Monday, April 9, 2007
History and Origin of Diwali
Diwali or the festivals of lights has it’s origin in the Hindu mythology. The history and origin of Deepavali narrates some of the very fascinating stories behind this grand festival of the Hindus. The origin of Dewali is connected to a series of mythical stories and anecdotes each signifying the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
The most well known story behind Diwali is in the Ramayana, the Hindu epic. According to Ramayana, Rama, the prince of Ayodhya was on exile with his devoted wife Sita and faithful brother, Lakshmana. When Ravana, the demon king of Lanka abducted Sita and took her away to his island kingdom of Lanka. Rama waged war against him and killed Ravana. He rescued Sita from Ravana and returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years. The people of Ayodhya, being jubilant of their prince’s homecoming, lighted numerous tiny clay lamps or ‘diya’ at their homes as well as the entire city of Ayodhya to welcome Rama and his wife Sita.
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Another well known story related to Diwali history is narrated in the other Hindu epic, Mahabharata. The story is quite similar to the Ramayana. The ‘Pandava’ or the five brothers were sentenced to thirteen years in exile as they were defeated to the ‘Kaurava’-family at the game of dice. After spending thirteen years in banishment they returned to their own kingdom on the day of ‘Kartik Amavasyaa’ (the darkest night on the Hindu month of Kartik). Just like the citizens of Ayodhya, people of their kingdom also welcomed the Pandavas by lighting small clay lamps and decorating their homes with numerous earthen lamps.
The origin of Diwali also refers to the stories narrated in Hindu Purana, the primary source of Hindu religious texts. According to Purana, Diwali also commemorates the day of vanquishing the demon Narakasur by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. The story recounts that Narakasur was the son of Bhudevi who acquired blessings of Brahma after rigorous sacrament. But soon with his invincible might, he started a reign of terror and all the Gods and Goddesses pleaded to Lord Krishna to overpower him. Brahma’s boon bestowed Narakasur with the blessing that he won’t be defeated by anyone other than his mother Bhudevi. Now, Krishna’s wife Satyabhama was the reincarnation of Bhudevi, so Krishna asked her to be his charioteer. In the battle, when Krishna fainted being hit by an arrow, Satyabhama in intense rage shot an arrow towards Narakasur and instantly killed him.
Send this Deepavali eCard !
The history and origin of worshipping Lakshmi on the day of Diwali and on Dhanteras tells a different story. According to Hindu mythology, on this auspicious new moon day in the Hindu calendar, Lakshmi or the Goddess of wealth and prosperity was incarnated. Lakshmi emerged from the ‘ocean of milk’ when Gods and demons were churning the ocean in search of ‘Amrit’ or nectar. Hence, worshipping Lakshmi on the day of Diwali became a tradition.
Another legend associates the history and origin of Diwali with the coronation of King Vikramaditya, the legendary Hindu king of India. The citizens of Vikramaditya’s kingdom celebrated the coronation of their king by lighting up small earthen lamps and that custom still prevails.
The most well known story behind Diwali is in the Ramayana, the Hindu epic. According to Ramayana, Rama, the prince of Ayodhya was on exile with his devoted wife Sita and faithful brother, Lakshmana. When Ravana, the demon king of Lanka abducted Sita and took her away to his island kingdom of Lanka. Rama waged war against him and killed Ravana. He rescued Sita from Ravana and returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years. The people of Ayodhya, being jubilant of their prince’s homecoming, lighted numerous tiny clay lamps or ‘diya’ at their homes as well as the entire city of Ayodhya to welcome Rama and his wife Sita.
Send this Deepavali eCard !
Another well known story related to Diwali history is narrated in the other Hindu epic, Mahabharata. The story is quite similar to the Ramayana. The ‘Pandava’ or the five brothers were sentenced to thirteen years in exile as they were defeated to the ‘Kaurava’-family at the game of dice. After spending thirteen years in banishment they returned to their own kingdom on the day of ‘Kartik Amavasyaa’ (the darkest night on the Hindu month of Kartik). Just like the citizens of Ayodhya, people of their kingdom also welcomed the Pandavas by lighting small clay lamps and decorating their homes with numerous earthen lamps.
The origin of Diwali also refers to the stories narrated in Hindu Purana, the primary source of Hindu religious texts. According to Purana, Diwali also commemorates the day of vanquishing the demon Narakasur by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. The story recounts that Narakasur was the son of Bhudevi who acquired blessings of Brahma after rigorous sacrament. But soon with his invincible might, he started a reign of terror and all the Gods and Goddesses pleaded to Lord Krishna to overpower him. Brahma’s boon bestowed Narakasur with the blessing that he won’t be defeated by anyone other than his mother Bhudevi. Now, Krishna’s wife Satyabhama was the reincarnation of Bhudevi, so Krishna asked her to be his charioteer. In the battle, when Krishna fainted being hit by an arrow, Satyabhama in intense rage shot an arrow towards Narakasur and instantly killed him.
Send this Deepavali eCard !
The history and origin of worshipping Lakshmi on the day of Diwali and on Dhanteras tells a different story. According to Hindu mythology, on this auspicious new moon day in the Hindu calendar, Lakshmi or the Goddess of wealth and prosperity was incarnated. Lakshmi emerged from the ‘ocean of milk’ when Gods and demons were churning the ocean in search of ‘Amrit’ or nectar. Hence, worshipping Lakshmi on the day of Diwali became a tradition.
Another legend associates the history and origin of Diwali with the coronation of King Vikramaditya, the legendary Hindu king of India. The citizens of Vikramaditya’s kingdom celebrated the coronation of their king by lighting up small earthen lamps and that custom still prevails.
Labels: History and Origin of Diwali
posted by priyanka Joshi at 4:00 PM, | 
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