Monday, November 9, 2015

SIGNIFICANCE OF DEEPAVALI

Shaija Vallikkattri Bhaskaran's photo.

Deepavali is regarded as the festival of lights to dispel the darkness of ego and ignorance. All festivals of India have an inner divine significance and in India the festivals are celebrated to prove the immanent divinity in humanity. The spiritual significance of Deepavali is to lead oneself from darkness to light of wisdom and self-knowledge. The slaying of Naraka by Sathyabhama could also be taken to interpret that parents should not hesitate to punish their children when they stray on to the wrong path. The message of Naraka Chaturdasi is that the good of the society should always prevail over one's own personal bonds.
Deepavali teaches a sacred inner meaning to humanity. During the night of Deepavali the myriad little clay lamps (diyas) silently send forth message of Deepavali: "Come, let us remove darkness from the face of the earth." No other element in this world is as significant as light. It is the light that shows us the way dispelling the darkness. The flame of a lamp has two significant qualities. One is to banish darkness; the other is a continuous upward movement.
The flame always points upwards. Even if a lamp is kept in a pit, the flame is directed upwards. The lamps remind us of our dharma to realize our divine nature.One lamp can light several others. You can even light another 1000 lamps, and still the flame and the light of the first lamp will remain as it is. By becoming manifold, the light looses nothing. Thus the rows of light teaches important lesson of unity.
The dharma of fire is the same wherever it is: in a poor man's house, in a rich man's house, in India, or in the America. It gives light and heat. Man also burns like a fire from birth till death with hunger, anger, lust, greed and jealousy.In that fire some men consume everything that comes in their way and grow into a wildfire. some search for knowledge with that same fire and glow as the beacons to the dark world. An enlightened person goes on the right path in life and also lights up the path for others too.
Diwali, the festival of lights even to-day in this modern world projects the rich and glorious past of our country and teaches us to uphold the true values of life. Riches may come or riches may go; scholarship may be acquired or may not be acquired; even joy may come and go. Whatever happens, man must be unmoved, he must not swerve from the path that he has chosen towards the right goal of truth and dharma.
Happy Diwali. May the lamp of the heart be lit with the flame of love.

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