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Diwali, or Deepavali,
(also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal) (Markiscarali) is a major Indian and
Nepalese festival, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and
Jainism.
Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today it is celebrated
by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Light,"
where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every
human being .
The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists of Nepal,
particularly the Newar Buddhists.
According to one theory Diwali may have
originated as a harvest festival, marking the last harvest of the year
before winter. In an agrarian society this results in businessmen closing
accounts, and beginning a new accounting year. The deity of wealth in
Hinduism, goddess Lakshmi is therefore thanked on this day and everyone
prays for a good year ahead. This is the common factor in Diwali
celebrations all over the Indian subcontinent. |
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 Diwali
marks the end of the harvest season in most of India. Farmers are thankful
for the plentiful bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest
for the year to come. Traditionally this marked the closing of accounts for
businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and the last major celebration
before winter. The deity of Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity, and
her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead. There are two legends that
associate the worship of Goddess Lakshmi on this day. According to first
one, on this day, Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagar, the Ocean of
Milk, during the great churning of the oceans, Samudra manthan. The second
legend(more popular in western India) relates to the Vamana avatar of
Vishnu, the incarnation he took to kill the demon king Bali, thereafter it
was on this day, that Vishnu came back to his abode, the Vaikuntha, so those
who worship Lakshmi (Vishnu's consort) on this day, get the benefit of her
benevolent mood, and are blessed with mental, physical and material
well-being.
As per spiritual references, on this day "Lakshmi-panchayatan" enters the
Universe. Sri Vishnu, Sri Indra, Sri Kuber, Sri Gajendra and Sri Lakshmi are
elements of this "panchayatan" (a group of five). The tasks of these
elements are:
* Vishnu: Happiness (happiness and satisfaction)
* Indra: Opulence (satisfaction due to wealth)
* Kubera: Wealth (Generosity; one who gives away wealth)
* Gajendra: Carries the wealth
* Lakshmi: Divine Energy (Shakti) which provides energy to all the above
activities.
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In many parts of India, it is the homecoming of King Rama of Ayodhya after a
14-year exile in the forest. The people of Ayodhya (the capital of his
kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deepa), thus its
name, Deepawali, or simply shortened as Diwali. Southern India marks it as
the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura. In western India it is
also in honor of the day King Bali went to rule the nether-world by the
order of Vishnu. (There is another festival 'Onam' which is celebrated in
Kerala around the month of August to mark this legend)
Diwali is celebrated on the first day of the lunar Kartika month, which
comes in the month of October or November.
In Jainism it marks the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, which occurred on October
15, 527 BCE. The Sikhs celebrate Diwali for a different reason; on this day,
the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, was freed from imprisonment along with 52
Hindu Kings (political prisoners) whom he had arranged to be released as
well. after his release he went to Darbar Sahib (golden temple) in the holy
city of Amritsar. There, he was greeted by Sikhs and many other people. In
happiness they lit candles and diyas to greet the Guru. In India, Diwali is
now considered to be a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the
festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith.
Significance in Hinduism
The festival marks the victory of good over evil, and uplifting of spiritual
darkness. Symbolically it marks the homecoming of goodwill and faith after
an absence, as suggested by the Ramayana.
On the day of Diwali, many wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks.
Some North Indian business communities start their financial year on Diwali
and new account books are opened on this day.
Hindus have several significant events associated with it:
Return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya: Diwali also celebrates the
return of Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother
Lakshmana to Ayodhya after a 14 year exile, and a war in which he killed the
demon king Ravana. It is believed that the people of Ayodhya lit oil lamps
along the way to light their path in the darkness. Since Lord Rama traveled
from South India to his kingdom in North India, he passed through the south
earlier. This is the reason why the festival is celebrated a day earlier in
South India.
The Killing of Narakasura: Celebrated as Naraka Chaturdasi,
two days before Diwali day, it commemorates the killing of Narakasura, an
evil demon who created havoc, by Lord Krishna's wife Satyabhama. This
happened in the Dwapar Yuga during this time of Lord Krishna's avatar. In
another version, the demon was killed by Lord Krishna (Lord krishna provokes
his wife Satyabhama to kill Narakasura by pretending to be injured by the
demon. Narakasura can only be killed by his mother, Satyabhama)
himself.[citation needed] Before Narakasura's death, he requested a boon
from his mother, Satyabhama (believed to be an Avatar of Bhudevi -
Narakasura' mother), that everyone should celebrate his death with colorful
light.
Austerities of Shakti: According to the Skanda Purana, the
goddess Shakti observed 21 days of austerity starting from ashtami of shukla
paksha (eighth day of the waxing period of moon) to get half of the body of
Lord Shiva. This vrata (austerity) is known as kedhara vrata. Deepavali is
the completion day of this austerity. This is the day Lord Shiva accepted
Shakti into the left half of the form and appeared as Ardhanarishvara. The
ardent devotees observe this 21 days vrata by making a kalasha with 21
threads on it and 21 types of offerings for 35 days. The final day is
celebrated as kedhara gauri vrata.
Krishna defeating Indra: Govardhan Puja is celebrated the day
after Diwali. It is the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra, the deity of
thunder and rain. As per the story, Krishna saw huge preparations for the
annual offering to Lord Indra and questions his father Nanda about it. He
debated with the villagers about what their 'dharma' truly was. They were
farmers, they should do their duty and concentrate on farming and protection
of their cattle. He continued to say that all human beings should merely do
their 'karma', to the best of their ability and not pray for natural
phenomenon. The villagers were convinced by Krishna, and did not proceed
with the special puja (prayer). Indra was then angered, and flooded the
village. Krishna then lifted Mt Govardhan and held it up as protection to
his people and cattle from the rain. Indra finally accepted defeat and
recognized Krishna as supreme. This aspect of Krishna's life is mostly
glossed over - but it actually set up the basis of the 'karma' philosophy
later detailed in the Bhagavat Gita.
Bali's return to the nether world: In Bhavishyottara and
Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Diwali is associated with the Daitya king Bali, who
is allowed to return to earth once a year. However in Kerala this is the
reason 'Onam' is celebrated. 'Onam' festival falls around the month of
August-September. - wikipedia
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