One of the most important festivals of most Indians is Deepavali or Diwali as is commonly known.
There are as is common to all the festivals many many stories attached to Deepavali too.'Avali' means rows,and deepa means lamps or lights.When we arrange the lamps in rows it is known as 'Deepavali',a neatly arranged row of lights.
The significance of Deepavali is different in different parts of India. In the north, Deepavali is celebrated to commemorate the reception accorded to Lord Sri Rama on his arrival with Sita Devi at Ayodhya after vanquishing the 10 headed rakshasa Ravana, who had abducted Sita Devi.
The people of Ayodhya celebrated the occasion with great joy and happiness.Each and every house in Ayodhya was decorated beautifully and lamps were lit,and everyone was dressed in their best to receive their Lord. killed by
Diwali is also very popularly celebrated as Naraka Chathurthi as the demon Narakasura was killed by Lord krishna and Satybhama.This story was new to me and thought I should put it down here for the benefit of many like me who have not heard this earlier.
In the south, especially in Tamil Nadu, Deepavali is the celebration to commemorate the reception accorded Lord Sri Krishna and Satyabhama after he vanquished Narakasura and Deepavali is otherwise known as Naraka chaturdashi.
Narakasura was a demon king who ruled from Pragjyothishapura which is today’s Assam.There are two versions about Narakasura’s birth. In one version it is said that he was the son of the demon king Hiranyaksha and in another version he is described as the son of Lord Mahavishnu.
The demon king Hiranyaksha was terrorising the three worlds, the earth, the sky and the nether world (Patala).The devas were terrorised by him and they all prayed to Lord Mahavishnu to bring an end to his evil ways. Mahavishnu promised to rescue them from Hiranyaksha and went in search of him. Hiranayaksha taking the form of a wild boar went to hide in the Patala taking Bhudevi (earth) with him. While the boar was carrying Bhudevi on his tusks, Bhudevi became pregnant by the touch of the tusk and gave birth to Narakasura. Bhudevi was stricken with grief for having given birth to an asura and went to Lord Mahavishnu carrying the baby and asked for the salvation of the asura son. Lord Mahavishnu gave His blessings and said none other than me can kill this son of yours.
In another verison it is said that as Hiranyaksha ran carrying Bhudevi in his tusks, Lord Mahavishnu took the form of Varaha and went to Patala and rescued Bhudevi, slaying Hiranyaksha. After rescuing Bhudevi, Lord Mahavishnu in Varaha Avatar married Bhudevi and Narakasura is the son of Lord Mahavishnu and Bhudevi.
Narakasura true to his name, terrorised the Devas and Gandharvas and humans and imprisoned 16000 women from all the worlds. He harassed the Devas in heaven and stole the kundalas (ear drops) of Devi Athithi. All the Devas went to Lord Mahavishnu and prayed for the end of Narakasura. The Lord answered their prayers and promised to kill Narakasura.
Thus in Lord Mahavishnu’s incarnation as Sree Krishna, He along with his consort Satyabhama went to Pragjyothishapura to kill Narakasura. A fierce battle took place in Pragjyothishapura at the end of which Narakasura was slain. Again there is a different version in which it is said that it was Sathyabhama who killed Narakasura to avenge the insult on Devi Athithi. Sree Krishna released all the women imprisoned by Narakasura and brought them to his place.
'Narakasura under estimated Satyabhama's strength,thinking what can a woman do to me,when I single handedly have won over so many'.He was proved wrong and before giving up his body Narakasura requested that his death should be celebrated all over by everyone and that people should busrt fire crackers,light lamps and decorate their houses on this day.The power of truth is always very powerful and can win over any evil was proved by Satyabhama' killing Narakasura.It is also believed that Lord Krishna had to clean his body with oil after Narakasura was killed and hence the practice of oil bath on naraka chathurthi day it seems.Diwali is time to forget and forgive and start everything afresh, by greeting one and all with a smile and sharing sweets.
The celebration of victory over evil is Diwali.
In Karnataka the Prathama after Deepavali is also celebrated as Bali Padyami in honour of the asura Chakravarthy Mahabali who was sent to Patala by Lord Mahavishnu in his Vamana Avatara.
Let us celebrate and enjoy this Deepavali and spread joy and happiness around us always.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBX3tn2fNFY
A Happy Prosperous, Joyous and Sparkling Diwali To All!!
Jai Gurudev....
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