Diwali
Swami Swaroopananda
Diwali is a contraction of the word Deepavali which means “a row of lights” or “billion lights”.
All festivals in India have a special social, cultural and religious significance. Most of our festivals in the Hindu culture
are to celebrate the victory of good over evil. In this sense, Diwali is a day of many blessings:
It is the day when Kaikayee’s wickedness, jealousy and greed accepted defeat and when Bharat’s love, dedication and
service won. It is the day when Shri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya. Happiness, peace and harmony came back to
Ayodhya – “The Land of No Conflict”. Shri Rama represents honesty and firm adherence to duty; Sita embodies faith
and devotion; Lakshmana personifies detachment and service.
For this homecoming, Lamps of Peace are lit…
It is the day Shri Krishna killed Narakasura , the demon of sorrow and hell, who had kidnapped and imprisoned 16,000
princesses for his harem. It is the day when the selfish ego which has entrapped all the 16,000 thought varieties, is
killed and all thoughts get wedded to the One Infinite – Blissful – Consciousness – Shri Krishna Paramatma – “The
Supreme Self in All”. When our mind turns towards the Infinite Self, the sense of limitation along with its selfishness
ends.
For this knowledge, Lamps of Joy are lit…
It is the day we harvest the results of our hard work blessed with the wealth by Mother Lakshmi. We pray to her with
gratitude and ask the gracious Mother to:
Shower Her blessings in abundance for the coming year
Give us the intelligence to use our wealth in the right manner
Give us the heart to share it generously with our fellow beings.
For this sharing, Lamps of Love are lit…
Fill the Heart with the oil of Love.
Place in it the wick of a single pointed mind.
Light it with the Knowledge of Truth and remove the darkness of Ignorance around you.
Just as one lamp can light many lamps; let each youth kindle this Light in many hearts.
