Deepavali aka Diwali, the Indian festival of lights is today.
Lore says that Lord Krishna slayed Naraka Asur on this day. The Asur's mother, hearing her son's fate was overwhelmed with sorrow and ran into the battlefield in a state of despair and tremendous wail. Krishna's heart melt at her plight and He told her that while her son met with his fate that he deserved, she may ask of any boon to soothe her soul. The mother asked that wicked as her son may be,now that the darkness of his sins are over,let there be lights in remebrance of him. Thus began the tradition of lighting lamps that symbolize the end of darkness and the beginning of light and hope in our hearts of the good things that light represents.
There is yet another story that Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya on this day and the citizens welcomed him with lights to celebrate his victory over Ravan, the greatest of all Asur kings!
Either way, today represents the day when darkness will be slayed by light and a new beginning will be made.
Asathoma sath gamaya (from the untruth, lead me to the truth)
Thamasoma jyothir gamaya (from darkness, lead me to the light)
Mrithyoma amritham gamaya (from death, lead me to eternal life)
Om shanthi shanthi shanthi! (let there be peace, peace and peace!)
What we need to understand is that light is the other side of darkness and life the other side of death. They can not exist in isolation and if the positive has to triumph, the negative must exist. So do not despise the negative. Just control it so that the positive shines. Enjoy life responsibly, love others and if you must face unhappiness, look to the other side.
There is Deepavali everyday. We just have to stop, appreciate and indulge!
Happy Deepavali!!
Lore says that Lord Krishna slayed Naraka Asur on this day. The Asur's mother, hearing her son's fate was overwhelmed with sorrow and ran into the battlefield in a state of despair and tremendous wail. Krishna's heart melt at her plight and He told her that while her son met with his fate that he deserved, she may ask of any boon to soothe her soul. The mother asked that wicked as her son may be,now that the darkness of his sins are over,let there be lights in remebrance of him. Thus began the tradition of lighting lamps that symbolize the end of darkness and the beginning of light and hope in our hearts of the good things that light represents.
There is yet another story that Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya on this day and the citizens welcomed him with lights to celebrate his victory over Ravan, the greatest of all Asur kings!
Either way, today represents the day when darkness will be slayed by light and a new beginning will be made.
Asathoma sath gamaya (from the untruth, lead me to the truth)
Thamasoma jyothir gamaya (from darkness, lead me to the light)
Mrithyoma amritham gamaya (from death, lead me to eternal life)
Om shanthi shanthi shanthi! (let there be peace, peace and peace!)
What we need to understand is that light is the other side of darkness and life the other side of death. They can not exist in isolation and if the positive has to triumph, the negative must exist. So do not despise the negative. Just control it so that the positive shines. Enjoy life responsibly, love others and if you must face unhappiness, look to the other side.
There is Deepavali everyday. We just have to stop, appreciate and indulge!
Happy Deepavali!!
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