Happy Diwali
Did you know about this other legend associated with the Celebration of Diwali?
Read some of the legends below and share the stories with your friends and families. (Sharing and reporting in class)
Identify people you know at the Center or within your friends who share name with some of the individuals mentioned in this article. (Response in writing)
Share you favorite Diwali tradition with us. (Response in writing)
Bhajans
Listen to the Bhajan and identify the names of the individuals mentioned. Write down their association with Lord Rama. (Listen and response in writing)
How is community singing different from Bhajan singing at home? What are its benefits as described by the speaker?
What two types of lighting does the speaker talk about? How is it compared to community singing of Bhajan? (Listen and Response in writing)
Akhand Bhajan
Which frequent song sung at the center talk about the word " Akhand" and is sung on Akhand Bhajan days? (Response in writing)
Legends of Diwali
Incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi
On the auspicious new moon day, which is 'Amavasyaa' of the Hindi month of Kartik the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi was incarnated. She appeared during the churning of the ocean, which is known as 'Samudra Manthan', by the demons on one side and 'Devataas' on the other side. Therefore the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the Lakshmi Pujan, on the day of Diwali became a tradition.
Lord Krishna destroyed Demon Narkasur
One famous story behind the celebrations of Diwali is about the demon king Narakasur who was ruler of Pragjyotishpur, a province to the South of Nepal. During a war he defeated Lord Indra and snatched away the magnificent earrings of Mother Goddess Aditi who was not only the ruler of Suraloka but also a relative of Lord Krishna's wife, Satyabhama. Narakasur also imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of Gods and saints in his harem. With the support of Lord Krishna Satyabhama defeated Narakasur and released all the women from his harem and also restored the magnificent earrings of Mother Goddess Aditi.
The return of the Pandavas
The great Hindu epic 'Mahabharata' has another interesting story related to the 'Kartik Amavasyaa'. The story reads that 'the Pandavas', the five brothers Yudhishthhira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahdeva, were sentenced thirteen years banishment as a result of their defeat against 'the Kauravas', Duryodhana and his ninety nine brothers, at the game of dice. Therefore they spent thirteen years in the jungles and returned to their kingdom on the day of 'Kartik Amavasyaa'. On their return the people of their kingdom welcomed the Pandavas by celebrating the event by lighting the earthen lamps all over in their city.
Coronation of King Vikramaditya
Another legend or story about diwali celebrations relates to one of the greatest Hindu King Vikramaditya. It was the day when he was coronated and the people celebrated this event by lighting tiny earthen 'diyas'.
