Ye Diwali Vidya Wali
In Diwali Utsav, a lit lamp is an important symbol, and in Indian tradition, light is associated with wisdom. However, around Diwali, we seem to hear a lot about ‘Good’ triumphing over ‘Evil.’ This is relatively superficial, if not shallow. From an Indian perspective, the ‘Good vs. Evil’ argument is untrustworthy. Evil shaming has grown so common that it has become a trendy scapegoat for explaining the importance of every significant Indian event. It’s a warmonger’s jargon, mainly because no Indian language is equivalent to the English term “evil.” We only need to focus on the central symbolism ‘light’ to get to the heart of Diwali Utsav’s message.
DIWALI INDICATES SELF KNOWLEDGE
Shri Krishna states in the Sri Bhagwad Geeta, “Aham Krsnasya Jagatah,” which means “all that exists is a manifestation of his divinity.” As a result, nothing is devoid of divinity. Therefore, outside of divinity, there can never be a devil or evil. It’s difficult to grasp, especially when our thoughts are continuously bombarded with foreign notions of evil and devil coupled with war-mongering impulses.
Vidya- It’s a case of “Knowledge over Ignorance” rather than “Good over Evil”.
The Indian way of life study is far too in-depth and delicate, and it looks at the source of unrighteous behaviour while investigating it. Many Indian profound thinkers, philosophers, and enlightened gurus have uniformly said that a lack of knowledge or ignorance causes unjust, selfish inclinations. The Buddha claimed that ignorance (‘Avijja’ – Pali for ‘Avidya’) is the basis of all suffering. “If the underlying cause of pain is removed, man will be joyful,” he claims.
The Dharmic literature had previously pointed out that ‘Avidya’ or ‘absence of vidya/knowledge’ was at the core of all so-called evil, and darkness was its metaphor, in ages before to the wise Buddha. There will be darkness where there is no light of wisdom, according to the reasoning (Tarka). When wisdom dawns, on the other hand, there can never be darkness.
“Stupidity is the great mother of all misery,” Swami Vivekananda remarked, “and the fundamental ignorance is to believe that the Infinite weeps and tears, that He is finite.” The fact that we, the eternal, ever pure, flawless Spirit, believe we are tiny brains in small bodies is the source of all ignorance; it is the mother of all greed. When I believe I am a petite body, I wish to defend, preserve, and maintain it at the expense of other bodies; then, you and I become distinct. As soon as the concept of separation emerges, it invites all kinds of mischief and misery.”
Previous messages have been unequivocal in their assertion that ignorance is the root of our misery. As in the context of Diwali, the antidote is the light of knowledge.
Vidya -Lamps are not considered a part of Indian home decor…
The Diwali Utsav, like the many ways of commemorating it, has numerous historical origins. Lamps, on the other hand, are a prevalent factor. Lamps have been lighted city-wide whenever Indians have thought of celebrating on a large scale. Even on the eve of India’s independence in 1947, lights were used to decorate houses, buildings, streets, and towns. Shri Vardhman Mahaveer’s disciples (Jains) lighted lamps to commemorate his enlightenment, signifying personal illumination.
The lighted lamp is a central emblem in Indian culture, yet it is not a piece of house décor. A lamp can be found in every Hindu home. Lighting the lamp is a part of every Hindu temple, Hindu home altar, and Hindu ceremony from birth to death. As in the Brhad-Aranyaka Upanishad’s ‘Tamaso ma Jyotir gamaya,’ the usual invocation guides a person from darkness to light (Jyoti).
The word “light” in Indian culture refers to “knowledge” that dispels ignorance. It is possible to see objects clearly in the presence of light. Because of the revelation of inner light and knowledge, light is also seen as a sign of real auspiciousness, wealth, and riches. Wisdom is depicted as light, and it is supposed to culminate in boundless transcendental delight. As the Guru Sanatkumara asserts in the Chandokya Upanishad’s न अल्पे सुखम् अस्ति na alpe sukham asti (‘Small things cannot bring us happiness). Only the true core of everyone, according to the Guru, is the source of happiness.
The Katha Upanishad refers to this source as light, saying, “All that shines is merely the shadow of this brightness; all these cosmos is effulgent with his light.” The light of the aarti permits the darshan of divinity in the gloomy sanctum sanctorum of a temple. Only in the light, it is believed, can divinity be instinctively realized.
The glowing lamp represents knowledge (Gayana), which is the only way to happiness according to the greats of Indian spiritual literature.
As a result, Diwali should be renamed a “holiday of self-knowledge” rather than a superficial celebration of virtue triumphing over evil.
Invocations Mantra for “LIGHT” on Diwali.
DEEP PRAJWALAN MANTRA
शुभं करोति कल्याणम् आरोग्यम् धनसंपदा ।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपकाय नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
दीपो ज्योति परं ब्रह्म दीपो ज्योतिर्जनार्दन: ।
दीपो हरतु मे पापं संध्यादीप नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
śubhaṃ karoti kalyāṇam ārogyam dhanasaṃpadā |
śatrubuddhivināśāya dīpakāya namo’stu te ||
dīpo jyoti paraṃ brahma dīpo jyotirjanārdana: |
dīpo haratu me pāpaṃ saṃdhyādīpa namo’stu te ||
शुभ, स्वास्थ्य और समृद्धि लाने वाले दीपक के प्रकाश को नमस्कार, जो शत्रु भावों का नाश करती है, इस दीपक के प्रकाश को मेरा नमस्कार।
दीपक के प्रकाश को नमस्कार जो सर्वोच्च ब्रह्म का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है, दीपक का प्रकाश जनार्दन (श्री विष्णु) का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है, दीपक की ज्योति से मेरे पाप दूर हो जाएं, इस दीपक की ज्योति को मेरा नमस्कार है।
ॐ
Salutations to the light of the lamp which brings auspiciousness, health, and prosperity, which destroys inimical feelings, my salutations to the light of this lamp.
Salutations to the light of the lamp which represents the supreme brahman, the light of the lamp represent Janardhan (Sri Vishnu), let the light of the lamp remove my sins, my salutations to the light of this lamp.
Wishing you a Knowledgeable Diwali 2021.
