*1 ) Krishna and Radharani*
The Holi of Braj is famous all over India for its intimate connection with the divine deities and their love plays.
It is said that when Krishna was a young boy, he asked the reason for his dark color while Radha was so fair.
His
mother Yashoda playfully suggested that he should smear color on
Radha’s face too and change her complexion to any color he wanted.
Captivated by the idea, Krishna proceeded to do so and thus, introduced the play of colors on Holi.
*(
Explanation. Even today, Holi is one of the most important festival of
Braj, where the men of Nandgaon and women of Barsana play ‘latthmar
Holi’ in the remembrance of the playful throw of colors by Krishna on
‘Gopis’ and their resistance. )*
*2 ) Sacrifice of Kamadeva*
According
to Hindu mythology, the world is looked after the Trinity of Gods -
Lord Brahma, the creator; Lord Vishnu, the nurturer; and Lord Shiva, the
destroyer.
According to a
legend, Goddess Sati, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, one of the
first sons of Lord Brahma, married Lord Shiva against the wishes of her
father.
Thus, Daksha did not invite her and her husband to a grand yagya arranged by him.
When
Sati came to know about the event in her father’s house, she thought it
to be a slip of mind and proceeded to participate in the event despite
the warnings of her husband.
But once she reached there, she realized her fault and was infuriated by the insult of her husband.
As
a penance for her disobedience, she entered the fire. When Lord Shiva
came to know of her sudden demise, he was furious. Even after he
controlled his anger, he started a severe meditation and renounced all
work.
The world’s balance
soon crumbled in his absence and Sati took rebirth as Goddess Parvati
to try and win Lord Shiva’s heart and wake him up from his trance. She
tried all ways to get the attention of Shiva.
When
she had exhausted all her feminine ways, she invoked the help of
Kamadava, the Indian cupid-god, who agreed to help her in the cause of
the world despite the risks involved. He shot his love-arrow on Shiva’s
heart.
Disturbed in his
trance, Lord Shiva opened his third eye that fired anger and instantly
incinerated Kamadeva. It is said that it was on the day of Holi that
Kamadeva had sacrificed himself for the good of all beings.
Later, when Lord Shiva realized his mistake, he granted Kamadeva immortality in invisible form.
*(
Moral of the story: This incident of burning off kama is called
kamadahana or Holi. As the lust was won over by Lord Shiva the
kamadahana or Holi festival is celebrated as an event associating with
the Bliss of God. So following kamadahana during holi, people put the
powders on themselves and others remembering this victory over lust. )*
*3 ) Bhakt Prahlad & Holika*
There
was a mighty demon king named Hirnakashyipu who had won all the three
worlds of heaven, earth and hell and had thus, become very proud. He
assumed that he could defeat even Lord Vishnu with his valor. He went to
the extent that he had enforced a law that everybody would worship him
instead of gods and deities.
However,
his little son Prahlad refused to accept his commands and continued to
worship Lord Vishnu with complete devotion. Infuriated by this defiance
of his son, he ordered his soldiers to throw him down a hill. Praying
fervently and having full faith in Lord Vishnu, Prahlad did not retract
from his word. True to his faith, Lord Vishnu rescued him at the last
moment.
Flustered by this
news, Hirnakashyipu invoked the help of his sister Holika, who had a
boon that she could walk through the fire unharmed to do away with his
son.
The wicked aunt agreed to the evil desires of his brother and entered the fire with her nephew Prahlad.
However,
the brother and sister had forgot that Holika could only enter the fire
alone or she would perish. Thus, blessed by Lord Vishnu, the child
Prahlad remained unharmed but Holika got burnt and died instantly.
Holi
is thus celebrated to commemorate the death of the evil aunt, after
whom the festival is named, and the new life granted to Prahlad for his
devotion and faith. To this day, cow dung is hurled into the fire and
obscenities are shouted at the Holi fire at some places to insult
Holika.
*( Moral of the
Holika story: Those who love God shall be saved, and they that torture
the devotee of God shall be reduced to ashes. When Holika was burnt,
people abused her and sang the glories of the Lord and of His great
devotee, Prahlad. In imitation of that, people even today use abusive
language, but unfortunately forget to sing the praises of the Lord and
His devotee! )*
*Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare*
*Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare*
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