Wishing all devotees a very HAPPY KRISHNA CONSCIOUS Deepavali- The Festival Of Lights.
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This very auspicious day is specially meant to remember the victory of the Supreme personality of Godhead Sree Krsna over evil.
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1.
Bhagavan Sri Krishna Killed Narakaasura: On the day preceding Diwali,
Lord Krishna killed the demonic king Narakaasuru and rescued 16,000
women from his captivity. The celebration of this freedom went on for
two days including the Diwali day as a victory festival.
2.
The Victory of Lord Rama: According to the epic ‘Ramayana’, it was the
new moon day of Kartik when Lord Rama, Mother Sita, and Lakshman
returned to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana and conquering Lanka. The
citizens of Ayodhya decorated the entire city with the earthen lamps and
illuminated it like never before.
3.
The Return of the Pandavas: According to the great epic ‘Mahabharata’,
it was ‘Kartik Amavashya’ when the Pandavas appeared from their 14 years
of banishment as a result of their defeat in the hands of the Kauravas
at the game of dice (gambling). The subjects who loved the Pandavas
celebrated the day by lighting the earthen lamps.
4.
Goddess Lakshmi’s Appearance Day: The Goddess of wealth, Mother Lakshmi
incarnated on the new moon day (Amavasya) of the Kartik month during
the churning of the ocean (Samudra-Manthan), hence the association of
Diwali with Goddess Lakshmi.
5.
Lord Vishnu Rescued Goddess Lakshmi: On this very day (Diwali day),
Lord Vishnu in His fifth incarnation as Vamana Avatara rescued Goddess
Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali and this is another reason for
worshipping Mother Lakshmi on Diwali.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY DIWALI IS CELEBRATED AND ONE AMONGST THEM IS RELATED TO LORD RAMACHANDRA.
The
word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit term "Deepavali", which
translates to "Rows of lamps". Based on the Hindu lunar calendar, Diwali
falls between October and November on an Amavasya or a moonless night.
Celebrated as the victory of good over evil, the festival is associated
with Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya, after 14 years in exile.
The Demon king Ravana of Lanka had abducted Lord Ram's consort Sita
only to invite his own death as a result. Lord Rama, along with His
brother Laxman and an army of monkeys defeated and killed Ravana and
returned to His kingdom with Sita. The people of Ayodhya lit up clay
lamps known as diyas to welcome Him on His return from exile.
King
Dasaratha ruled the rich and prosperous city of Ayodhya. He had three
wives Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra. Kaikeyi was his favorite. She
saved his life in a war at a very crucial time. Dashrath granted her two
boons for saving his life.
Dashrath
had four sons. Ramachandra, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. Rama,
the eldest, was everybody's favorite. He was married to the beautiful
and devoted Sita. Just before Rama's coronation, Kaikeyi reminded
Dashrath of her two boons. She requested him to crown Bharata as the
king and to banish Rama to the forest for fourteen years. Though King
Dashratha begrudged but finally had to succumb to Kaikeyi's request as
he was bound by his boons granted to her. Her wishes were granted.
The
old king Dashratha later died of a broken heart. After a few years in
the forest, Sita was lured and abducted by the demon king Ravana. Lord
Rama, with the help of a monkey general, Hanuman rescued Sita and
defeated Ravana. After fourteen years in exile Lord Rama and Sita and
returned to Ayodhya.
It
is in Their honor that "Diwali" is celebrated. "Diwali" signifies the
victory of good over evil. So Diwali is celebrated in commemoration of
Lord Ramachandra's return from exile and His victory over the evil king
Ravana of Langka.
Today
Diwali is celebrated as the Festival of lights or lamps. The ghee or oil
lamp signifies light or knowledge. So where there is light there is
illumination or knowledge and no darkness or ignorance. In this month of
Kartik or Damodara, it is very auspicious to light up the ghee lamps
and celebrate the pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna or His
avatars.
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