil and the very best pot we can be.
Another message to be taken from the lamp is that it burns for others, with no selfish motivation and no expectation. The purpose of an oil lamp’s existence is to bring light to others. We burn with anger, jealousy, and frustration. The heat is on, but rather than bringing healing, it brings hurt, to us and to others. The flames of our internal fire conquer us, suffocate us, and burn the very core of our beings. We must learn to burn FOR others rather than FROM others.
Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore has communicated the true significance of Diwali in one beautiful line: "The night is black. Kindle the lamp of love with thy life and devotion."
To see a light, no other light is needed. ~ Sri Ramana Maharishi’
Balipratipada: The first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of Kartik ::
This is the half among the three and a half auspicious moments (muhurts). The story behind this goes thus - King Bali was immensely generous. He used to gift a guest with whatever he demanded. Though generosity is a virtue, in excess a virtue becomes a defect. What one should give, when and where is clearly prescribed in the scriptures and the Gita. Offering should be made to the deserving; not to the undeserving. But King Bali disregarding this would give anyone anything that he asked for. When an undeserving person acquires wealth he becomes arrogant and behaves as per his will. Shri Vishnu incarnated as a boy invested with the sacred thread (munja). Vaman means small. The munja is small in size and chants 'Give me alms as He asks for alms. When Shri Vishnu incarnated as Vaman, approached King Bali for alms the king asked Him, "What do you want ?" Vaman asked for land which covered three of His footsteps. Unaware of who Vaman was and not realising the consequence of this offering the king agreed to fulfil His wish. Immediately Vaman assumed a colossal form and covered the earth with one footstep. With the second He covered the sky and then asked King Bali where to place the third footstep. King Bali then told Him to place the third step on his head. Planning to send him to the nether world by doing so Vaman said, "Ask for any boon that you wish". The monarch then replied," Now my entire kingdom on the earth will be destroyed and you will send me to the nether world. So may this event of taking the three steps be represented on the earth for three days of the year as my reign." Those three days are the fourteenth day (chaturdashi) and the no moon (amavasya) day of the dark fortnight of Ashvin and the first day of (pratipada) the bright fortnight of Kartik. This is also called Bali's reign.
The scriptures say that during Bali's reign one can behave as one wishes. However, one should refrain from acts prohibited by the scriptures. Eating prohibited foods, smoking and drinking prohibited drinks are the three prohibited acts. Hence on these days people can have a display of fireworks but they do not consume liquor. Since the scriptures permit this tradition people enjoy themselves on these days. This is Diwali. On Balipratipada a picture of King Bali and his Queen Vindhyavali is drawn with a special powder of soft white stone (rangoli) on the floor, decorated with five colours and worshipped and offered naivedya. Then for the sake of Bali, lamps and clothes are donated. On this day after an early morning bath with an oil massage (abhyangasnan) women move lit lamps in front of their husband. In the afternoon they feast on a meal with delicacies. People don new attire and celebrate the whole day through. There is also a practice of worshipping the mountain Govardhan (Govardhanpuja). A mountain of cowdung is made and durva (a sacred grass) and flowers are tucked into it. Pictures of Shri Krushna, the cowherds, Shri Indra, cows and calves are arranged alongside and also worshipped and are taken out in a procession.
It is the beginning of the new year according to Vikram calendar.
Bhaubij (Yamadvitiya)
'The second day (dvitiya) of the bright fortnight of Kartik is also named Yamadvitiya. This day is widely known as Bhaubij. On this day, Shri Yama visited His sister, Yamuna for a meal. Hence the day has acquired the name Yamadvitiya. On this day no man should eat a meal cooked by his wife. He should visit his sister, present her with clothes, ornaments, etc. and eat a meal at her place. If he does not have a sister by blood relation then he can go to a female cousin's place or consider any other woman as his sister and dine at her place. Since on this day Yamaraj visits His sister for a meal, the souls suffering in hell are liberated atleast for a day. As a result, untimely death is averted.
Tulsi vivaha ::
This ritual consists of uniting Shri Vishnu [an idol of Balkrushna (Infant Krushna)] and the basil (tulsi) plant in wedlock. In ancient times the practice of child marriage was prevalent. This ritual is performed on any day between the eleventh (ekadashi) and the full moon day (pournima) of the bright fortnight of Kartik. On the eve of the wedding the base of the basil plant is painted and decorated. Sugarcane and marigold flowers are placed next to the plant and tamarind and amla are placed at its bottom. The wedding ceremony is performed in the evening. All the vowed religious observances undertaken in the four months (chaturmas) after the tuLsi vivaha on the twelfth day (dvadashi) of the bright fortnight of Kartik, are concluded. All the food items which one has not eaten due to forbiddance are first offered to a Brahman and then partaken of.
Love, Give and Peace
Rita, Mom to Kishan forever
