Note: forwarded message attached. Hey Ron, Please post this message to all Lists. Jason -------------------OriginalMessage------------------ Deepavali - the Festival of Lights India is a land of festivals where you will see at least one major festival each month. Deepavali (or Diwali) which literally means "rows of lamps" is one of the four main festivals of India. Throughout the world all Hindus celebrate Deepavali or Diwali with great pomp and enthusiasm.
The celebration of Diwali lasts six days, beginning on the 12th day of the
month
of Kartik (as per the North Indian lunar calendar). The day before Diwali, in
order
to evoke the grace of God, women fast. It is not that God wants you to go
hungry or
takes pleasure in your suffering - the principle is that you gain only by
giving up.
That evening, devotees worship Gomata (the cow) and her calf and feed them
special
food. Women pray for the welfare of the entire family. This holy day is called
Vasubaras.
The first official day of Diwali falls on the 13th of Kartik. People set about
cleaning houses and shops, and decorating doorsteps and courtyards with rangoli
or
multi-coloured designs. They purchase gold ornaments, new vessels, clothes, and
other such items. Devotees arise early in the morning before sunrise and take
oil
baths. If possible, they wear new clothes. In the evening, people worship coins
representing wealth. Houses and courtyards glow from the lights, and families
decorate with lanterns. This day of celebration is called Dhantrayodashi or
Dhanteras.
The second day is called Naraka Chaturdashi. People take an oil bath in the
early
morning and then in the night they light lamps and burn firecrackers. People
visit
their relatives and friends, exchanging love and sweets.
On the third day, people worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. People
decorate
their houses with lit lamps and lanterns to welcome Lakshmi to their home and
hearts. On this day businessmen close old accounts and open new accounts. The
earth
is lit up by lamps and the skies are coloured by the multi-hued lights of
fireworks.
In North India, the Govardhana Puja occurs on the fourth day of Diwali.
Devotees
in the North build hillocks made of cow dung, symbolising Govardhana, and
decorate
and worship them. North Indians observe this day as Annakoot, or the mountain of
food.
The fifth day of the festival called Bhaiyya Dooj celebrates unique and fun
customs. Every man dines in his sister's house, and, in return, presents her
with
gifts. North India calls it Yama Dwitiya. Thousands of brothers and sisters join
hands and have a sacred bath in the river Yamuna.
The Legends
Dhanteras
The scriptures mention the divinity called Dhanvantari emerging from the
churning of
the ocean with a kalash (pot) filled with Amrit (ambrosia). Due to the fact that
Dhanvantari, who revealed the science of Ayurveda to the world, first
manifested on
this day, all over India, doctors following the Ayurvedic system of medicine
organise joyful celebrations of the annual Dhanvantari festival.
Naraka Chaturdashi
There is a legend about a king of Prag-Jyotishpur, named Narakasura. He was a
powerful king who misused power to harass his subjects. Sri Krishna destroyed
this
oppressive asura king on this day. Unjustly imprisoned people celebrated their
freedom with friends and family. The citizens celebrated deliverance from
Narkasura's reign by lighting lamps.
Sri Rama
Deepavali falls on a no-moon day - in fact the darkest day of the year. The
illuminations and fireworks, joy and festivities, are to signify the victory of
divine forces over the powers of darkness. On Deepavali day, triumphant Sri
Rama is
said to have returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the asura king of
Lanka.
Goddess Lakshmi Devi The Puranas say that it was on this day that Goddess
Lakshmi,
who emerged from the churning of the ocean of milk, married Lord Vishnu, the
repository of all divine qualities.
Govardhana Puja
In order to shelter the gopis and gopas and their cows from the torrential
rains
sent by Indra, Krishna lifted a hill near Mathura called Govardhana with his
finger
and sheltered all the people for a period of seven days under it. By then Indra
saw
Krishna's greatness and asked him for forgiveness.
Bhaiyya Dooj
The river Yamuna and Yama the God of Death were brother and sister. As they
grew
up they went their different ways. On this day Yama supposedly visited his
sister
Yamuna, who in her joy at seeing her brother after such a long interlude set up
a
feast for him. Pleased, Yama granted her a boon. He declared that every man that
receives a tilak or vermilion mark on the forehead from his sister and presents
her
with lovely gifts on this day would attain higher worlds.
The message of Deepavali The traditional name of India is Bharata and Indians
are
Bharatias - or those who revel in light. During the night of Deepavali the
myriad
little clay lamps (diyas) seem to silently send forth message of Deepavali:
"Come,
let us remove darkness from the face of the earth."
The dharma of the fire is the same wherever it is: in a poor man's house, in a
rich man's house, in America, in Antarctica, or in the Himalayas. It gives
light and
heat. The flame of the light is always turned up. Even if we keep the lamp
upside
down, the flame will burn upwards. The message is that our mind should be
focused on
Atman, the Self wherever we are. The lamps remind us of our dharma of realising
our
divine nature.
"The Self is self-luminous being pure Consciousness. The cognition of all
objects
arises from the light of pure Consciousness." -says Bhrihadaranyaka Upanishad
One lamp can light several others. You can even light another 1000 lamps,
still
the flame and the light of the first lamp will remain as it is. It loses
nothing. By
becoming manifold, the light loses nothing. The lights of Deepavali represent
Brahman and the creation. It conveys the message of the mantra:
"Purnamada Purnamidam Purnaat purnamudachyate
Purnasya Purnamadaya Purnamevasishyate"
The rows of lamps teach yet another important lesson and that is of unity. The
light that shines forth from the Sun, the moon, the stars, the fire is all the
same.
To see and recognise that one light, the light of consciousness, which is
manifesting and pulsating in and through all of creation is the goal of life.
Thus
recognising all of creation to be an __expression of your true Self spread the
light
of love and compassion.
The lights of Deepavali are displayed at the entrance doors, by the walls of
houses, in the streets and lanes. This means that the inner spiritual light of
the
individual must be reflected outside. It should benefit society. Passer-by may
thereby be prevented from stumbling on their way to reach their destination.
Feeding empty stomachs, lighting blown-out diyas and bringing light to
those
whose lives are in darkness is the true spirit of Deepavali. This is true
prayer.
__________________________________
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--- Begin Message ---Hey Ron,Please post this message to all Lists.Jason-------------------OriginalMessage------------------Deepavali - the Festival of Lights
India is a land of festivals where you will see at least one major festival each month. Deepavali (or Diwali) which literally means "rows of lamps" is one of the four main festivals of India. Throughout the world all Hindus celebrate Deepavali or Diwali with great pomp and enthusiasm.
The celebration of Diwali lasts six days, beginning on the 12th day of the month of Kartik (as per the North Indian lunar calendar). The day before Diwali, in order to evoke the grace of God, women fast. It is not that God wants you to go hungry or takes pleasure in your suffering - the principle is that you gain only by giving up. That evening, devotees worship Gomata (the cow) and her calf and feed them special food. Women pray for the welfare of the entire family. This holy day is called Vasubaras.
The first official day of Diwali falls on the 13th of Kartik. People set about cleaning houses and shops, and decorating doorsteps and courtyards with rangoli or multi-coloured designs. They purchase gold ornaments, new vessels, clothes, and other such items. Devotees arise early in the morning before sunrise and take oil baths. If possible, they wear new clothes. In the evening, people worship coins representing wealth. Houses and courtyards glow from the lights, and families decorate with lanterns. This day of celebration is called Dhantrayodashi or Dhanteras.
The second day is called Naraka Chaturdashi. People take an oil bath in the early morning and then in the night they light lamps and burn firecrackers. People visit their relatives and friends, exchanging love and sweets.
On the third day, people worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. People decorate their houses with lit lamps and lanterns to welcome Lakshmi to their home and hearts. On this day businessmen close old accounts and open new accounts. The earth is lit up by lamps and the skies are coloured by the multi-hued lights of fireworks.
In North India, the Govardhana Puja occurs on the fourth day of Diwali. Devotees in the North build hillocks made of cow dung, symbolising Govardhana, and decorate and worship them. North Indians observe this day as Annakoot, or the mountain of food.
The fifth day of the festival called Bhaiyya Dooj celebrates unique and fun customs. Every man dines in his sister's house, and, in return, presents her with gifts. North India calls it Yama Dwitiya. Thousands of brothers and sisters join hands and have a sacred bath in the river Yamuna.
The Legends
Dhanteras
The scriptures mention the divinity called Dhanvantari emerging from the churning of the ocean with a kalash (pot) filled with Amrit (ambrosia). Due to the fact that Dhanvantari, who revealed the science of Ayurveda to the world, first manifested on this day, all over India, doctors following the Ayurvedic system of medicine organise joyful celebrations of the annual Dhanvantari festival.
Naraka Chaturdashi
There is a legend about a king of Prag-Jyotishpur, named Narakasura. He was a powerful king who misused power to harass his subjects. Sri Krishna destroyed this oppressive asura king on this day. Unjustly imprisoned people celebrated their freedom with friends and family. The citizens celebrated deliverance from Narkasura's reign by lighting lamps.
Sri Rama
Deepavali falls on a no-moon day - in fact the darkest day of the year. The illuminations and fireworks, joy and festivities, are to signify the victory of divine forces over the powers of darkness. On Deepavali day, triumphant Sri Rama is said to have returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the asura king of Lanka.
Goddess Lakshmi Devi The Puranas say that it was on this day that Goddess Lakshmi, who emerged from the churning of the ocean of milk, married Lord Vishnu, the repository of all divine qualities.
Govardhana Puja
In order to shelter the gopis and gopas and their cows from the torrential rains sent by Indra, Krishna lifted a hill near Mathura called Govardhana with his finger and sheltered all the people for a period of seven days under it. By then Indra saw Krishna's greatness and asked him for forgiveness.
Bhaiyya Dooj
The river Yamuna and Yama the God of Death were brother and sister. As they grew up they went their different ways. On this day Yama supposedly visited his sister Yamuna, who in her joy at seeing her brother after such a long interlude set up a feast for him. Pleased, Yama granted her a boon. He declared that every man that receives a tilak or vermilion mark on the forehead from his sister and presents her with lovely gifts on this day would attain higher worlds.
The message of Deepavali The traditional name of India is Bharata and Indians are Bharatias - or those who revel in light. During the night of Deepavali the myriad little clay lamps (diyas) seem to silently send forth message of Deepavali: "Come, let us remove darkness from the face of the earth."
The dharma of the fire is the same wherever it is: in a poor man's house, in a rich man's house, in America, in Antarctica, or in the Himalayas. It gives light and heat. The flame of the light is always turned up. Even if we keep the lamp upside down, the flame will burn upwards. The message is that our mind should be focused on Atman, the Self wherever we are. The lamps remind us of our dharma of realising our divine nature.
"The Self is self-luminous being pure Consciousness. The cognition of all objects arises from the light of pure Consciousness." -says Bhrihadaranyaka Upanishad
One lamp can light several others. You can even light another 1000 lamps, still the flame and the light of the first lamp will remain as it is. It loses nothing. By becoming manifold, the light loses nothing. The lights of Deepavali represent Brahman and the creation. It conveys the message of the mantra:
"Purnamada Purnamidam Purnaat purnamudachyate
Purnasya Purnamadaya Purnamevasishyate"
The rows of lamps teach yet another important lesson and that is of unity. The light that shines forth from the Sun, the moon, the stars, the fire is all the same. To see and recognise that one light, the light of consciousness, which is manifesting and pulsating in and through all of creation is the goal of life. Thus recognising all of creation to be an _expression of your true Self spread the light of love and compassion.
The lights of Deepavali are displayed at the entrance doors, by the walls of houses, in the streets and lanes. This means that the inner spiritual light of the individual must be reflected outside. It should benefit society. Passer-by may thereby be prevented from stumbling on their way to reach their destination.
Feeding empty stomachs, lighting blown-out diyas and bringing light to those whose lives are in darkness is the true spirit of Deepavali. This is true prayer.
Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.
--- End Message ---
