Diwali' or 'Deepawali' is one of the most significant, glorious, colourful, vibrant and glittering festivals that is universally celebrated on the auspicious day of 'Amavasya' (no- moon day) in the Holy month of Kartik.
We all enthusiatically look forward to this joyous festival. For each of us, 'Diwali' symbolises shopping for new apparels, accessories, household luxuries, decorations, rangoli, diyas, lights, gifts, culinary delights, fire crackers, social get-togethers and a bunch of festivities.
While we keep ourselves busy in cleaning our homes, offices and decorating the externals, we need to stop for few moments and look inside, deep within ourselves. Its high time we begin cleaning our core, our souls from within.
We have to scrub our conscience really hard to get rid of the dirt accumulated over past millions of lives. Let's make a start today, by understanding how we can actually do this and make our conscience shine through, by imbibing these very valuable lessons for life.
Series of five spiritually-significant and auspicious festivals are celebrated during this jubilant week of Diwali, popularly known as the Festival of Lights.
1. Day 1: The festival commences with 'Dhana-Trayodashi' or 'Dhanteras' - the day when most business communities begin their financial year.
Spiritual Significance:
Goddess Lakshmi requested her husband the Supreme Lord to allow her to accompany Him during one of His visits to the Earth planet. The Lord agreed but on the condition that She would not fall for Earthly temptations and would not look at the South direction. Goddess Lakshmi agreed to this condition of the Lord.
However during their visit to Earth, Goddess Lakshmi got tempted to look at the South direction. When Goddess Lakshmi was not able to resist her urge to look at the Southern direction, She broke her pledge and started moving towards South.
As soon as Goddess Lakshmi started moving in the Southern direction, She was mesmerized by the beauty of yellow mustard flowers and sugarcane fields on the Earth. Finally, Goddess Lakshmi fell for the earthly temptations and decorated herself with mustard flowers and started enjoying sugarcane juice.
When the Lord saw that Goddess Lakshmi has broken her pledge, He got annoyed and reprimanded Her to spend the next twelve years on Earth as a penance, serving at the field of the poor farmer who used to cultivate mustard and sugarcane in the field. With the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi, the poor farmer became prosperous and wealthy overnight. Gradually, twelve years passed and the time for Goddess Lakshmi to return back to Vaikuntha had come. When Lord Vishnu came to the Earth in disguise of an ordinary man to take Goddess Lakshmi back, the farmer refused to relieve Goddess Lakshmi from his services.
When all attempts by the Lord failed and the farmer didn't agree to relieve Goddess Lakshmi from his services, Goddess Lakshmi revealed her true identity to the farmer. She explained that she could not stay any longer on Earth and needed to go back to Vaikuntha.
However, Goddess Lakshmi promised the farmer that she would visit him every year during the night of Krishna Trayodashi before Diwali. Thus, the farmer started cleaning his home every year and started lighting an earthen lamp full of ghee throughout the night to welcome Goddess Lakshmi on the day of Krishna Trayodashi before Diwali.
Lessons for Life:
- Develop Control over Senses.
- Remain Self-Satisfied.
- Never Over-Endeavour.
2. Day 2: The second day of the festival is called 'Naraka Chaturdasi'. This day marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama.
Spiritual Significance:
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, it is stated that Narakasura or Naraka is the son of the earth goddess Bhudevi (Bhumi) and Varaha (third avatar of Vishnu). He is also known as Bhaumasura. He is said to have grown to be a demon due to the bad association of the demon Banasura. Drunk with power, as he knew himself to be unrivaled in prowess, he brought all the kingdoms on Earth under his control. Next, he turned his eyes towards Swargaloka. Addicted to power, he dishonoured Mother of the planet 'Aditi' and kidnapped 16000 heavenly princesses.
Aditi, who was a relative of Krishna's wife Satyabhama, approached Satyabhama for help.
When Satyabhama heard of Narakasura's ill treatment of women and his behaviour with Aditi, she was enraged. Satyabhama approached Lord Krishna for permission to wage a war against Narakasura. As promised to the Devas and Aditi, Lord Krishna attacked the great fortress of Narakasura, riding his mount Garuda with wife Satyabhama. Narakasura possessed 11 Akshauhinis of army that he unleashed on Lord Krishna. However the Lord slew them all with little effort. Lord Krishna also eliminated Mura, Narakasura's General. Thus Krishna is called 'Murāri' (slayer of the demon Mura). At last when Narakasura tried to kill Lord Krishna with a trident, Lord Krishna beheaded him with his Sudarshana Chakra (discus).
Lord Krishna's victory over Narakasura translated into freedom for all his prisoners and honoring of Mother Aditi. Having rescued the 16,000 women, Lord Krishna married them to restore them to their former dignity.
Lessons for Life:
- Always stay in Good Association.
- Refrain from Immorality and Evils such as Lust, Greed, Pride and Envy.
3. Day 3: Amavasya, the third day of Diwali, marks the worship of Mother Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees.
Spiritual Significance:
Once Goddess Lakshmi visited Earth and was taking a walk on Amavasya – no moon day of the Kartik month. She was absorbed in thoughts and forgot that night was approaching. Being no-moon day, it was completely dark and Goddess Lakshmi lost her way. Hence, she decided to stay among the humans that day. But when Goddess Lakshmi looked around she found that all the houses were closed and there were no Diyas (light/ lamps) burning.
After wandering for a while, she came across a home where a Diya was burning. It was a dilapidated hut of an old woman. When Goddess Lakshmi reached the hut, the old woman invited her home. She offered the little food that was in her home and made bed for Goddess Lakshmi. The next morning when the old woman woke up she found that the maiden had gone.
To her surprise, the old woman found that her dilapidated hut had become a palace and she found gold and diamond scattered all around. From that day people started lighting lamp on the night of Kartik Amavasya believing Goddess Lakshmi will visit their home.
Lessons for Life:
- Serve Selflessly without Expectations.
- Develop the Quality of Sacrifice.
4. Day 4: The fourth day of Diwali is known as 'Kartika Shudda Padyami'. Govardhan Puja is performed on this day.
Spiritual Significance:
According to the Bhagavata Purana, forest-dwelling cowherds living close to Govardhan hill would celebrate the autumn season by paying respect to Indra, the demi-god of rain and storm. Lord Krishna did not approve of this since he desired that the villagers not pray to distant demi-gods but rather give appreciation to incarnations of Supreme Lord present amongst them.
He therefore initiated a festival that paid respect to Mount Govardhan by preparing a 'giriyajna' - a "great offering of foods and delicacies to the holy mountain". Krishna then assumed the form of a mountain himself and accepted the villagers' offerings. Indra was angered upon seeing the villagers' devotion diverted away from him and toward Krishna. He directed a lightning storm and torrential downpour upon the village for days.To protect the villagers from this calamity, Lord Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan on his little finger He ensured the entire village was safe under the hill to take shelter from the storm. Indra, after causing torrential rains for seven days, ultimately gave up and bowed to Krishna’s superiority. Indra begged forgiveness for his false ego and pride. He completely surrendered to the Supreme Lord Krishna.
Lessons for Life:
- Give up all vices.
- Free ourselves from Pride and False Ego
- Completely Surrender to Lord
- Have firm Conviction that Lord is our ultimate Protector.
Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the tyrant Bali, and banished him to hell. Bali who then became a great devotee, was allowed 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. It is on this day i.e. Kartika Shudda Padyami that Bali Maharaj steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu.
5. Day 5: The fifth day is referred to as 'Yama Dvitiya' - when sisters offer respects and gratitude to their brothers for being their support. This is also known as 'Bhai Dooj'.
Spiritual Significance:
Lord Yama, the Hindu God of Death, visited his sister, Yami, on the first day of the Shukla Paksha in Kartik month after Diwali.
Yami welcomed her brother with garlands and by applying the auspicious tilak or Tika on his forehead.
Yami also served Yamraj his favorite dishes. They exchanged gifts.
Yamraj who was overwhelmed by the love of his sister is believed to have said to Yami that whoever receives Tilak or Tika from his sister will have to never suffer hell.
Since then Yama Dwitiya is observed as a symbol of love between brothers and sisters.
Lessons for Life:
- Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude.
- Always spread Positivity.
- Be prompt and sincere to offer Respects.
The Climax:
Lord Ram, the King of Ayodhya, was living in exile for fourteen years. This was because Manthara, a wicked royal maidservant, had plotted against him. Ram was accompanied by his brother, Laxman and wife Sita during the exile. Demoniac Ravana, the king of lanka kidnapped Sitadevi and took her to Lanka.
Lord Ram defeated Ravana on the day of Dusshera. He was helped by his friends, Sugriva and Hanuman.Hanuman was an exemplary servitor and true devotee of Lord Ram. He served Lord Ram, Laxman and Mother Sita with full devotion. Hanuman saved Laxman’s life during the battle between Ram and Ravana.
After defeating Ravana, Vibheeshana was coronated as the King of lanka.
After that, the Lordships returned to Ayodhya in the chariot named Pushpak Vimana. It took them twenty days to reach the Kingdom of Ayodhya. This glorious day was observed by the denizens of Ayodhya as Diwali.
On this auspicious day, diyas or ghee lamps are lit. Thus, Diwali represents the victory of good over evil, light over darkness. This day is observed on Amavasya. The night is enveloped by darkness. But this darkness is dispelled by the light of colours, joy and devotion.
Concluding Lessons for Life:
The glorious festival of Diwali symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, teaches us to vanquish ignorance that subdues humanity and to drive away darkness that engulfs the light of knowledge.
On the auspicious occasion of this Festival of Lights, let us offer sincere prayers to the Lordships to help us burn away the negative influences of lust, anger, greed, pride, hatred, jealousy and ego so that our lives are filled with the transcendental echo of chants and the glittering rays of devotion, peace, joy and eternal bliss.
Wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Diwali!
Ys,
Meghna Choudhury (Mathura Vasi Devi Dasi)
Article by:
Meghna Choudhury
(H.G. Mathura Vasi Devi Dasi)
Life Coach | Spiritual Counselor | Author
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