Many Hindus consider Diwali as the beginning of a new year. In the traditional Hindu business world, it marks the beginning of a new accounting year. As the name suggests, Diwali is celebrated with lights and lamps and joyous activities. People consider the festival as an opportunity to explore new relationships and strengthen existing ones. The festival provides an opportunity to all the senses to receive their due share of enjoyment and also to the mind and the heart to think and feel their way through a sunlit path of amazing experiences.
As the festival approaches, memories of previous Diwalis fill the minds of the people with the eager expectation of yet another exciting and joyous occasion to celebrate life and human kinship. Finally, when the day dawns and the night comes, the earth wears a glittering robe. The streets and the sky becomes filled with brilliant lights and resonating sounds. People gather on the streets, public places and in their front yards or in front of their own houses to witness the dance of divinity amidst the lights of Diwali. It is as if the mortal beings upon earth have discovered a way of confirming their fidelity to God and turned heavenwards to express their deep devotion.
However, Diwali is not a mere festival of lights where wealth is worshipped and people gather at some place. Traditionally, it prescribes the performance of a series of complex rituals for five continuous days that require a great degree of discipline and religious fervor for their completion. For a devout Hindu, it generously offers innumerable opportunities to think of the Divine and practice the yoga of action with a sense of detachment, amidst distracting festivities and heightened sensual activities. In the following paragraphs we describe the manner in which Hindus celebrate Diwali during the five days, in addition to presenting some miscellaneous facts about the festival.
The first day of the festival is known as Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi. Dhan means wealth and Trayodashi means 13th day. Thus, as the name implies, this day falls on the 13th day of the first half of the lunar month. On this day, it is believed that, Lord Dhanwantari emerged from the waters of the ocean holding the knowledge of the spiritual medicines of Ayurveda, to help the mankind fight against sickness, disease and death.
Perform Guru pujan then, meditate to Goddess Dhanwantri for good health and fearless life Chant 11 rounds of Dhanwantri mantra with Aarogya Prapti Rosary.
After Completion of Sadhna place the rosary at nearest Shiv Temple.
The second day of the festival is known as Roop Chaturdashi. Chaturdashi means the fourteenth day. Thus this day falls on the 14th day of the first half of the lunar month. Religiously, the day marks the end of an evil empire in some prehistoric past and the beginning of a new era of Light and Knowledge.
According to the legends, on this day Lord Sri Krishna, supported by his consort Satyabhama and his huge army, killed the demon Naarakaasura, in a legendary battle between the Gods and demons, and released the world from the darkness of fear and oppression. In the process, He also set free the 16000 divine energies of the Mother Goddess, held hitherto in possession forcibly by the evil demon.
On this auspicious day, people usually take a ritual bath before sunrise, using traditional herbs and materials, just as Lord Krishna was believed to have done after He returned from the battlefield victoriously. They spend the remaining day restfully in the company of friends and family. It is also believed that on this day, Lord Vishnu incarnated upon earth as Vamana and set his third step on the head of the demon king Bali to send him down into the nether worlds to free the worlds from his rule and release the Goddess Lakshmi from his control.
On this day disciple should perform Roop Chaturdashi Sadhna to enhance beauty and look confident.
Bath in the morning between 21:04 to 24:10 wear white robe, Sit facing east direction, place Saundrya yantra to your right offer ittra (Perfume), lit a ghee lamp and incense stick. Now chant 2 rounds of the below mantra.
Wear The rosary for 21 days drop the rosary and yantra in river after completion of sadhana.
The actual Diwali is celebrated on the third day of the festival, when the moon completely wanes and total darkness sets in the night sky. It is in this darkness, that Diwali finds its true expression. On this day people worship Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, and express their gratitude for previous favors.
Usually the worship is performed both in the morning and again in the evening when the sun is ready to set or has already set. It is believed that the Goddess would not visit a devotee’s house, if it is not kept clean and properly lighted. So everyone strives to keep their houses clean, the doors and windows open and all the lights and lamps glowing brightly.
During the worship, devotees make offerings to Lord Vinayaka, Mother Goddess and Gurudev too, in addition to the principal deity, with traditional chants, rituals, purified water, new clothes, fruits and flowers, sweets, light, sandal paste, incense, rice, turmeric and vermillion. Money and valuables are placed before the principal deity during the invocation.
At the end of the worship, prasadam (blessed food) is offered to the family members and visitors.
As the evening comes, houses and streets are decorated with innumerable lights, lamps and candles. People keep the doors and windows open and all the lights on, expecting the Goddess to come inside and get enchanted by the things that have been done for Her sake, so that She can forever stay in the house.
Outside, people gather on the streets and front yards to burn fire crackers, or watch others burning them or keep an eye on the oil lamps.
According to another prevailing legend, it was on this day, young Nachiketa of the Kathopanishad, received divine and secret knowledge of immortality from Lord Yama, the Lord of Death.
The lights of Deepavali are displayed at the entrance doors, by the walls of houses, on the streets and lanes. This means that the inner spiritual light of the individual must be reflected outside. It should benefit society. Passers-by may thereby be prevented from stumbling on their way to reach their destination.
Sadhna procedure
Every family should perform Diwali Sadhna. Starts the Guru pujan on 11 Nov at the below time 18:05 to 20:09 or 01:30 to 3:01 chanting the below mantra.
Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru devo
Maheshwara Guru sakshat param Brahma
tasmai shri guravay namah
Place the Kuber Laxmi photo in front of you, Draw swastik on the right, place betel nut in the middle. Now chant the below mantra 51 times.
Om Gan Ganpate Namah
Offer flowers, sweets to goddess Laxmi and chant the below mantra 51 times.
Om Aim Dhanda Preem Namah
Pray to Gurudev for success in this sadhna prosperity and harmony. Now hold the Gutika in your right hand and utter I (your name) (Nikhil gotra) pray with full devotion for achieving victory and satisfaction in all spheres of life with this sadhna. chant one round below mantra with Laxmi Lalitamba rosary.
The head of the family should wear the rosary and keep the yantra and gutika in the locker or were the money is kept.
The fourth day is variously known as Padwa, Varshapratipada and Kartika Shudda Padyami. According to a legend, at the behest of Lord Krishna, the people of Braj worshipped the hillock Govardhan on this day to save themselves from an impending storm unleashed by the fury of Indra, the Lord of Heaven.
Even now, in northern India, in the region of Braj, people continue the tradition of worshipping Govardhan on this auspicious day. In a sense, this is an act of invocation to appease the forces of Nature to prevent the occurrence of floods and cyclonic storms, a tradition that is probably rooted in the Vedic times.
In traditional households, women worship their husbands and receive gifts and blessings in return. Business people open new account books for the new financial year and offer prayers for luck and prosperity.
This pujan is performed on the next day of Diwali, Mothers and sisters getup early make heap of fresh cow dunk place it on the entrance an lit ghee lamp for thanking Goddess Laxmi for the bestow blessing for this year.
This Day Yamaraj went to His sister’s (Yamuna’s) house who put an auspicious mark on his forehead for his welfare. Thus, on this day sisters perform puja for their brothers’ safety and well being. Brothers in return give gifts to their sisters as a token of love.
Another version is after killing Naarakaasur, Lord Krishna, went to His sister Subhadra who welcomed Him in the traditional way by showing Him a light and putting a mark on his forehead for His protection.
On the fifth and final day of the festival, which is known as Bhaidooj, Bhavbij or Bhayitika, brothers and sisters meet to express their love and affection for each other. Sisters put a ceremonial mark, usually with vermillion, on their brothers’ fore head and wish them long lives.
Nidhi Shrimali
It is mandatory to obtain Guru Diksha from Revered Gurudev before performing any Sadhana or taking any other Diksha. Please contact Kailash Siddhashram, Jodhpur through Email , Whatsapp, Phone or Submit Request to obtain consecrated-energized and mantra-sanctified Sadhana material and further guidance,