Lore, Legend and Symbolism of Diwali
Diwali or Deepavali is the "festival of lights" & it marks the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. It is that festival when entire India is transformed into a land of unlimited lamps. The festival is one of the big festival of Hindus, with its versions being celebrated in other Indian religions. Diwali is not so much an issue of external observance; it's a time to illuminate the inner lamp, charge oneself, and remove the physical and mental sloth which tends to cling to winter. The 13th day of Kartika month is the Diwali festival. Conventionally, its reason is that on this day one is supposed to offer respects to Dhanavantri - the god committed to one's health and wellbeing. Dhanavantri these days is nearly synonymous with the doctor. The god Dhanavantri is believed to be the lord who gives Ayurveda - the science of long and healthy living. But because of some belief, Trayodashi and Dhanavantri are cut and "Dhantera" was created. Thus health related turned into wealth related. Then all start thinking that deepawali is all about money.
Scientifically speaking, this is a matter of health because for us human beings residing in the northern hemisphere, there are things that change from today and onwards, from Trayodashi of kartik masa. In a way there is relaxation in life. So during winter months, how we need to do with what we have for ourselves, at which point we need to wake up, what we need to consume, how we need to alter our diet, for all this God created a science of how one needs to act in order to live winter months without illness or becoming depressed. For this, we had a full science, lamp lighting and firework bursting was included in it, so that we will not become a victim of a slowdown. Now as the northern hemisphere, its alignment with the sun is reversed and we are facing our back towards the sun. So there is a slowdown from this month, the 13th day of this month which is referred to as Karthika Trayodashi. So to compensate for this, lots of things are being done from this month itself. Now the meaning of this festival has more or less been lost but people still sing a little bit and burst crackers a little bit. This is the time for reviving this particularly in cold weather conditions. This would be great if some of these things are revived because diwali is not a religious occasion.
It is all about where we are placed geographically on the planet. Because we are placed in the north hemisphere and these things are occurring to us, to the bodies, to the planets, to the animals and all it is occurring. We perceive everything is slowing down and mentally if we slowdown in ourselves, we will become little dim. And physically if we retard we will be prone to all the other illnesses. We won't be prone if our body is living and full of vitality. Narakasura was not his real name, but they were making life hell for everyone, so they named him Narakasura.
Narak means hell – he who is making hell for everyone is a Narakasura. When that making hell ended at the hands of Krishna, people went and lit lamps in all the homes. The Narakasura episode is said to have occurred much later, yet the tradition and culture of lighting lamps at this point date back twelve to fifteen thousand years. They knew that life becomes stale at this time of the year.
And first light of morning descends on us and we shall have good vibes. In Diwali, we can observe that every village, town and city is illuminated with thousands of lights everywhere. But the festival is not illuminating lamps outside only – an inner light has to sprout. Light connotes total radiance. Without clarity, all else which an individual can have will be a curse, not a blessing, since absence of clarity and confidence is calamity. And today too much activity in the world is being undertaken without clarity. As per Ramayana, Diwali was the day when Ram, being an avatar of Lord Vishnu and the eldest son of Ayodhya King Dasharath, returned from his 14-year exile along with Sita and Lakshman after killing the Ravan, which was a king demon. He was a great warrior King. His father Dashratha, Ayodhya King requested him to be exiled during company of his wife Sita and his little brother Lakshman, on insistence of his wife. After 14 years of exile, while he ended up killing demon Ravana.
Lord Rama came back to his Kingdom Ayodhya. They were welcomed by the people lighting rows of clay lamps as per Ayodhya's Diwali customs. Glimmering oil lamps or diyas were in every house and there was firework as well. Grand celebrations and people were happy having Rama as their King of Ayodhya. This celebration took place on the new moon day of Ashwin (October-November). The timing and tradition were still maintained till date. Even till date Diwali celebration encompasses - sweets, fireworks and happiness.
(Writer:- Vivek Koul Dattatray)
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