| DIWALI
/ DEEPAWALI |
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| Meaning : A row of lights |
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| Celebrated
due to : The return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya |
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| Religion : Hindu |
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| In the month
of : October - November |
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| DEEPAVALI
or Diwali means "a row of lights". It falls on the
last two days of the dark half of Kartik (October-November). For some it is a three-day
festival. It commences with the Dhan-Teras, on the 13th day of the dark half of Kartik,
followed the next day by the Narak Chaudas the 14th day, and by Deepavali proper on the
15th day. |
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| There are various
alleged origins attributed to this festival. Some hold that they celebrate the marriage of
Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. In Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Kali. It
also commemorates that blessed day on which the triumphant Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya
after defeating Ravana. On this day also Sri Krishna killed the demon Narakasura. |
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| In South India
people take an oil bath in the morning and wear new clothes. They partake of sweetmeats.
They light fireworks which are regarded as the effigies of Narakasura who was Killed on
this day. They greet one another, asking, "Have you had your Ganges bath?" which
actually refers to the oil bath that morning as it is regarded as purifying as a bath in
the holy Ganges. |
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| Everyone forgets
and forgives the wrongs done by others. There is an air of freedom, festivity and
friendliness everywhere. This festival brings about unity. It instills charity in the
hearts of people. Everyone buys new clothes for the family. Employers, too, purchase new
clothes for their employees. |
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| Waking up during
the Brahmamuhurta (at 4 a.m.) is a great blessing from the standpoint of health, ethical
discipline, efficiency in work and spiritual advancement. It is on Deepavali that everyone
wakes up early in the morning. The sages who instituted this custom must have cherished
the hope that their descendents would realise its benefits and make it a regular habit in
their lives. |
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| In a happy mood
of great rejoicing village folk move about freely, mixing with one another without any
reserve, all enmity forgotten. People embrace one another with love. Deepwali is a great
unifying force. Those with keen inner spiritual ears will clearly hear the voice of the
saga "O Children of God! unite, and love all". The vibrations produced by the
greetings of love which fill the atmosphere are powerful enough to bring about a change of
heart in every man and woman in the world. Alas! That heart has considerably hardened, and
only a continuous celebration of Deepavali in our homes can rekindle in us the urgent need
of turning away from the ruinous path of hatred. |
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| On this day Hindu
merchants in North India open their new account hooks and pray for success and prosperity
during the coming year. The homes are cleaned and decorated by day and illuminated by
night with earthern oil-lamps. The best and finest illuminations are to be seen in Bombay
and Amritsar. The famous Golden Temple at Amritsar is lit in the evening with thousands of
lamps placed an over the steps of the big tank. Vaishnavites celebrate the Govardhan Puja
and feed the poor on a large scale. |
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| O Ram! The light
of light the self-luminous inner light of the self is ever shining steadily in the chamber
of your heart. Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Withdraw the senses. Fix the mind on this
supreme light and enjoy the real Deepavali by attaining illumination of the soul. |
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| He who Himself
sees all but whom no one beholds, who illumines the intellect, the sun, the moon and the
stars and the whole universe but whom they cannot illumine. He indeed is Brahman, He is
the inner Self Celebrate the real Deepavali by living in Brahman, and enjoy the eternal
bliss of the soul. |
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| The sun does not
shine there, nor do the moon and the stars, nor do lightings shine and much less fire. All
the lights of the world cannot he compared even to a ray of the inner light of the self.
Merge yourself in this light of lights and enjoy the supreme Deepavali. |
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| Many Deepavali
festivals have come and gone. Yet the hearts of the vast majority are as dark as the night
of the new moon. The house is lit with lamp, but the heart is full of the darkness of
ignorance. O man! wake up from the plumber of ignorance. Realise the constant and eternal
light of the Soul which neither rises nor set through meditation and deep enquiry. |
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| May you an attain
full inner illumination! May the supreme light of lights enlighten your understandingl May
you all attain the inexhaustible spiritual wealth of the self! May you all prosper
gloriously on the material as well as spiritual planes! |
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