Diwali ke shubh avsarpar Bhagwan aapko Tata ka status, Ambani ki daulat, Vajpayee ka dheeraj, Laden ki himmat, Bush ki taakat aur Bill Gates ka income de (aur mujhe chahe kuch de na de Ekta ko ye akal de ki wo Kasamh Se ko aur jyada interesting bana de aur sab viewers ko yahi Diwali ka tohfa de).
Happy Diwali (in advance) to all of you who are reading this and also to all those who are not reading.
Let us know something about Diwali.
The purpose of celebrating Diwali is usually overlooked in all the taamjhaam and ho-hulla of Diwali. So let us remind ourselves why this auspicious and pious festival of lights originated and what does it symbolize.
Diwali is celebrated for five days and each day has its own story and a message with a specific ritual.
General Stories about the entire festival:
1. Demon King Bali
During the Vaaman Avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu, when he asked teen pag bhoomi from King Bali and Bali willingly gave, Vaaman Bali ki sachchai aur daanat se bahut khush hue aur var mangne ko kaha. Bali ne kaha ki Kartik Krishna Trayodashi se Kartik Amavasya tak (God Vaaman had taken His Three Steps on these 3 days) jo bhi Yamraaj ke liye deep daan karega use yamyaatna na ho aur in teen din Deepawali mananewale par Laxmi hamesha prasanna rahe. People celebrated Diwali as a vrat in those days.
Symbolism:
Bali was a Demon King but had a glorious ancestory. His father Virochan was a great and famous king for his bravery jiski misaal Devta bhi dete the. His grandfather was the famous Bhakt Prahlad. So he had got the nobility and virtues from his family.
But demons are demons, and men are no different. So before going to Paatal, he ensured that everyone would follow a tradition which will remind the mankind the importance of virtues like daan, samarpan, devotion and dedication etc. The oil-lamp, ie the traditional diya with oil and the burning wick symbolizes so many virtues like dedication, devotion, endurance to struggle, positive attitude, and so on.
2. King Prithu
Due to the ill (and evil) governance of King Ven, all the people came together and killed him. After him, Prithu became the king. The state of kingdom was terrible. No land was left cultivable. No rains. People were deadly poor. Corruption, malpractices were rampant. Major problem was of food. Years had gone in draughts.
King Prithu is said to have 'leveled' the earth to create more cultivable land and also to regenerate the land that had been rendered uncultivable. This act of King Prithu is remembered as 'Dohan' – earth was compared to a cow jise Prithu ne doh liya to get max out of it. Hence the 'Earth' got the name 'Prithvi', meaning 'of Prithu'. The good days soon returned and the kingdom became prosperous and people celebrated the return of goddess Laxmi in their kingdom.
Symbolism:
Wealth can be achieved only by hard work and determination. This is the mantra Diwali intends to spread. Alas, we forgot the stories and reasons and befooled ourselves by oopar ki chamak damak.
3. Narakasur-katha
Shri Krishna killed Narakasur and rescued 16000 (sixteen thousand) princesses (and he married all of them!!!). In some texts it is mentioned that when Krishna tried to kill Narakasur, there was an aakashwani telling that Narakasur can only be killed by Satyabhama, Krishna's second PattRani. She was a warrior women highly skilled in all types of wars and war-strategies and had helped in many a battles. So she killed Narakasur on Chaturdashi and this victory is celebrated from then on and the day is remembered as Narak-Chaturdashi. Next day they returned back from war that was Amavsya and all the people welcomed them by lighting thousands of lights. Thus started the celebration of Diwali on a large scale as is still continued today.
Symbolism:
Satyabhama is a warrior woman. The very fact that only Satyabhama can kill Narak says it all. Narakasur symbolizes evil. The garbage or kachra, gandagi, in all forms. Be it in our house, in our city, state, or in our minds, souls, conscious. This story gives a strong message that it is the WOMAN who has the power to rid this beautiful world of all the bad and evil. The Navratri festival also symbolizes the same thing.
Today when our minds and souls are littered by immorality, society is full of corruption and everything around us is becoming increasingly unjust and unsafe, it's the women who hold the key to a better and beautiful tomorrow.
Day 1
Dhanteras (Dhana-trayodashi)
Story:
1. Yama-deep-daan
Ek baar Yamraj ne Yamdooton se poocha ki tum log meri order se sabke pran lekar aate ho aisa karte samay tumko kabhi dukh hua hai ya daya aai hai?
Yamadooton ne kaha ki jab kisiki apmrityu (an untimely death, like accident etc) ho jaati hai to uske praan le jaate samay bahut dukh hota hai but orders are orders.
There was once a great and noble king Hansa. Hansa ek baar shikaar karte samay rasta bhatak gaya aur doosre raja Hemraaj ke rajya mein pahuncha. That same day Hemraaj ko beta hua tha so thinking Hansa to be very auspicious Hemraaj ne use kuch din apne yahan rok liya. Chhathi ke din ek pandit ne kaha ki shaadi ke 4 din baad iski maut ho jayegi. King Hansa took the responsibility of saving the prince. He created a fully fortified mahal in the mountainous regions near Yamuna. But after the marriage of prince, he died on the 4th day.
Saying this , Yamadoots said it was a very heartbreaking scene when we took Prince's life away. Isliye aap please koi upaay batao so that kisiki untimely death na ho.
Ispar Yamraj ne kaha ki Kartik Krishna Trayodashi (Dhanteras) ko dakshin (South) ki disha mein mere naam se jo Deep-Daan karega (diya jalakar rakhega) usko akaal mrityu nahi hogi. Jis ghar mein ye diya jalega us ghar mein kisiko akaal mrityu nahi satayegi.
2. Dhanwantari Jayanti
The God of medicines and life science Aayurveda, Dhanvantari, samudra-manthan se is din prakat hue the. Hence this is celebrated as birthday of Bhagwan Dhanwantari (Dhanwantari Jayanti). Bhagwan Dhanwantari se lambi umar aur health ki prarthana ki jaati hai.
Rituals:
Yamraj aur Dhanwantari ki pooja.
Yamraj is the guardian (Dikpaal) of South (Dakshin). Ghar ke southmost side mein south facing diya (oil-lamp) rakha jaata hai This is to please Yamraaj. Diya rakhte samay mantra bhi kehte hain:
Mrityunaa paashahastena kaalena bharyayaa saha
Trayodashyaam deepadaanaat sooryajah preeyataamiti
(read 'a' as in 'Amar' and 'aa' as in 'Aashaa')
If possible Yamuna mein nahane ka bhi importance hai because Yamuna river is Yamraaj's younger sister.
Message:
This ritual is precisely to remind us that no one is going to live forever. We are just like the diya which burns for sometime and goes out when its time is over. Hence we should always remember this and act nobly in our life.
Also this day pays a tribute to all the doctors in the world and by remembering Bhagwan Dhanwantari we all are reminded the importance of a clean and healthy living, physically, ethically and spiritually.
Day 2
Chhoti Diwali (Narak-Chaturdashi)
Story:
1. Narakasur-katha
Narakasur was killed on this day and people were relieved from his tortures.
2. Yama-deep-daan
As was asked by King Bali.
Rituals:
Aaj ke din surya ke ugne ke pehle hi nahana chahiye. Those who bath after sunrise will lose all their punnya. Unke punnya ka khata zero ho jayega. Nahane ke samay tel lagana (tel malish) bhi shubh mana jata hai.
In the evening 4 baatiwala diya ghar ke southmost side mein south facing rakha jaata hai. Diya rakhte samay ye mantra kehte hain:
Datto deepash-chaturdashyaam naraka-preetaye mayaa
Chatur-varti-samaayuktah sarva-paapaapanuttaye
Message:
Saal bhar na sahi kam se kam saal mein ek din to subah jaldi uthkar nahao!! Have u ever seen how beautiful a sunrise is?
This day is the anniversary of victory over Demon Naraka, who symbolizes gandagi in its absolute forms. The early bath ritual tells us where to start – from ourselves. Sabse pehle tan ki aur man ki gandagi door karni hai. Before sunrise – kisike dekhne se pehle. Remove the evil within u before anyone can see it. Always remain clean and pure. Pehle apne aapko sudharo, then take on the world. Light the lamps of enlightenment everywhere.
Day 3
Deepawali & Laxmipoojan (Amavasya)
Story:
1. Goddess Laxmi
Samudra-manthan ke samay aaj hi ke din Maa Laxmi saagar se prakat hui thi. So everyone say – 'Happy Birthday Maa Laxmi'!!!
2. Return of Ram
Raama returned from vanvaas and people celebrated Diwali on his return with even more excitement and zeal.
3. Return of Pandavas
Today Pandavas (Mahabharat) completed their 12-year-Vanvaas and 1-year-agyatvaas and returned to their kingdom. Hence people celebrated Diwali with more fervour.
4. King Vikramaditya
The great King Vikramaditya
1. famous in Vikram-Betal stories,
2. whose Simhasan is made amar in the legend of 'Simhasan-Battisi' (Raja Bhoj found a splendid divine Singhasan buried in earth. 32 putalis ie idols of dancing women were carved on it so finely that they seemed to be alive. When he ventured to sit on the singhasan, one by one each putli became alive, told him a story of King Vikram, asked him 'Sit on this Singhasan only if u r as noble as King Vikram' and went back to become a lifeless idol in the Singhasan. Finally after hearing 32nd story King Bhoj decided he was nowhere as great a king as Vikram and decided to bury it where it was. Then Indra the King of Gods came and took the Singhasan back as he himself had given it to Vikram and now there would be no king who deserved to sit on it. 'Simhasan-Battisi' is the collection of all 32 stories told about Vikram by the idols.)
3. by whose name a Samvat is initiated (this is 2006th year of Gregorian Calendar, but 1928th year of Shalivahan Shaka, 1427th year of Hijri Calendar, 2533th year of Jain Mahavir Samvat, and 2062th year of Vikram Samvatsar and 5108th year of Yudhushthir Shaka ie 5108 years have gone since King Yudhishthir was coronated and 2062 years since King Vikram was coronated)
emerged victorious, I don't know in what war but it is a famous war in history, may be the victory over Shaka invaders from northeast. Any historians?? Well, starting a Samvatsar which all the world recognizes and will follow forever, is in itself such a great feat. King Vikram is not taught deeply in schools. It's a shame that we don't know about our real National Heroes, a bigger shame we don't even want to know about them.
5. Narakasur
Celebration of Narakasur's death.
Rituals & Message:
Do we really need to be reminded?
Lights lights and lights all over…….
Laxmipoojan in the evening…….
A lamp for Yamraaj…….
et cetera
Messages? Can't hear them among all these ear-blowing crackers!!
Day 4
Govardhan-parva (Bali-pratipada)
Story:
1. Danavraaj Bali
This was the day when Bali went to patal and took the reins of his new kingdom in pata. This is the day of his departure from earth and is remembered fondly for his virtues, even if he was a danav.
2. Govardhan-katha
When everyone was busy preparing for Indra-pooja, little Krishna said, Indra ko na kabhi dekha na mila. Why should we pray him? Whatever we need for our livelihood, is provided by this mountain, Govardhan. Don't worship Indra, pooja hi karni hai to Govardhan ki karo. Hence the Govardhan-pooja ritual started.
Aage ki kahani hum sabko pata hai. Indra was angry – 7 days rain – and Krishna held the mighty mountain on his little finger…..etc etc etc
Rituals:
Gobar ka symbolic Govardhan aangan mein banakar pooja ki jaati hai. Bhagwan Narayan ki pooja hoti hai (obviously Krishna itni kam umar mein khudki pooja nahi karva sakte the, so he must have choosen Narayan. Very clever of him!!).
Message:
The Nature and the Powers of the Nature.
Indra symbolizes the power of the nature (he is the Rain-God). Whenever there is a conflict of ideologies, Krishna shows us the way. He clearly states in initiating this ritual, that one should not try to please (master) the powers of the nature beyond a certain limit. Nature itself is more important. As long as nature is in good condition, its powers will be there at our disposal. If we neglect nature, everything will be destructed. Save Nature and It will save us.
Day 5
Bhaiyyadooj (Yama-dwitiya)
Story:
1. Yama-Yamuna
Yamraaj and Yamuna (the river) were Sun – Surya's children. Their mother Sangya was unable to bear the tej of Sun and left him. She created a Chhaya of herself and gave her children to Chhaya. Surya did not know this. He never knew that the woman in his house is not his real wife. (Sounds exactly like Ekta Story, hai na?) Chhaya se use 3 aur bachche hue. (He afterwards knew the whole thing and then reduced his 'tej' a little bit so that Sangya could bear it. Famous twin-doctors of Gods, Ashwinikumars, are his sons.) – that's a different story.
Chhaya being a stepmother had no great affection for Yam and Yamuna. But both brother and sister loved each other very much. Yamuna hamesha Yamraaj ke ghar jaaya karti thi. But Yam always being very busy in his Yamlok's duties, Yamuna ke ghar jaane ke liye waqt nahi nikal pata tha. But on one fine Kartik Shukla Dwitiya day he had some time and he gave a surprise visit to his dear sis. Yamuna was very happy and did a very good swagat-satkar of her brother. Usne specially apne haathon se bhai ke liye khana banaya aur parosa.
Yam was very much pleased and asked her what she wanted as a gift.
Yamuna said that you should come to my house every year on this day, don't do the bahana of busy schedule. Also, is din jo bhi bhai apni behen ke ghar jaakar apni behen se mile aur use gift de, us bhai ki saari wishes poori ho, aapka dar usko na rahe.
Tabhi se har saal Yamraaj apni behen Yamuna se milne is din uske ghar jaate hain.
Rituals:
Brothers go to sisters' house.
Aaj ke din behen ke haath ka bana khana khana auspicious samjha jata hai.
Moon is Laxmi's brother. Hence in order that Laxmi mata should stay with us forever, Chanda maamaa is worshipped. Form of worship depends upon local rituals.
Those sisters who do not have brothers think that moon is their brother and complete the rituals. (Brothers who do not have sisters do what? If anyone knows please tell me.)
Message:
Brother-sister love. Another festival giving the same message is Rakhi.
Note: North indian and south Indian calendars differ by 15 days. Hence on the Diwali day,it is Kartik Amavasya in North but Ashwin Amavasya in South. North Indian month starts with Krishna Paksha whereas South Indian month starts with Shukla Paksha. Hence Next day after diwali ie Bali-pratipada is same everywhere on Kartik Shukla Pratipada.
In South India, due to this difference, Kartik Trayodashi comes after 15 days. Hence in many parts, a small scale Diwali called Naag-Diwali is observed, in accordance with King Bali's story.
Tips on Diwali:
1. Starting from Bhaiyya-dooj, if u take the vrat of 'Chandra-Darshan' ie 'seeing the moon', Maa Laxmi will never leave u. Vrat is very simple. You have to see the moon on every Dwitiya. That's it. Well? Everyone knows how difficult it is to spot the moon on Karwa Chauth or Bhaiyya-dooj. It's not that easy. Jiske naseeb mein Laxmi hai usiko har Dwitiya par chand dikhai dega, not to others.
This may not hold for those outside India. Because by Dwitiya it is meant to be the second night after new moon. So when it is Dwitiya according to Indian calendar, elsewhere it may not be the 'second night after new moon'.
2. After Laxmipoojan, keep a coin or sikka in some 'naagkeshar' (it is available very cheap everywhere) and keep the little pudiya where u keep ur money (in tijori or safe etc). Money will never leave you.
Even though I am writing these tips, I know I am betraying the very soul of Diwali. So now I'll stop.
iti sham.
Cricket
