Deepawali
Mind blowing scientific reasons for the celebration of Diwali
Date of Diwali
Diwali or Deepawali is the festival of lights and lamps. Every year, it is celebrated with great pomp and show not only in India but in the world as well where ever there are Indian communities living together under a single roof or a colony.
As per the nomenclature, Diwali or Deepawali means an array of brilliantly burning earthen oil lamps whose luminescence dissipates the darkness of the night. Diwali falls on the full moon night (Amavasya) of the month of Kartik (October-November).
Scriptural evidences for Diwali
As per the ancient Vedic scriptures like Ramayana, the celebration of Diwali marks the return of Lord Ramchandra, the supreme personality of godhead back to Ayodhya Dham with her eternal consort Srimati Sita devi after an exile of 14 years.
As per the Lord’ divine past time, his step mother Kaikayi asked his father Maharaja Dashratha to coronate her son Bharat as the next heir and send Ramchandra for an exile of 14 years.
As per Srimad Bhagwatam (9.10.32-51)
Diwali Puja Aarti
The blissful festival of Deepawali is an occasion to fill our mind, body and soul with the blessings for knowledge, strength, wealth and divinity. The perfect way to adore Mata Lakshmi is by singing her prayers which is mentioned below.
लक्ष्मी जी की आरती
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता, मैया जय लक्ष्मी माता ||
तुमको निशदिन सेवत, हर विष्णु विधाता!!
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता..
उमा, रमा, ब्रह्मणि, तुम ही जग माता ||
मैया तुम ही जग माता ||
सूर्य चंद्रमा ध्यावत, नारद ऋषि गाता !!
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता..
दुर्गा रूपा निरंजनी, सुख सम्पति दाता ||
मैया सुख सम्पति दाता ||
जो कोई तुमको ध्यावत, रिद्धि सिद्धि धन पाता !!
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता..
तुम पाताल निवासनी, तुम ही शुभ दाता ||
मैया तुम ही शुभ दाता ||
कर्म प्रभाव प्रकाशनी, भवनिधि की त्राता !!
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता..
जिस घर में तुम रहती, सब सदगुण आता ||
मैया सब सदगुण आता ||
सब संभव हो जाता, मन नहीं घबराता !!
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता..
तुम बिन यज्ञ न होते, वस्त्र न हो पाता ||
मैया वस्त्र न हो पाता ||
खान पान का वैभव, सब तुमसे आता !!
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता..
शुभ गुण मंदिर सुन्दर , क्षीरोदधि जाता ||
मैया क्षीरोदधि जाता ||
रत्ना चतुर्दशा तुम बिन, कोई नहीं पाता !!
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता..
महा लक्ष्मी जी की आरती, जो कोई जन गाता ||
मैया जो कोई जन गाता ||
उर आनंद समाता, पाप उतर जाता !!
ॐ जय लक्ष्मी माता..
The audio of the prayer along with English lyrics by Anuradha Paudwal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyqgAt-T0iQ
Different shades of Lights: Interesting facts of Diwali
The auspicious festival of light, Diwali means the ‘row of lighted lamps’ which symbolise the journey from darkness to light. The festival is a message to illuminate our inner true selves and cherish our illuminated soul in the eternal Universe (Brahman). Let us explore few of the interesting facts about this bright festival.
- The main festive day of Diwali in the five day celebration marks the beginning of Hindu New Year according to the Vikrama calendar.
- The craze for this festival is not only evident among Indians but also foreigners around the globe. Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji have an official day off on Diwali.
- The Lord of Death, Yama is revered on this day by lighting a diya, to welcome the dead spirits back to their family.
- In Southern India, especially Goa and Konkan, people burn the effigies of Narakasura on the next day of Diwali. Naraksura, the demon was killed by Lord Krishna and 16,000 women were rescued from his captivity.
- The 12 years of banishment of the Pandavas ended on this day and they appeared on the Kartik Amavasya.
- Great Hindu King Vikramaditya was coroneted on this day, hence Diwali became a historical event.
- Lord Mahavira attained nirvana on Diwali day at Pavapuri thus highly celebrated by Jain community.
- Maharshi Dayananda, the founder of Arya Samaj attained his nirvana on this day and Shardiya Nav-Shasyeshti is celebrated every year from then.
- Bandi Chhorh Divas is celebrated by Sikhs on this day as the foundation stone for Golden Temple was laid in 1577. In 1619, Sixth Guru Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was freed from imprisonment of Emperor Jahangir from Gwalior fort, on the same day of Diwali.
- On this day Lord Vishnu rescued Goddess Lakshmi (and married her) from the prison of Demon king Bali and therefore Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on Diwali.
- The day is celebrated with Gambling as a way of ensuring good luck for the coming year and also to remember the games of dice between Lord Shiva and Parvati Ji.
- To welcome the Goddess of wealth, the entire house is purified and cleaned, and lighted with earthen lamps to brighten her way to our homes.
- This day marks the commencement of new Fiscal Year for Hindu Shop owners and Businessman so they usually begin their new records from then.
- Burning of crackers are the symbol of celebration after achieving enlightenment and the fumes released are beneficial for removing the insects and flies.
- ‘Shubh Deepavali’ is the ethnic and traditional greeting for Deepawali, meaning ‘Have an auspiscious Deepavali’.
To cherish the celebration of attaining good over evil and revering this special day, organize the Diwali puja at your home and book your puja package now: http://shubhpuja.com/Diwali-puja-organise-id-348501.html
Cherishing the essence of Motherhood: Ahoi Ashtami
The day for mothers to shower the precious love upon their kids by fasting, for their happiness and prosperity is Ahoi Ashtami. A different version of Karva Chauth, this vrat is considered auspicious for mothers to keep her children healthy and happy. This festival symbolises the deep rooted love of Ma (mother) and her Mamta (motherhood), who not only nourishes an embryo in her womb but also feel connected as one soul to her child.
When is Ahoi Astami celebrated?
Ahoi Ashtami falls on the eighth day after full moon or Krishna Paksha in the Kartik month of Hindu calendar. It is generally observed four days after Karva Chauth or eight days before Deepawali. This festival is more prominent in northern part of India than others.
Relevance of Ahoi Ashtami:
According to our traditional rituals, it is said that once there was a lady who had seven sons. She went to the forest for getting soil for renovating her house. As she was digging the soil, suddenly the axe slipped from her hand and it hit a baby cub. The baby cub shouted with pain and died at the spot. The lady felt sorry and depressed but now there was nothing left, which she could transform. She went back home but the clouds of misery didn’t left her way and she lost her seven sons within a year. Later she confessed her pain and agony with few of her neighbours and they suggested her to perform the remorseful act. She prayed to Goddess Ashtami Bhagwati to get rid of her sins and null the effect of her deed. From then on, she was completely involved in praying to Ahoi Mata and kept fast on the Krishna paksha Ashtami. Goddess was pleased by her faithful devotion and forgave her for killing the cub. She even got her seven sons back, by the grace of Goddess. Since then, this tale is an inspiration for mothers to fast and pray to Ahoi Mata for the well-being of their children.
Procedure of Vrat:
Ladies wake up early morning before sunrise, eat something and then begin their fast till evening. The nirjalahaar (without food and water) vrat ends when the moon appears at night or few of them end it by seeing stars in the sky. An idol of Ahoi Mata is placed or painted on the wall. A bowl of water is kept on it and the red colour thread is twisted around the bow
l, smeared with turmeric. Story of Ahoi Mata is recited by the elderly lady of the house and everybody listens to her.
Special food items are prepared on this day like puris, halwa, boiled channa and jowar, etc depending upon the tradition. Sweets are offered to Goddess Ahoi and further distributed among the other family members. A garland of silver coins is also offered to Ahoi Mata and the coin keeps on increasing as further generations are added to the family.
This festival is an epitome of love and care of motherhood. It’s a celebration of cherishing the eternal bond between kids and mothers. This fast is just an occasion but actually it is a scientific process of personal development through which the selfless love is nurtured within beings and spreads the message of humanity among the world.
Contributed By: Meenakshi Ahuja
Shubhpuja.com 