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Front Page >> Potpourri > Story

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The Celebration Of Dipavali
By Radhamohan Das
The Dipavali to be celebrated throughout the country on November 4, 2002, the eighteenth of Kartika (29/30 Mera) Krishna Caturdasi (New Moon) Monday, is briefly described as per the Padma Purana, which is one of the 18 Puranas related to Lord Vishnu (The Puranas describe the ancient Indian tradition and mythology). Kartikeya who burnt up Cupid inquired from his father Lord Shiva about the celebration of Dipavali by requesting him to explain the reason for celebrating the Dipavali and its fruit, what would be its deity, what kind of exultation is indicated and what kind of sport is played during its celebration?

Then Suta, Vedavyasa’s disciple who learned the 18 Puranas from his spiritual master and recited the same to the hermits at Naimisaranya, narrated what Lord Siva said about Kartikeya’s inquiry on Dipavali, to the Brahmanas assembled at Naimisaranya. Lord Shiva said that one should offer a light to Yamaraja outside his house on the day of Dipavali, which falls this year on the new moon, the November 04, 2002 Monday to avoid untimely death. Lord Siva said, ‘May the Sun’s son, with Death having a noose in his hand and with his wife, be pleased due to this offering of the light’. 

Those who are scared of sins should, necessarily, bathe at moon-rise on the nineteenth day of the dark half of Kartika. He who takes bath in the morning on Caturdasi in Dipavali does not see Yamaraja’s world. He should whirl the twigs of the plants viz apamarga or prapunnata (there are other sacred plants also) around himself while taking bath to avoid the hell. Then he should recite Yama’s names with salutation to them viz Dharmaraja, Mrtyu, Antaka, Vaivasvata, Kala and Sarvabhutaksaya (Destroyer of all beings), Audumbara Dadhna, Nila, Paramesthin, Vrkodara, Citra and Citragupta (he may also offer libations of water). 

Having worshipped these deities, one should offer a light to Naraka. The king or the head/executive head of the State should worship for the happiness and peace of his citizens. Then he should offer pleasing lights at the break of night at the temples of Sri Sri Radhakrishna, Shiva etc. and especially at apartments on the tops of the houses, sanctuaries, halls, rivers, tanks, gardens, streets, pleasure-groves near houses, stables and abodes of cows and elephants also. Lord Siva said, O Kartikeya, having bathed in the morning on the new-moon day and devoutly worshipped Sri Sri Radha Krishna and other deities and dead ancestors and finally offered the parvana sraddha with curd, ghee, milk etc. he or the king or the head/executive head of the State should feed brahmanas with various kinds of food and apologies to them. 

In the afternoon, preferably the king or the head/executive head of the State should gratify the citizens by honouring them and conversing with them so that love is generated for one year among the citizens. It is said the Sun, the Moon, the Lighting, the Golden Star are the luster and the luster occurring in the luster of the lamp is the luster of all the lusters.

It is also said that if a man has awakened Lakshmi, the Goddess of Fortune at the time of her getting up through a good woman, Lakshmi does not leave him for one year. One should worship the Goddess of Fortune that lives on the earth, in the cowpen, on this very auspicious day of Dipavali to have her blessing and boon. On this day, Lord Shiva and Bhavani played dice as a sport. She having been pleased by Laksmi vanquished Lord Shiva in the game of dice and sent him away naked, thereby making Shiva very unhappy. One who gets victory first in the sport played in Dipavali passes the year happily and one who is defeated passes unhappily.

On the next day of Dipavali, Gavardhana should be worshiped in the morning. Cows should be decorated and they should not be milked, nor be used to carry loads. One should take Gavardhana as Support of the earth, Protector of Gokula and as one lifted by Lord Krishna (Gavardhana was lifted by the hand of Lord Krishna at the age of 7 years for 7 days to protect the whole of Gokula from the furious rains sent down by Indra). Gavardhana should be prayed by him as Lord Krishna Himself to get His blessing to remove his sin and that the Goddess of Fortune in the form of cow be by his front and behind and in his heart, and finally he be blessed to live among the cows. 

The king or the head/executive head of the State should please the Chiefs of the villages or it may be the Chiefs of the hill districts with gifts. Not only that, he should please his Ministers and leaders in a proper function on this auspicious day. It is said that a divine arch across the road in the eastern direction should be put with a sacrifice by the best of the brahmanas in the afternoon, with the columns of the arch be decorated with Kusa grass and strings of flowers. Then he should offer obeisance by reciting the hymn, ‘O margapali, salutation to you who give happiness to the entire world’. Kings, princes and others who cross the margapali, the divine arch become peaceful and happy, and are freed from disease. They also used to worship Bali, the Lord of demons by reciting the hymn, ‘O King Bali, O Lord, O son of Virocana, salutation to you, O future Indra, O enemy of Gods, please accept this worship.’ 

All the worships made to the demigods were only to please Lord Krishna. Here, the references of Bhagavad-Gita may be quoted from (9.23-25)," Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me O son of Kunti,’ ‘I am the only enjoyer and master of all sacrifice’ and ‘Those who worship Me will live with Me’. (said by Lord Krishna to Arjuna).

Lord Shiva said that, he who lives with the particular feeling during the festival of Dipavali passes the year always with that feeling of joy or sorrow. If he weeps, that year makes him weep and if he is delighted, he is delightful during that year. It is also said that those who listen to the importance of Dipavali and other celebrations in the month of Kartika certainly get the religious merit. Lord Siva said that O Kartikeya, formerly, on the second day of the bright half of Kartika, Yamaraja was fed and honored by his sister Yamuna in her house. Denizens of hell were grateful and freed from all bondage. Thus, wise men instead of taking their meals at homes, took at their sisters’ hands with gifts given to them. For those who have pleased their sisters whose husbands are alive, with gifts of garments etc. there shall not be quarrel with anyone, nor any fear from their enemy during that year. 

Lord Siva said to Kartikeya, "O sinless one, O my son I have told you the entire account along with its secret’. Since Yamaraja was well-fed by Yamuna with a sister’s affection for her brother, therefore he who eats from the hand of his sister gets wealth and excellent riches and his life will be full of righteous acts. But nowadays, on the contrary of what Lord Shiva told Kartikeya as to how the Dipavali would be celebrated in Kartika, the Dipavali is celebrated in the country in different manners, say for example, with lots of entertainment through TV Channels etc. without giving importance to the spirituality for its significance in the light of the instructions given by Lord Shiva, which are meant for the benefit of human beings.

(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)

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