Diwali is Here!!!!

Diwali is just round the corner,and sure is funfilled time for everyone.I generally knew why Diwlai is celebrated but I got a whole lot of information on why Diwali is celebrated,why we have oil bath and why lamps are lit and son.Just putting down some of the information here.In Kasi Devi Annapoornai is decorated with the gold kavacham on Diwali day,have attached a picture of Annaporani Maa,in gold loooking so absolutely Divine and full of Grace and Karunai.

I came across an article on Yama Deepam which is lit the day before Diwali ie on trayodashi,which I thought was indeed interesting and of course very useful.Paying our respects to Yama Dharma Raja, to eradicate untimely death and bless us with a long and healthy life.is . We should light as many lamps as the number of persons living in the house and keep them outside the house or in a nearby temple. This is supposed to eradicate all our “papams” and “fear of death”. In North India, the lamps are kept burning right through the night in reverential adoration to Yama, the God of death. In North India, ghee is used, but we, here, use gingelly oil. The following shloka can be chanted:

Mruthyunaa paas(h)dandaabhyaam kaalaena s(h)yaamayaa saha

Thrayodas(h)yaam deepadaanaath sooryajah preeyathaam mama

meaning:May my deepa daanam please Yama Dharma Raja, who holds Paas(h)am and dandam in his hands, shines with Shyama daevi and Kaaladaevan and is the son of Suryan.

Diwali is very popularly referred to as the Festival Of Lights and is celebrated all over India,though there are many varied legendary stories attached to the celebration.

In North India Diwli is celebrated for five days and it is celbrated for Lord Rama's triumphant return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.

The other one is Narakhasura vadam which is the belief in south India.Deepavali is associated with many legends.The second legend goes thus. Narakasura, a monster, ruled the kingdom of Pradyoshapuram. He was a trouble-maker to the gods and the pious sages and would disturb their penance or create havoc during the rituals. To prove his power, Narakasura usurped some territory of Aditi, (the king of Suraloka and a relative of Satyabhama, Lord Krishna's wife). Vexed with this harassment, Indra and other gods approached Lord Krishna and pleaded with him to protect them from the demon Narakasura. Satyabhama appealed to Krishna to give her the golden chance to destroy Narakasura, as Narakasura was given a curse that he would be killed by a woman. Krishna granted her a boon to fight with Narakasura. With Krishna as the charioteer, Satyabhama entered the battle field and killed the demon, Narakasura. The killing of Narakasura was a victory of good over evil. It is interesting to note that Bhudevi, mother of the slain Narakasura, declared that his death should not be a day of mourning but an occasion to celebrate and rejoice. Since then, Deepavali is being observed by people every year with joyous celebrations and lot of fun and frolic, and fire works.

The third one says that on this auspicious day, Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and good fortune visits the houses of people. In the evening Lakshmi Puja is performed with great devotion.The making of various sweets is the order of the day. Homes are decorated, sweets are distributed and lamps are lit, giving a magical and radiant touch. There is an atmosphere of joy and festivity.

Normally according to dharma shastram, one is not supposed to take an oil bath before sunrise on any day. But on Deepavali, there is an exemption. People get up early in the morning and have an oil bath in hot water specially before sunrise. This is equated to having a bath in the Ganges.

Thailae lakshmeeh jalae gangaa

deepaavaLyaas(h) chathurdas(h)eem

On Diwali day,Mahalakshmi resides in gingelly oil and Ganga maata resides in water until sunrise. So we get the blessings of Mahalakshmi as well by doing this.The traditional exchange of Greetings in South India is “ Ganga snanam acha??"Deepavali is a time for fun and revelry as well as pooja and tradition. The lighting of lamps is a way of paying obeisance to God for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, valour and fame. Fireworks are brought out and the children enjoy the fun and frolic. Hundreds of fire crackers can be seen glowing and then bursting as though it was a battle of glows and sparks in the skies. Thus there is universal enjoyment.And all this illumination and fireworks, joy and festivity, is to signify the victory of divine forces over those of wickedness."Thus this great festival of light symbolises man’s urge to move towards light of truth from darkness of ignorance and happiness."

The importance of oil bath on Diwali day is very beautifully explained below.

On this day the famous churning of manthara mountain with vasugi snake by the devas and asuras, came to a stand still, then our famous mahavishnu took a koorma avadaram [tortoise]and went down to help move the mountain, he found Mahalakshmi on a lotus there.When Mahalakshmi went in search of Lord Narayana the til plants wanted to hide away from her, but in her search she stamped them, oil came out and whatever is being touched by the lord of wealth is supposed to bring in wealth. [in the present day during these months if we notice our body heat is extreme due to the weather, pre- winter we tend to cover ourselves with warm clothing, all these rise the body heat and we suffer from innumerable problems like cold, aches and blurring eyes an oil bath cools the system].While Mahalakshmi marries Lord Narayana on this day she blesses the til to be good for human in every way. So to get her blessing we have an oil bath.

The most intersting part of Diwali celebrations are the new clothes,fire crackers and the sweetmeats and all the goodies.The most important is the Diwali Legiyam,which is the first thing given to all to eat on Diwali morning after the oil bath.There is food,food and lots more food all day.People greet each other,take the blessings of elders and also exchange sweets. Houses are beautifully and artistically decorated to welcome Lakshmi Devi.Colourful rangolis decorate the entrance of many houses.Lakshmi poojai is done in may houses and these days it is very popular to do Lakshmi Kubera pooja in the evening on Diwali day.It is believed that lighting sixteen lamps with ghee and doing the Lakshmi Kubera pooja will bring prosperity and peace.

Wishing everyone a very 'Happy Diwali'.

Jai Gurudev.