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Wishing everyone a very Happy and prosperous Deepavali
SIGNIFICANCE OF DEEPAVALI
We find several references to Deepavali festival in various Puranas.
Popular legend behind this festival is that of killing of an Asura called Narakasura by Lord Sri Krishna and his consort Sathyabhama during Dwapara Yuga.
Narakasura is a symbol of evil and represent the vices or weaknesses (negative passions) in human beings viz. Kama (lust, craze, desire), Krodha (anger, hatred), Lobha (greed, miserliness, narrow minded), Moha (delusory emotional attachment), Mada or Ahankara (pride, stubborn mindedness), Matsarya (envy, jealousy, show or vanity, and pride). Lord Sri Krishna and his consort Sathyabhama Devi are symbols of victory of good over the evil. Lord Sri Krishna is the one who represents the Almighty who defeats these evil forces and liberates human souls from its bondage.
The dyeing Narakasura requested Lord Krishna to grand him the boon that his death day would be celebrated as Deepavali. This is the day when good triumphs over evil and the people celebrate it by taking a Ganga Snan – a ritual oil bath – early in the morning. ( This is practiced in South India ) The Lord had promised that the divine River Ganges will flow through all the water ways on that day.
That’s why Hindus believe taking snanam on Deepavali day equals to taking Snanam in Ganga Water
In another legend it is said that Deepavali was the day when Lord Sri Rama returned to Ayodhya from his 14 years of exile along with his consort Goddess Seetha Devi and his brother Lakshmana and thereafter Rama’s coronation took place.
Yet in another legend it is said that it was on this day Lord Sri Krishna had lifted the Govardhana Parvatha (hill) and protected the cowherds and cattle from the thunder and rain created by Lord Indra. Thus Lord Sri Krishna suppressed the pride and vanity of Lord Indra. This was the day when Lord Sri Krishna taught the people the need to respect and worship the Nature. In commemoration of this event next day of Deepavali (Karthika Sukla Paadyami) is celebrated as Goverdhana Pooja.
Deepa means light and Aavali means row. Deepa + Aavali = Deepavali means arranging of lights in rows in an orderly way.
Lighting of lamps during the festival conveys a message of awareness of inner lamp that one should light to dispel the inner darkness that is ignorance.
asato mā sadgamaya
tamasomā jyotir gamaya
mrityormāamritam gamaya
Oṁ śhānti śhānti śhāntiḥ
From ignorance, lead me to truth;
From darkness, lead me to light;
From death, lead me to immortality
Om peace, peace, peace
Brihadaranyaka Upanishads (1.3.28).
Deepa (Light) has lot of significance in Hindu religion and culture. Any type of pooja/ritual begins with lighting (prajvalana) of Deepa. Deepa is called as Para Brahma Swaroopa.
Light is called as Sri Lakshmi Swaroopam (embodiment of light). Sree Sooktham eulogizes Goddess Lakshmi as "Lokaika Deepaankuraam" divine light of the universe.
Lighting lamp indicates eradication of our inner darkness that is ignorance (egoism) and lighting of knowledge lamp (inner light) within us.
Deepavali is the festival that eliminates darkness and brings in light to our lives.
Deepavali festival indicates the end of monsoon and arrival of winter when the atmosphere will be full moisture and dampness. That time there will be spread of insects like mosquitoes, flies etc… in the atmosphere. Lighting of lamps and bursting of crackers during Deepavali time will help in preventing these insects entering the house as they will not come nearer to the flame. Also the chemicals that are emanated from bursting of crackers help to prevent these insects from spreading.
Sources: Google search various sites
( ANY REFERENCES QUOTED IN THIS POST IS ONLY FOR SHARING KNOWLEDGE ONLY< NO INTENTION TO VIOLATE ANY COPY RIGHTS)
Padmanabhan.J & Family
SIGNIFICANCE OF DEEPAVALI
We find several references to Deepavali festival in various Puranas.
Popular legend behind this festival is that of killing of an Asura called Narakasura by Lord Sri Krishna and his consort Sathyabhama during Dwapara Yuga.
Narakasura is a symbol of evil and represent the vices or weaknesses (negative passions) in human beings viz. Kama (lust, craze, desire), Krodha (anger, hatred), Lobha (greed, miserliness, narrow minded), Moha (delusory emotional attachment), Mada or Ahankara (pride, stubborn mindedness), Matsarya (envy, jealousy, show or vanity, and pride). Lord Sri Krishna and his consort Sathyabhama Devi are symbols of victory of good over the evil. Lord Sri Krishna is the one who represents the Almighty who defeats these evil forces and liberates human souls from its bondage.
The dyeing Narakasura requested Lord Krishna to grand him the boon that his death day would be celebrated as Deepavali. This is the day when good triumphs over evil and the people celebrate it by taking a Ganga Snan – a ritual oil bath – early in the morning. ( This is practiced in South India ) The Lord had promised that the divine River Ganges will flow through all the water ways on that day.
That’s why Hindus believe taking snanam on Deepavali day equals to taking Snanam in Ganga Water
In another legend it is said that Deepavali was the day when Lord Sri Rama returned to Ayodhya from his 14 years of exile along with his consort Goddess Seetha Devi and his brother Lakshmana and thereafter Rama’s coronation took place.
Yet in another legend it is said that it was on this day Lord Sri Krishna had lifted the Govardhana Parvatha (hill) and protected the cowherds and cattle from the thunder and rain created by Lord Indra. Thus Lord Sri Krishna suppressed the pride and vanity of Lord Indra. This was the day when Lord Sri Krishna taught the people the need to respect and worship the Nature. In commemoration of this event next day of Deepavali (Karthika Sukla Paadyami) is celebrated as Goverdhana Pooja.
Deepa means light and Aavali means row. Deepa + Aavali = Deepavali means arranging of lights in rows in an orderly way.
Lighting of lamps during the festival conveys a message of awareness of inner lamp that one should light to dispel the inner darkness that is ignorance.
asato mā sadgamaya
tamasomā jyotir gamaya
mrityormāamritam gamaya
Oṁ śhānti śhānti śhāntiḥ
From ignorance, lead me to truth;
From darkness, lead me to light;
From death, lead me to immortality
Om peace, peace, peace
Brihadaranyaka Upanishads (1.3.28).
Deepa (Light) has lot of significance in Hindu religion and culture. Any type of pooja/ritual begins with lighting (prajvalana) of Deepa. Deepa is called as Para Brahma Swaroopa.
Light is called as Sri Lakshmi Swaroopam (embodiment of light). Sree Sooktham eulogizes Goddess Lakshmi as "Lokaika Deepaankuraam" divine light of the universe.
Lighting lamp indicates eradication of our inner darkness that is ignorance (egoism) and lighting of knowledge lamp (inner light) within us.
Deepavali is the festival that eliminates darkness and brings in light to our lives.
Deepavali festival indicates the end of monsoon and arrival of winter when the atmosphere will be full moisture and dampness. That time there will be spread of insects like mosquitoes, flies etc… in the atmosphere. Lighting of lamps and bursting of crackers during Deepavali time will help in preventing these insects entering the house as they will not come nearer to the flame. Also the chemicals that are emanated from bursting of crackers help to prevent these insects from spreading.
Sources: Google search various sites
( ANY REFERENCES QUOTED IN THIS POST IS ONLY FOR SHARING KNOWLEDGE ONLY< NO INTENTION TO VIOLATE ANY COPY RIGHTS)
Padmanabhan.J & Family