Subject: [world-vedic] Diwali -- An Introduction Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 00:42:52 -0000 From: "vrinparker" Reply-To: vediculture@yahoogroups.com To: vediculture@yahoogroups.com Diwali -- An Introduction Diwali is the most beautiful and the grandest festival of jubilation that heralds the advent of Kartik, the holiest month. It is observed by the majority of people in India from the highest to the lowest. The term Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali meaning cluster of lamps. Deep meaning lamp, Vali meaning `line or row' of lamps. Its other name is Deep-Malika or Deep-Mala, the string of lamps. This Diwali which leads us into Truth and Light is celebrated on a nation-wide scale on Amavasya - the 15th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Ashwin (Aasho) (October / November) every year. It Diwali comes exactly 20 days after Dussehra. It symbolizes that age-old culture of our country which teaches us to vanquish ignorance that subdues humanity and to drive away darkness that engulfs the light of knowledge. Diwali, the festival of lights even today in this modern world projects the rich and glorious past of our country and teaches us to uphold the true values of life. Every home - lowly or mightily - the hut of the poor or the mansion of the rich - is alit with the orange glow of twinkling diyas - small earthen lamps - to welcome Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity. Multi-coloured Rangoli designs, floral decorations and fireworks lend picturesqueness and grandeur to this festival which heralds joy, mirth and happiness in the ensuring year. This festival is celebrated on a grand scale in almost all the regions of India and is looked upon mainly as the beginning of New Year. As such the blessings of Lakshmi, the celestial consort of Lord Vishnu are invoked with prayers. Even countries like Thailand, Trinidad, Siam and Malaya celebrate this festival but in their own ways. In year 2002, dates of Diwali festivals are as follows: November 2: Vagh Baras -- Cows are worshiped on this day. This year on this day is also "Dhan Teras" -- wealth is worshiped and one asks God for the wisdom to use one's wealth for noble and virtuous actions only. November 3: Kali Chaudash (also known as Narakachaturdashi) -- On this day Lord Krishna vanquished Narkaasur. Prayers are offered to Hanumanji to remove inauspiciousness and fear of evil spirits and beings November 4: Diwali/Lakshmi Pujan -- The goddess of wealth, Laxmiji, is worshiped today to receive blessing for future prosperity. Lord Mahavir attained Nirvana on this day. November 5: Hindu New Year -- It hails the New Year for those who follow the Vikram or Samvat era. November 6: Bhau Beej -- Sisters invite brothers and honour them. Day 1 of Diwali -- Dhan Teras This Diwali festival, it is surmised, dates back to that period when perhaps history was not written, and in its progress through centuries it lighted path of thousands to attain the ultimate good and complete ecstasy. Diwali or more aptly Deepavali is very enthusiastically celebrated for five continuous days and each day has its significance with a number of myths, legends and beliefs. Diwali festival is believed to date back as far back as Satya Yuga and is held in honour of goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. To be precise, Diwali begins on the 13th day of the second dark half of Aswin month and continues till the second day of Kartik light half, i.e. last three days of Aswin and the first two days of Kartik. The first day is called DHAN TERAS or DHANTRAYODASHI which falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The word "Dhan" means wealth. The houses and business premises are cleaned, washed, renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colourful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome the goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights. Believing this day to be auspicious women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils. The"Lakshmi-Puja" is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. A pair of Laxmiji and Ganeshji's idol are required for the puja. It is believed that goddess Laxmi visit everyone during Diwali. "Bhajans" - devotional songs - in praise of goddess Laxmi are sung. In villages cattle is adorned and worshiped by farmers as it forms the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshiped on this day. Legend: A very interesting story about this day is of the sixteen year old son of King Hima. As per his horoscope he was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that particular fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's boudoir and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on telling stories and singing songs. When Yam, the god of Death, arrived there in the guise of a serpent his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the prince's chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening to the melodious songs. In the morning he quietly went away. Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhan teras came to be known as the day of "YAMADEEPDAAN" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of Death. Day 2 of Diwali -- Choti Diwali The second day is called "NARKA-CHATURDASHI" or "CHOTI DIWALI" which falls on the fourteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The story goes that the demon king Narakasur, ruler of Pragjyotishpur (a province to the South of Nepal), after defeating Lord Indra had snatched away the magnificent earrings of Aditi, the Mother Goddess, and imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of the gods and saints in his harem. On the day previous to Narakachaturdashi, Lord Krishna killed the demon and liberated the imprisoned damsels and also recovered those precious earrings of Aditi. As a symbol of that victory Lord Krishna smeared his forehead with the demon king's blood. Krishna returned home in the very early morning of the Narakachaturdashi day. The womenfolk massaged scented oil to his body and gave him a good bath to wash away the filth from his body. Since then the custom of taking bath before sunrise on this day has become a traditional practice especially in Maharashtra. On the day of the Naraka Chaturdashi, the ancient custom, it seems, was to collect dung heaps and manure and remove it far from the house. This heap was worshiped, topped by a burning lamp and offering of a coin. This was done prior to the predawn bath taken after anointing the bodies with oil. Two baths were taken. After the first bath, a lamp made of rice-flour and an over piece of the same thing called `mutke' were waved round each male by some girl or a married woman. Then the male crushed the `chirat', the fruit of the cucurbitaceous plant, and extinguished the lamp symbolizing the killing of Narakasura, the giant of wickedness. Even now most of the early customs prevail, though in a modified form. Today, on the eve of Diwali, the houses are cleared of unwanted terms, the whole house dusted and washed, or even whitewashed to give it a new look. According to some authorities, the early customs of removing the manure, destruction of filth, etc. appertain in South India that victory of the divine over the mundane is celebrated in a very peculiar way. People wake up before sunrise, prepare blood by mixing kumkum in oil and after breaking a bitter fruit that represents the head of the demon King that was smashed by Krishna, apply that mixture on their foreheads. Then they have an oil bath using sandalwood paste. In Maharashtra also traditional early baths with oil and "Uptan" (paste) of gram flour and fragrant powders are a must. All through the ritual of baths, deafening sounds of crackers and fireworks are there in order that the children enjoy bathing. Afterwards steamed vermicelli with milk and sugar or puffed rice with curd is served. Legend: Another legend is about King Bali of the nether world mighty power had become a threat to the gods. In order to curb his powers Lord Vishnu in the guise of a Batu Vaman - a small boy - visited him and begged him to give him only that much land which he could cover with his three steps. Known for his philanthropy King Bali proudly granted him his wish. That very moment that small boy transformed himself into the all-powerful Lord Vishnu. With his first step Lord Vishnu covered the entire heaven and with the second step the earth and asked Bali where to keep his third step. Bali offered his head. Putting his foot on his head Vishnu pushed him down to the underworld. At the same time for his generosity Lord Vishnu gave him the lamp of knowledge and allowed him to return to earth once a year to light millions of lamps to dispel the darkness and ignorance and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. This Narakachaturdashi day therefore is dedicated to lights and prayers heralding a future full of joy and laughter. Day 3 of Diwali -- Lakshmi Pujan The day following Naraka Chaturdashi is Amavasya, the 30th dark night and last day of Aswin which also marks the end of the Vikram or Samvat era. It is commonly known by the name of Pedhipujan, and to some, is sacred to Saraswati, the goddess of learning. But, majority follow the day to be sacred to goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. This day is the most important day of "LAKSHMI-PUJA" which is entirely devoted to the propitiation of goddess Lakshmi. This day is also known by the name of "CHOPADA-PUJA". On this very day sun enters his second course and passes Libra which is represented by the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing. Despite the fact that this day falls on an Amavasya day it is regarded as the most auspicious. The day of Lakshmi-Puja falls on the dark night of Amavasya. The strains of joyous sounds of bells and drums float from the temples as man is invoking goddess Lakshmi in a wondrous holy "pouring-in" of his heart. All of a sudden that impenetrable darkness is pierced by innumerable rays of light for just a moment and the next moment a blaze of light descends down to earth from heaven as golden-footed Deep-Lakshmi alights on earth in all her celestial glory amidst chantings of Vedic hymns. A living luminance of Universal Motherhood envelopes the entire world in that blessed moment of fulfillment of a long-awaited dream of the mortal. Traders close their old accounts and new accounts are opened by the business community stopping all transactions for the day. Puja is performed on the new "Books of Accounts", which will then be used for maintaining accounts of the new year. Rituals: A sublime light of knowledge dawns upon humanity and devotion of man finally conquers ignorance. This self-enlightenment is expressed through the twinkling lamps that illuminate the palaces of the wealthy as well as the lowly abodes of the poor. It is believed that on this day Lakshmi walks through the green fields and loiters through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings on man for plenty and prosperity. When the sun sets in the evening and ceremonial worship is finished all the home-made sweets are offered to the goddess as "NAIVEDYA" and distributed as "PRASAD". People drop in with sweets and crackers and presents. They visit the elders. Everyone wears new clothes before the puja. Children along with elders light fireworks at night and burn firecrackers. Most of houses make "rangoli" (colourful motif) at the entrance of the house. The floor is washed and then the housewife and small girls draw rangoli. It represents an auspicious welcome for Laxmiji who visits people during Diwali to grant wealth. People light divas in their homes every evening and especially in the center of rangoli. This is a day of celebration, feast and joy. Young and elders enjoy alike. Legends: There are many legends celebrating this day. Different religions have different stories to tell. One of the most curious customs which characterizes this festival of Diwali is the indulgence of gambling, especially on a large scale in North India. It is believed that goddess Parvati played dice with her husband, Lord Shiv on this day and she decreed that whoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuring year. This tradition of playing cards - flush and rummy with stakes on this particular day - continues even today. On this auspicious day Lord Shri Krishna, around whom revolved the entire story of our great epic Mahabharat and the philosopher who preached Karmayog through his Geeta to Arjun on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, discarded his body. Jains celebrate Diwali as on this Bhagwan Mahavir, the 24th Jain Tirthankar, also attained "Nirvan" (salvation). In northern India Diwali is dedicated to the worship of Lord Rama, who had been exiled from his empire, India, for 14 years. Diwali marks his victorious return to his kingdom after his victorious battle with Ravana. Swami Ramtirth, the beloved "Ram Badshah" of millions of Indians, was not only born on this day and took "Sannyas" but also took "Samadhi" on this day. Swami Dayanand Saraswati, founder of Arya-Samaj, with his superb yogic powers freed his soul from his body and mingled with divinity on this auspicious day of Diwali. We kindle innumerable lights on this day to immortalize the sacred memories of those great men who lived to brighten the lives of millions of their fellow beings. One very interesting story about this Diwali day is from Kathopanishad of a small boy called Nachiketa who believed that Yam, the god of Death, was as black as the dark night of Amavasya. But when he met Yam in person he was puzzled seeing Yam's calm countenance and dignified stature. Yam explained to Nachiketa on this Diwali day of Amavasya that by only passing through the darkness of death, man sees the light of highest wisdom and then only his soul can escape from the bondage of his mortal frame to mingle with the Supreme Power without whose will not an atom moves in the world. And then Nachiketa realized the importance of worldly life and significance of death. Nachiketa's all doubts were set at rest and he wholeheartedly participated in Diwali celebrations. Day 4 of Diwali - New Year of Vikram or Samvat era Day 4 of Diwali is "Nutan Varsh'. It literally means 'dawn of the New Year' - the Hindu New Year's day of the Vikram era is Kartik Sud. The first day of the Kartik has been ascribed with many legends. The fourth day is also called "PADWA" or "VARSHAPRATIPADA" which marks the coronation of King Vikramaditya and Vikaram-Samvat was started from this Padwa day. It hails the New Year for those who follow the Vikram or Samvat era. This day King Vikramaditya was believed to have been coronated. For slightly speaking about Saturn, King Vikram was avenged by him for which Vikram loses his kingdom and had to undergo seven and a half years' tortuous life of suffering including false charges. In the end, after the set period of Saturn and owing to Saturn's mercy, King regains his lost kingdom and happiness. According to some it is also the day on which King Bali was made to abdicate and sent to the nether world by Lord Vishnu, Thus it is termed as Balipratipada. Bali was a demon but was known so much for his generosity that he even seemed to excel the gods in merit. His generosity became a cause of danger to gods lest he became powerful with his merit. Hence Vishnu takes the incarnation of Vaman i.e. a dwarf, and goes to Bali for alms. Vishnu in the garb of Vaman, asks for a simple boon, that is to grant as much ground as he could measure with his dwarfish three steps. The generous Bali, ignorant of the true identity, agrees. The dwarf grows into a gigantic size and the first step covers the world, the next measure the upper world. When asked where to keep the third step, Bali bows and offers his head. Then Vaman pushes him to the nether world but makes him the King to rule over the dead. Govardhan-Puja is also performed in the North on this day. As per Vishnu Puran the people of Gokul used to celebrate a festival in honour of Lord Indra and worshiped him after the end of every monsoon season but one particular year the young Krishna stopped them from offering prayers to Lord Indra who in terrific anger sent a deluge to submerge Gokul. But Krishna saved his Gokul by lifting up the Govardhan mountain and holding it over the people as an umbrella. Govardhan is a small hillock in Braj near Mathura and on this day of Diwali people of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar build cowdung hillocks, decorate them with flowers and then worship them. Some commemorate the day as the coronation of King Rama who it seems was crowned after his exile. Illuminations on third occasion and King Rama's reign symbolize the ushering in of spiritual light and knowledge and removal of darkness or ignorance. This day is also observed as Annakoot meaning mountain of food. In temples specially in Mathura and Nathadwara, the deities are given milkbath dressed in shining attires with ornaments of dazzling diamonds, pearls, rubies and other precious stones. After the prayers and traditional worship innumerable varieties of delicious sweets are ceremoniously raised in the form of a mountain before the deities as "Bhog" and then the devotees approach the mountain of food and take Prasad from it. Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped in every Hindu household and her blessings sought for success and happiness. This day is looked upon as the most auspicious day to start any new venture. In many Hindu homes it is a custom for the wife to put the red tilak on the forehead of her husband, garland him and do his "Aarati" with a prayer for his long life. In appreciation of all the tender care that the wife showers on him, the husband gives her a costly gift. This Gudi Padwa is symbolic of love and devotion between the wife and husband. On this day newly-married daughters with their husbands are invited for special meals and given presents. In olden days brothers went to fetch their sisters from their in-laws home for this important day. Day 5 of Diwali - Bhau-Bij The second day of Kartik and the fifth and final day of Diwali Festival is known as Bhau-Bij in the Marathi-speaking communities, "Bhayya-Duj" in the Hindi-speaking belt and in Nepal by the name of "Bhai-Tika". As the legend goes Yamraj, the God of Death, visited his sister Yami on this particular day. She put the auspicious tilak on his forehead, garlanded him and led him with special dishes and both of them together ate the sweets, talked and enjoyed themselves to their heart's content, while parting Yamraj gave her a special gift as a token of his love and in return Yami also gave him a lovely gift which she had made with her own hands. That day Yamraj announced that anyone who receives tilak from his sister will never be thrown. That is why this day of Bhayyaduj is also known by the name of "YAMA-DWITIYA". Since then this day is being observed as a symbol of love between sisters and brothers. It became also imperative for the brother to go to his sister's house to celebrate Bhayyaduj. The sisters apply tilak and wave aarti to their brothers and the brothers offer present in return. It is one of the most sentimental and touching occasion of all. In today's world when pressing everyday problems are teaming as under all the tender words of personal relationships, the celebrating of this day has its own importance in continuing to maintain the love between brothers and sisters for it is the day of food-sharing, gift- giving and reaching out to the innermost depths of the hearts. Diwali on the whole has always been the festival with more social than religious connotations. It is a personal, people-oriented festival when enmities are forgotten, families and friends meet, enjoy and establish a word of closeness. As a festival of light and beauty it encourages artistic expressions through home-decorations stage-plays, elocution competitions, singing and dancing programs, making gift items and making delectable sweets thereby discovering new talents of younger people. As a result innumerable communities with varying cultures and customs mingle together to make Diwali celebrations a very happy occasion for all. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore has so aptly put forth the true significance of Diwali in these beautiful lines: The night is black Kindle the lamp of LOVE With thy life and devotion." Celebration of Kali Puja Source: Free Press Journal In Bengal, Diwali is celebrated as Kali Puja and the goddess Kali is worshiped. Kali Puja is only a one-night festival, which falls on the darkest night of Amavasya. The word "Kali" comes from the well-known word Kala, time. She is the power of time - all-destroying and all-devouring - and symbolizes strength and energy. The image of Kali has been created by man as a fearful goddess standing on the chest of Lord Shiva, her spouse. She is almost deep blue or black in her complexion. She wears a garland of fifty human heads of skulls with a skirt of human hands. She has four hands and her hair is completely disheveled. In her upper hands, she holds a severed head and sword or chopper. But the two lower hands are in the Abhaya and Varada Mudras. After her victory over the demons she danced in such an ecstasy that she was uncontrollable. Kali developed her thirst for blood after killing the demon Raktavera. Lord Brahma had granted a boon to Raktavera that every drop of blood which fell from his body would be able to produce thousands more like him. The only way Kali could kill him was to hold him high, pierce him with a spear and drink all his blood as it gushed out. Kali is often portrayed with her tongue hanging out and her mouth dripping blood. This is said to signify the force that gives impetus to all activities. Lord Shiva in order to stop her "intoxication" lay like a corpse among the corpses in wait for her. When Kali stepped upon Lord Shiva, she suddenly realized her mistake and put out her tongue in shame! Though Kali is the supreme energy responsible for the dissolution, she is also the all-merciful mother. Through her Abhaya and Varada Mudras she is reassuring her devotees of her protection and granting them boons. During Diwali, amongst illuminations and the lighting of firecrackers, goddess Kali is worshiped by one and all with great religiosity. Crackers are burst to get rid of evil spirits. Kali assumed different names in different regions. In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka she is Chamundeshwari, in Kanchi she is known by the name Kamakshi. In Madurai Kali is Meenakshi and further down South, she is Mukh Ambika. In the eastern region she came to be known as Mahakali.