How to celebrate DEEPAWALI FESTIVAL
“Thamasoma Jyothir Gamaya” Let me move from darkness to Light.
These are the golden words from Mother India.
Navarathry , the festival of “Energy” THE FESTIVAL OF “Energy” , is the longest festival in our nation.
Deepawali is the festival of “Light” and its spectrum of colors. most fun and colors. The reasons are:
THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT: Lighting oil lamp is a very important and auspicious event in every house. The very first cosmic light that manifested as this Universe, is still radiating from our Sun and is trapped and converted to oil by our beloved plants. The very same cosmic light in our homes we lit as an oil lamp. Lighting lamp we acknowledge our connection to this gigantic Cosmos.
Symbolically, the body of the lamp represents the physical universe and the light represents the manifesting eternal Energy (Sakthi). Each individual being is the Cosmic representation with an inner life (light) force in it. When we are all harmoniously aware of it we all shine like rows of lighted lamps. Deepawali means this “row of lighted lamps”.
SEASON AND DEEPAWALI: Deepawali is usually celebrated at the month of October – November. This the post monsoon time in Northern part of India and welcome the winter. So ancient Indians have welcomed the new season with lamps which give light and brightness for the travelers.
After the fresh year agriculture they devote time to enjoy the materialistic wealth leisurely equally with acknowledging the spiritual knowledge of life.
The South Indian states, especially Kerala and Tamil Nadu was infact traditional celebrating this festival of lights as “Kaarthikai Deepam”, with the same concept of Deepawali.
Why is Deepawali celebrated in five days?
DAY 1- Prayer to Deva of DEATH: Prayer is a respectful acknowledgement to a cosmic force or law through a positive statement. We acknowledge death as an inevitable aspect of life helping us to renew our physical body.
In Indian tradition we call all forces or Laws of nature as a Deva or Devatha. Death is a timely factor and so the Deva is called “Yama Deva” (Yama means timely). Thinking of death in a positive manner removes fear of death of this physical body and only then we can be aware of our true Eternal Self, shining splendorous like a Deepawali light.
This positive ritual is done on the previous night before the Deepawali day, by lighting a sesame oil filled clay lamp facing south direction, the direction of Lord Yama.
DAY 2- CHATHURDASI
This day is celebrated as the main Deepawali festival in TamilNadu. It is named as “Naraga Chathurthi”.
Legend behind NARAGA CHATHURDASI: Sree Krishna and his beloved wife Sathyabhama gave birth to a son. He was asked to take care Sonithapuri[Bihar] in the eastern part of India.
Unfortunately he became a terrorist and had the hobby of kidnapping and marrying many young women and also imprisoned many kings his state capital. Krishna and his wife warned and advised him to give up his eveil deeds. At the last resort they ended up waging a war with their own son. Sathyabhama become an ideal queen mother on Earth by killing her own son in the battle,.
The Sonthiapuri was heavily stained with blood (Sonitham) due to the war. Sree Krishna released all the imprisoned kings and women and made them to take oil bath in Ganga river (Ganga represents bliss). The kingdoms were returned to the kings, but the thousands of imprisoned women refused to go back because they will not be socially be accepted. Krishna gave a social security to these thousands of women by officially marrying them as King’s wives. These thousands of women were taken to Dwaraka with great honor and dignity and they celebrated this eventful day of their life.
This legend from Bahavatham[ Krishna’s life] was observed as Deepawali in traditional TamilNadu.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NARAGACHATHURTHI?
1. Boil fresh Sesame oil and place it in a vessel for all the family members to get smeared for oil bath on day one night itself in the prayer room. Sesame oil is the only oil named as “Good Oil” in Ayurveda.
2. Place a vessel full of fresh clean water and pray to river Ganga to purify our body and mind and be aware of our own inner bliss.
3. Dhanwanthri, the Lord of health is prayed for good health of the body along with Goddess Mahalakshmi for eight forms of wealth.
4. On chathruthy day, 48 minutes before sun rise, smear the body with oil and take bath in boiled water. The Ganga water can be added to the main water tub.
5. While taking bath, chant the following chant,
‘’ Ganga sankaasa kaavery, Sree Rangaesa manohari,
Kalyani kaali, kalshraadhe, Namasthae su subhajari".
Then offer all the new clothes, sweets, snacks to Sree Krishna and perform the rituals. Vishnu Sahasra nama is mostly chanted on this occasion.
DAY 3- AMMAVASYA (New Moon day)- In North India, Deepawali is celebrated as the victorious return of Rama with Seetha after killing Ravana. Rama is ever remembered for his attachment-free (emotional-free) decisions in life. When Rama entered into Ayodhya on this new moon day, people celebrated the night by setting row of lamps as the ‘’success over the evil by the king’’.
HOW TO CELEBRATE THIS AMMAVASYA DAY?
1. By evening 6 P.M, light 5 new clay lamps and put in the following places. Five also represent the Five Pancha Bhootas, the Cosmic principles behind the manifestation of this Universe.
2. One in the prayer hall, one in the right part of the entrance gate- this to welcome Goddess Mahalakshmi, one in the back door- to ask the goddess of negative thoughts (Moo-Devi) to go away, one in the Tulasi plant pot, one in a near by temple ( to honor all local Devatas).
3. Place all the new vessels, sweets, clothes before Mahalakshmi and Ganapathy and perform pooja to Mahalakshmi and remember Lakshmi coming out of ocean and marrying Vishnu.
4. In Gujarath, many begin their fresh business year on this evening. Then place many lamps chanting ‘’SREERAMA JAYAM’’ all around your home.
5. Those who read Ramayanam routinely will conclude the reading with CORONATION CHAPTER from Ramayanam in this night and offer special poojas to Sree Hanuman.
DAY 4- GOVARDHAN POOJA This day is celebrated to thank the sacred hill GOVARDHAN in Vrindhavan where SreeKrishna lived and also to honor cows, the second mother of man which gives nourishing milk. A clay model of the sacred hill with many germinated seeds on it is made for doing the pooja. Singing songs in praise of SreeKrishna is also a part of the ritual.
DAY 5- BAIYAA DOODHJ: This is the day to respect the relation of brothers and sisters. Puranas say that once when Yama visited his sister’s home Yemi – sister invited him and gave warm feasts. She too applied saffron tilak on his head and requested him not to shorten the life of good loving brothers and sisters.
DEEPAWALI AND ANNAPOORANI POOJA:
Anna poorani is the incarnation of Sree Parvathy Devi. She is considered to take abode in KAASI – the sacred most place on the bank of river Gnaga in North India. She is considered to be the Goddess who offer food to all living creatures on this planet. All the plants that offer themselves as food is the form of Annapoorani. Honoring Annapoorani is honoring all food vegetation of the planet.
Her golden idol is placed on a chariot prepared with 100, 000 sweets and she is celebrated all around the Kaasi city with fun and crackers for 3 days along with Ganga. The sacredness of the river Ganga is also celebrated along with Annapoorani. Annapoorani pooja can also be done for all three days with Mahalakshmi pooja. Chant Laitha Sahasranama and make contributions to poor and needed.
KEDARA GOWRI POOJA- THE SACRED MOST TIME TO RESPECT WEDDING:
SreeParvathy devi took staunch meditation in Himalayas – Kedarnath [in Kashmir] and attained the left half of Shiva’s body. This is the time for South Indian women to remember their wedding life, its greatness and importance. The rituals are as follows:
1. Women and men observe fasting on new moon day.
2. The new moon day night poojas to Shiva and Parvathy is performed.
3. Next day cook pure vegetarian food without onion and garlic and offer to Shiva and Parvathy.
4. Put 21 knots in a sacred yellow thread and apply that on a Shivaling and the husband needs to tie that on his wife’s left wrist.
5. Then he need to offer food to her and clean the plate or banana leaf and show his respect.
6. The 21 knots represents 21 days of Devi’s penance and also the 21 following darmas for a couple: The most important are to help / support poor children. Encourage farmers and Vedic Scholars. Be aware of not wasting food and protect environment.
A husband and wife should understand that leading the very purpose of a married life, is to extend their service from their family to the society. This is the only way that world peace and individual peace can be achieved.
So let us enjoy the DEEPAWALI FESTIVAL in its true sense and make our Journey towards the Source with bliss.
No comments:
Post a Comment