Deepavali - Festival of Lights

Deepavali:

Deepavali is a Hindu festival which means rows of lamps in sankrit. In north they called this festival as Diwali. Deepavali falls on the new moon night; lamps are lit to brighten this moonless night. Deepavali in south gets its name like deepa (light) and olli (oil in Tamil). In ancient times all the languages were interlinked and used to have influence over other languages. The celebration includes the lamp and candles lighting and burning of crackers. Sweets are distributed among friends and relatives.

Cultural Beliefs:

As per Hindu mythology deepavali is celebrated when

• The Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi took human form during the churn of samudra-manthan ocean
• Lord Rama killed Ravana. After 14 years of vanavasam he returns to his kingdom Ayodhya. People welcomed him by lighting diyas in rows.
• Lord Krishna killed Narakasura the king of demons.
• vishnu was in vamana avtara who helps Goddess Lakshmi from being a prisoner.This is one of the reason for worshipping goddess Lakshmi during deepavali.
• Pandavas returned back home after being banished by kauravas.
• Sikhs celebrate Diwali as it was the day when the first stone of golden temple was laid and also sikh guru harogobind was released from imprisonment.
• Jains celebrate Diwali as this day marks the achievement of nirvana by Mahavir.

Interesting Facts:

• This festival signifies the victory of good over evil. The Festival tells us to kill our inner demons and purify the soul with goodness by lighting up of the lamps.Fireworks indicate that we remember to keep ourselves happy over good things.
• People wear new clothes,share and eat special food, fire crackers and  enjoy the festival together with family,friends and relatives.
• Goddess Lakshmi will not enter a dark house. The lamps also welcome home the spirits of dead ancestors, who are believed to visit on this auspicious night. Also the light frightens away any evil spirit that might be wandering near the house on this night.
• This is an important harvesting season. The festival is very important for business people as their granaries will be full, and the weather will be good, at the end of the monsoon and before the winter. People began their new year with this happy occasion, after paying their debts and clearing their ledgers.

Importance:

The festival is of five days Dhanatrayodashi, Narak Chaturdashi, Lakshmi pooja, Bali Pratipada, Bhai duj.

1. Dhanatrayodashi: This day marks the beginning of deepavali celebrations. It is the thirteenth day of Krishna Pasha. Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean with Ayurveda for mankind. On this day at sunset people should take bath and offer Naivedyam to Lord Yama raj and light deepam (known as Yama Deepam) at the tulasi tree for protection from untimely death.

2. Narak Chaturdashi: on this day Lord Krishna killed Narakasura and made the world free from fear. On this day people should apply oil to body to relieve from tiredness and take bath so that deepavali can be celebrated with utter devotion.

3. Lakshmi Puja: Goddess Lakshmi puja is worshipped to achieve the blessings of wealth and prosperity.

4. Bali Pratipada: King Bali was very generous and used to give many gifts. He used to excessively to underserving also So Lord  Vishnu was born as vamana and asked alms for King Bali to give a land which covers three of his footsteps. King Bali fulfilled his wish and Lord Vishnu crushed king Bali into the underworld in his third step. Prahlada (grandfather of Bali) pleaded Vishnu to Forgive Bali.

On Bali's request, Vishnu granted a boon that people on earth would remember him and would worship him. That is the reason for Balipadyami.

As per the puranas Lord Krishna lifted Govardhan Mountain and holded it like an umbrella to save the people of Gokul. So On this day, Govardhan Pooja is performed.

5. Brathru Dwitiya: The last day of Deepavali known as Brathru Dwitiya or Bhagini hastha is dedicated to sisters. In the Vedic era Lord Yama raj has visited her sister Yamuna and gave her a boon that whosoever visits her on this day shall be liberated from all sins and Moksha. So from then on-wards brothers visit their sisters on this day to enquire of their welfare and the sister prays for her brother's safety, success and well-being.

Diwali Festival Procedure:

People should wake up early hours in the morning. We have to do head bath, clean the house(especially the west side of your house as it is more auspicious)  and pooja room. God photos or idols have to be cleaned and applied sandal, kumkum. We should apply turmeric and kumkum to the doors of the house, decorate the main door of the house with Toranam (mango  leaves), decorate the pooja toom with good Rangoli designs.

Goddess Lakshmi photo (preferable with green saree) or idol (made of silver or clay) has to be arranged for the pooja with lotus flowers, white Lilly flowers, rose flowers and with red rice(Akshintalu).

For Naiveydam arrange guava fruit, Ravva laddus, Kesari Bath, snacks like Ariselu and Murukku.

Perform the pooja by reciting Sri Lakshmi astottaram, Sri Mahalakshmi Stotra. Along with that recite the Sri Lakshmi Sahasranamam, Kanaka Durga parayanam and especially narakasuravadha in Bhagavatam.

On Deepavali day if we perform Sri Lakshmi Ashtothra pooja we will be benefited with happiness and prosperity. If Married Ladies perform kumkum pooja on the day they will be blessed with long life with her husband as per the Vedas.

On Deepavali day as per the astrologer’s suggestion If we perform Lakshmi kubera or vaibhavalaksmi Vartham we can overcome debt-distress, financial difficulties and get good prosperity. Kubera is the deity where we can learn the art of saving money as he is the treasurer.

Process: This pooja can be performed on the Deepavali day or any Tuesday or Friday as per your convenience. Keep a photo of Kubera. Draw Rangoli with rice flour for numbering of 27 20 25, 22 24 26, and 23 28 21. Keep 9 coins on three of the numbers on the Rangoli. Use Red flowers for the pooja. Coins and Red flowers are mandatory. Recite the kubera sloka ort mantra for 11 times and light the Deepam. There is a belief that by doing this we can complete the tasks successfully.

Kubera Mantra

Klim klim Sreem vittesvaraya Sreem Om Om Namah Hreen Sreem Hreen

Some Rituals to follow:

• Thirteen wheat flour lamps with oil and cotton wicks has to be kept outside the main door of the house facing south (direction of Yama raj)
• Lantern has to hang above the main door right side as it symbolizes the active divine energy and cleanses the atmosphere spiritually.
• While doing the Lakshmi puja unbroken rice has to be used to place the Goddess Lakshmi idol.        

Scientific Reasons:

• In ancient times there was no electricity and people used to have hard time. They have to protect themselves from insects and darkness during this season the weather will be cloudy and there would be no stars.
• As per Astorlogy deepavali festival is based on Lunar calendar(based on the movements of Moon) while other  festivals are based on solar calendar(based on the movements of Sun).
• Before the four months of deepavali the fire principle is absent in the atmosphere that dominate the environment, this festival destroys the distressing elements.
• The tradition of Abhyanga Snanam is a beauty treatment.It will nourish the skin with layer of ayurveda oil and powereful herbs. These oils contains the elements that heals the cracked skin and also restrain the ageing. This also helps in controlling obesity, enhance the fat in thin people.
• The monsoon is the time for insects and fungus to breed.In the end of the monsoon, houses has to cleaned and painted. Things and belongings have to dried before winter.Mosquitoes are born more in the rainy season so the crackers furing this festival act as anti-biotic for the skin diseases. other than insects lighting deepam gives warmth in the winter.