Deepavali Ashwin Krushna Paksha 12 to Kartik Shukla Paksha 2 (2nd to 6th November 2021)

May our personality defects of greed and anger, which bring about alakshmi, get eliminated by the clean Lakshmi’ !

Deepavali is celebrated on four consecutive days – the 13^th, the 14^th and the new moon day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin and the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartik.

Dhanatrayodashi (1^st Day)

This falls on the 13^th day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin. This is very important for businessmen as they worship their treasuries and Ayurvedic doctors who worship Deity Dhanavantari.

Narak Chaturdashi (2^nd Day)

This falls on the 14^th day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin. This day has been celebrated ever since Shrikrushna slayed the demon Narakasur.

Lakshmi Pujan (3^rd Day)

This falls on the new moon day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin. On this day, rituals worshipping Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) are performed to get rid of poverty (Alakshmi).

Balipratipada (4^th Day)

This falls on the 1st day of the bright fortnight of Kartik. It is celebrated to symbolize Shri Vishnu’s conquest over the demon King Bali.

In addition to the above days, following festivals are also included as a part of Deepavali.

Vasubaras

‘Vasu’ means cow and ‘Baras’ means the 12th day; hence, the word ‘Vasubaras’. This is celebrated on the 12th day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin, a day before the 1^st day of Deepavali. It is dedicated to worshipping the cow along with her calf.

Bhaiduj (Yamadwitiya)

This is celebrated on the 2nd day of the bright fortnight of Kartik and comes after the 4^th day of Deepavali. This festival is celebrated as a symbol of Divine bond of love between brother and sister. On this day, Shrikrushna slayed the evil demon Shakatasur and liberated many women from the demon’s clutches.

Significance of lighting earthen lamps during Deepavali

1. A subtle Divine protective sheath of circular waves of the Tejtattva (Absolute Fire Principle) emanating from the lit lamps is created all around the house. The protective sheath created by the lit lamps cleanses the house at the spiritual level and destroys all negative energies inside the house.

2. If the house has doors in the front as well as at the back, then two lamps should be placed outside (on either sides of each door) so that the negative vibrations, which may have been brought inside the house by people using the doors, are destroyed by the marak (Destroyer) Tejtattva of the lamps.

3. Lighting lamps in the evening helps attract the Divine maraktattva (Destroyer Principle) of Shri Lakshmi. As a result, the Tejtattva of the lamps is able to purify the house of negative energies.

4. The light of a candle attracts distressing negative energies from the environment; hence, we should not light candles.

Celebrate Deepavali the Hindu way !

In recent years, Deepavali is considered and celebrated as a cultural activity. It is supposed to be the time to buy new clothes, sweets, to illuminate homes with colourful electric lights and hang lanterns. There is a lot of fanfare in the form of parties, dancing to film or western music and even drinking alcohol. All this is done in the name of a festival which has to be celebrated with sanctity in a spiritually correct way.

Prayer is necessary to eliminate the personality defects of greed and anger !

Dhanatrayodashi is day to worship Goddess Lakshmi, who has a golden skin, is a life-sustainer, shining like silver and radiant like fire. We appeal to such a Goddess Lakshmi – ‘May You never leave us once we receive You and may we use the prosperity obtained because of You to serve God. May our personality defects of greed and anger, which bring about alakshmi (Black money), get eliminated by the clean Lakshmi’ !

It is because of our greed, that we receive alakshmi, meaning, black money. We should pray thus – O’ Lakshmi ! Keep such alakshmi away from us. Let her never come near us !’

Even though alakshmi may bring temporary happiness, it increases our ego with time and increases our personality defects and lust. We stray away from God’s grace. Later, it creates fear in us; destroying our life with the loss of happiness.

Wealth that can be used to serve God is called Lakshmi. Therefore, we worship and pray to clean Lakshmi – O’ Lakshmi ! Remove the negative energy present in us !

– Paratpar Guru Parashram Pande Maharaj, Sanatan Ashram, Devad, Panvel (29.9.2006)

Dhanavantari Jayanti

From the perspective of Ayurveda, the 1st day of Deepavali is Dhanavantari Jayanti. On this day, Vaidyas (Ayurvedic doctors) worship Dhanavantari (Physician of Gods). Small pieces of leaves of bitter neem mixed with sugar are distributed as Prasad (Holy sacrament). This has a deep meaning. Neem is created out of Divine nectar. Hence, Prasad indicates that Dhanavantari is the dispenser of Divine nectar. If 5 to 6 leaves of neem are eaten every day, ailments can be prevented.

On this day, pray to Shri Dhanavantari – ‘May Hindus get the wisdom to get rid of Allopathic medicines which have far-reaching side-effects on the body, and follow Ayurvedic remedies !’

Deepavali is being celebrated since the Era of Vedas !

In the Era of Vedas, there were only five religious festivals – Gudhipadwa, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, Deepavali and Holi according to Hindu Dharma. At that time, these festivals carried a lot of importance. Deepavali is a religious festival in the form of compassion in a human being. This festival is celebrated from Ashwin Krushna Dwadashi to Bhaubeej to share Bliss with all, from the cow-lineage to brothers-sisters.

DRAW RANGOLI ON DEEPAVALI

Rangolis are drawn to nullify the uneven vibrations created while sweeping the floor with a broom.

The white in rangoli attracts subtle Divine waves. Kumkum (Red powder made from turmeric) smeared on the rangoli activates Shri Ganesh Principle, and turmeric powder activates Shri Durgadevi Principle in the rangoli.

Women have the ability to absorb subtle Principles easily; hence, they should draw the rangolis.

11 Dots : 11 Lines

To get maximum benefit of Shri Lakshmi Principle, draw this rangoli in the courtyard and at the entrance of your house on the day of Lakshmi Pujan.

13 to 7 Dots

To get maximum benefit of Shrikrushna Principle, draw this rangoli in the courtyard and at the entrance of your house on the day of Narak Chaturdashi.

(Read Sanatan Sanstha’s Booklet : ‘Sattvik Rangolis’)