A short discourse by SirShree Tejparkhi, the founder of Tej Gyan Foundation on "How to celebrate true Diwali (Festival of Lights)".
One of the most important festivals for Indians is Diwali which is being celebrated in the first week of November this year. According to the legend of Ramayana, Diwali commemorates the return of the crown prince of Ayodhya -- Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, from his 14 year exile with Sita and brother Laxman after killing Ravana, a demon king. The people of Ayodhya illuminated the kingdom with oil lamps (diyas) since it was a no moon night (Karthik Amasvya) and lit fireworks to celebrate the return of their king. Since then ,people all over India celebrate Diwali as the festival of lights. On the occasion of Diwali, people clean their homes, light lamps, wear new clothes, paint their house with a "Shubh-Labh Swastika". An important ritual is the worship of Laxmi -- the Goddess of wealth and consort of Lord Vishnu. In this article SirShee explains the true meaning behind these symbols and rituals.
All rituals point inwards. Most ancient rituals have been created by those who were enlightened. Let us understand the true meaning of the symbols and rituals of Diwali...
Rama : Self, Self-Witness, Pure Bliss, Bright Truth that annihilated Ravana -- here the mind is likened to Ravana.
Sita : The energy of the creator through which the whole universe has manifested.
Ravana : The contrast mind or judging mind (as different from the intuitive or instinctive mind) that likes to indulge in the external world. It is filled with desires, deceit, and ego. The contrast mind is the what is shrouding the experience of the Self. It is a hurdle in attaining Self-Realisation.
Kartik Amavasya : The night of ignorance and darkness. It also means to light the lamp of knowledge to dispel this darkness of ignorance. (Ignorance implies life full of burdens and misconceptions).
Cleaning of Homes : Getting rid of ignorance and welcoming the bright light of Truth within.
Swastik Shubh Labh : It signifies : May all receive 'Bright Knowledge' or enlightenment.
Wearing New Clothes : After attaining the ultimate truth, a person gets a new birth and due to that happiness he wears new clothes.
Worshipping Goddess Laxmi : The worship of Goddess Laxmi indicates that if you respect money, money in turn will respect you. It indicates your desire that money should flow in your life. Some people squander money, i.e. they do not utilize money properly and others consider money to be their God. Both are wrong. We have to learn to use money effectively. There is nothing wrong with possessing wealth, but we should not have the ego of being wealthy. If we eliminate the feeling of ownership of money, then money can help us in achieving self-realization instead of being a hurdle. Money is not complete in itself. Goddess Laxmi (Wealth and Prosperity) is incomplete without Lord Narayana (Truth). After realizing the Truth, money won't boost the ego. Then Goddess Laxmi will always serve and remain at the feet of Narayana. Without knowing the Truth, money can enhance ego and make you blind. Hence Goddess Laxmi is also depicted as riding on an owl because it is known that the owl is unable to see in broad daylight.
Importance Of Worshipping The Broom : A broom is used to clear away the rubbish and garbage that is present in the house. A broom signifies "spiritual practice", what in India is termed as Sadhana. In the same way, garbage such as ignorance, misconceptions and the defects of the mind such as anger, greed, lust, hatred, jealousy and fear are filled within us. So what kind of a broom should be used to clear this garbage? Sadhana (Contemplation on Truth, Spiritual practice) is that broom that can cleanse the mind. The object or tool to get rid of rubbish should also be worshipped and praised. By worshipping the broom on the day of Diwali, we are actually praising the greatness of Sadhana. When you are worshipping the broom, worship with the feeling whether 'I am making the right use of the broom of Sadhana or not?' All the external rituals point inwards.
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