Why Celebrate Navratri, Vijyadashmi and Diwali Every Year?

Why Celebrate Navratri annually?

The word "Navaratri" is a conjunction of two words "nava" (meaning "nine") and "ratri" (meaning "night"). Spread over 9 nights and 10 days, it is one of the most sacred festivals in Hinduism where we worship Goddess Durga or Shakti, which represents the energy of the universe, in her 9 beautiful forms with great reverence.

There are various reasons why Navratri is celebrated, and each has its own significance in different parts of India. Let's discuss two of these.

·         Killing of Mahishasura

One of the fiercest daemons, Mahishasura undertook severe penance to obtain a boon that he cannot be killed by a male, underestimating at his own cost the power of the female form, and started creating havoc everywhere. To stop him, Shakti took a very beautiful form of Durga and told him that she would marry him if he defeats her in a battle. It is believed that they battled for 9 days, and on the 10th day, Durga killed Mahishasura. Therefore the 10th day is called Vijayadashmi, day of the victory. One of the most famous idols that you see in temples depicts this scene where Mahishasura, in the form of a half bull, is being slayed by Mother Durga.
                             

·         Lord Rama praying to Goddess Durga

Another legend has it that Lord Rama fasted and prayed for 9 days to seek Goddess' blessings to kill Ravana. He kills him on the 10th day, and this day is called Dusshera, the day when the 10-headed Ravana was killed.

During the period of 9 days of navratri, 9 forms of Durga, called nav-durga, are worshiped in the following order:

1.       Shailaputri: She is the primal energy of the trident Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and was born as daughter (putri) to Himalayas (shaila - mountains)

2.      Bhrahmacharini: This form represents penance and austerity leading to blissfulness and moksha

3.      Chandraghanta: Represented as 10-armed mother riding a lion, she adores a bell-shaped (ghanta) moon (chandra), and is slayer of evil forces.

4.      Kushmanda: Literally meaning "little warmth cosmic egg", she is the creator of the universe

5.      Skandamata: She is the mother of Skanda, or Karthikeya, the chief warrior of Gods.

6.      Katyayani: As daughter of sage Katyayan, she is a fierce form of Durga.

7.      Kaalratri: As death of Kaal (time), she showcases the other side of life - death. She is the most terrible and ruthless form of Durga.

8.      Maha Gauri: She represents calmness and grants wisdom to her devotees.

9.      Siddhidatri: The fulfiller of all the wishes and giver of boons.

During the 9 days, there is a feeling of festivity in the air. Many people fast during the entire period, there are different forms of prayers and lots and lots of varieties of sweets are prepared. Different parts of India celebrate navratri in different styles, the thing that is common is its grandeur and auspiciousness. The two most famous styles are below:
 

Why Celebrate Vijyadashmi annually?

Vijayadashmi (Dusehra)  is the celebration of the victory of good over evil. However, what are you celebrating even after so many yugas have passed? For people to remember, certain days were marked by ancients to pass on significant messages. Broadly, it is the day of good defeating evil. But what is good or evil? When we say creation is the balance of equal forces, evil becomes a necessary part of creation. The existence of Ram is only relevant till Ravan is there. As part of the creation, it is up to us which force to join. 

For those who wish to commence on the journey of the spirit for evolution, the ancients gave practices like Sanatan Kriya. Sanatan which means eternal is relevant in every era of creation. The Ram-Ravan conquest is an eternal war, if you choose positivity, evolution, service and the righteous way of life, Dussehra is a day that marks your overcoming so many facets of evil, including maya or illusion, which dominate us. 

                        
Dussehra is preceded by nine days of fasting, the navratras. Fasting does not mean abstinence from certain foods and then binging on the alternatives. It simply means abstaining from indulging your senses for specific periods of time for a higher purpose. It includes observing austerities and strict discipline, those of satya-asteya-aparigraha-ahimsa-brahmacharya, on each of the days and beyond. The discipline of niyam is the kiln, the heat which turns a normal individual into a yogi. 

The question then arises, why these parti-cular nine days? A yogi is not bound by time and muhurat, yog is sanatan — that is, it has no beginning, no end. A yogi has access to all the energies that run creation. However, to reward sadhaks or adherent-seekers on certain days that are charged with abundant, vibrant powers brings accelerated results. 

The nine days of navratras are the days when the energies of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are most accessible to us. Shaktis or energy centres are instrumental in opening the three knots — rudra granthi, vishnu granthi and brahma granthi — corresponding to the upper, middle and lower regions of the body respectively, to aid you in your purpose. The cumulative effect of self-purification through fasting and accessing these energies through Sanatan Kriya under the guidance of an able guru is the free upward movement of prana or life energy in the sushumna nadi by overcoming basic sensual desires and pleasures. 

This opens the door to the inner world and enables you to realise the divinity within. The tenth or the final day, Dussehra, marks the ultimate triumph, and hence it is called Vijayadashami. The universe exists inside us, and the outside is only its reflection. So go inwards if you choose to fathom it. Or else, the reflection would fool you into wasting your life. 

Therefore, for a spiritual seeker, Dussehra is the culmination of mantra sadhana and havan to invoke these energies to aid creation and, in the process, realise the divinity within to help slay your demons. That is your Vijayadashami. Remember, each one of us is a divine being going through a human experience. All of us need an anchor to help us experience and to make us aware of the divinity and hidden powers in us...So find your anchor and get your experience. 


Why Celebrate Diwali annually?
1. Goddess Lakshmi’s Birthday: On this very Diwali day, the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi is said to have been incarnated from the depth of the bottomless ocean. The Hindu scriptures tell us that both Devas(gods) and Asuras (demons) were mortal (Mrita) at one point of time. Seeking a deathless condition (Amarattva), they churned the ocean to seek Amrita, the nectar of immortality (an event mentioned in the Hindu scriptures as "Samudra-manthan"), during which a host of divine celestial objects came up. Prime among these was Goddess Lakshmi, the daughter of the king of the milky ocean, who arose on the new moon day (amaavasyaa) of the Kartik month. She was subsequently married to Lord Vishnu on the same darkest night of the year and brilliant lamps were illuminated and placed in rows to mark this holy occassion. 

Hence the association of Diwali with Goddess Lakshmi and the tradition of lighting of lamps and candles during the festival. To this day, Hindus celebrate the birth of the goddess Lakshmi and her marriage to Lord Vishnu on Diwali and seek her blessings for the coming year. 

2. The Legend of King Mahabali: The Bhagavata Purana (also known as Srimad Bhagavatam), the most sacred Hindu text, reveals how on a Diwali day

image: http://www.theholidayspot.com/diwali/img/vamana-mahabali.jpg

Lord Vishnu, in his fifth incarnation as Vaman-avtaara, rescued Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali during the Treta Yug. Bali, or rather King Mahabali, was a powerful demon king who ruled the earth. Powered by a boon granted to him by Lord Brahma, Bali was invincible and even gods failed to defeat him in battles. Although a wise and perfect king otherwise, Mahabali was violent in his ways with the Devas (gods). On their insistence, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a short Brahmin and approached Bali for some charity. The righteous and benevolent King couldn't refuse the Brahmin's offer and was tricked into giving up his kingship and wealth (of which Lakshmi is said to be the Goddess). Diwali marks this overcoming of Mahabali by Lord Vishnu and this is another reason why Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on Diwali. 

In Kerala, the festival of 'Onam' is celebrated around the month of August to mark this legend. 

3. The Killing of Narakasura: The Bhagavata Purana tells us about Narakasura, an evil demon king who had managed to acquire awesome powers. Unrivalled in prowess, he conquered both the heavens and earth and was tyrannical in his reign. Addicted to power, he even stole the earrings of Aditi, the heavenly mother goddess, and usurped some of her territory. When Lord Vishnu was incarnated as Krishna in the Dwapara Yuga, he killed Narakasura on the day preceding Diwali and rescued 16,000 women whom the demon had imprisoned in his palace. The deliverance from the terrible Narakasura was celebrated with much grandeur, a tradition that continues to this day.

However, another version of the story credits Lord Krishna's wife Sathyabhama as the one who eliminated Narakasura. It is said that Narakasura could only be killed by his mother Bhudevi and as Satyabhama was an incarnation of the same Bhudevi, she only could kill him. Before death, however, Narakasura realized his mistake and requested a boon from Satyabhama that everyone should celebrate his death with colorful light. To commemorate his death, the event is celebrated in some parts of India as Naraka Chaturdasi, two days before Diwali day.  

4. The Return of the Pandavas: The great Hindu epic ‘Mahabharata’ reveals that it was ‘Kartik Amavashya’ (the new moon day of the Kartik month) when the Pandavas appeared from their 12 years of banishment as a result of their defeat in the hands of the Kauravas at the game of dice (gambling). The five Pandava brothers, their mother and their wife Draupadi were honest, kind, gentle and caring in their ways and were loved by all their subjects. To celebrate the joyous occassion of their return to Hastinapura and to welcome back the Pandavas, the common people illuminated their state by lighting bright earthen lamps everywhere. And the tradition is maintained to this day. 

5. The Victory of Rama: The great Hindu epic ‘Ramayana’ describes how Lord Ram (the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the Treta Yug) conquered Lanka after

vanquishing the evil King Ravana and after passing a period of of fourteen years in exile returned to his capital Ayodhya on a new moon day of Kartik with wife Sita and brother Lakshman. To celebrate the homecoming of their beloved king, the people of Ayodhya burst crackers, lit up their houses with earthen lamps (diyas), and decorated the entire city in the grandest manner. Year after year this homecoming of Lord Rama is commemorated on Diwali with lights, fireworks, bursting of crackers and merriment. The festival gets its name Deepawali, or Diwali, from the rows (avali) of lamps (deepa) that the people of Ayodhya lit to welcome their King. 

6. Coronation of Vikramaditya: It is also said that Vikramaditya, the legendary Indian king famed for his wisdom, valour and magnanimity was coroneted on the Diwali day following his victory over the Sakas in 56 BC. This was marked by a grand celebration which is still maintained annually. One of the greatest Hindu monarchs, Vikramaditya ruled the greatest empire in the world from modern-day Thailand in the east to the borders of modern-day Saudi Arabia in the west. Diwali, thus, apart from being a religious festival also has a historical association. 

7. The Enlightenment of Swami Dayananda Saraswati: Diwali also marks the auspicious occasion when on a new moon day of Kartik (Diwali day) Swami Dayananda Saraswati, one of the greatest reformers of Hinduism attained his nirvana (enlightenment) and became Maharshi Dayananda, meaning the great sage Dayananda. In 1875, Maharshi Dayananda founded the Arya Samaj, "Society of Nobles", a Hindu reform movement to purify Hinduism of the many evils it became associated with at that era. Every Diwali, this great reformer is remembered by Hindus all over India. 

8. The Enlightenment of Vardhamana Mahavira: For Jains, Diwali commemorates the enlightenment of Vardhamana Mahavira(the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankaras of the Jains and the founder of modern Jainism) which is said to have occurred on Oct. 15, 527 B.C. This is one more reason to engage in Diwali celebrations for pious Jains and other than the purpose of commemoration, the festival stands for the celebration of the emancipation of human spirit from earthly desires.

9. Special Day for the Sikhs: For Sikhs, Diwali holds a special significance for it was on a Diwali day that the third Sikh Guru Amar Das institutionalized the festival of lights as an occasion when all Sikhs would gather to receive the Gurus blessings. It was also on a Diwali day in 1619 that their sixth religious leader, Guru Hargobind Ji, who was held by the Mughal Emperor Jahengir in the Gwalior fort, was freed from imprisonment along with 52 Hindu Kings (political prisoners) whom he had arranged to be released as well. And it was also on the same auspicious occasion of Diwali when the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar was laid in 1577. 

10. Goddess Kali: Kali, also called Shyama Kali, is the first of the 10 avatars

 of Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva's consort. According to legend, long ago after the gods lost in a battle with the demons, Goddess Kali was born as Kal Bhoi Nashini from the forehead of Goddess Durga. Said to be a personification of Nari Shakti (female power), Kali was born to save heaven and earth from the growing cruelty of the demons. After killing all the devils, Kali lost her control and started killing anyone who came her way which stopped only when Lord Shiva intervened. The well-known picture of Ma Kali, with her tongue hanging out, actually depicts the moment when she steps on the Lord and repents. 

That momentous day has been commemorated ever since and the main purpose of celebrating Kali Puja is to seek the help of the goddess in destroying evil both external and internal to us as also to get her blessings for general happiness, health, wealth, and peace.

11. The Harvest Festival: Diwali also falls in the time of the Kharif crop, a time when rich rice cultivation gives its fruits. India being a agro-economic society, the significance of a rich harvest gives a new meaning to the celebrations.

12. Hindu New Year day: Diwali is also the Hindu new year, Hinduism being the third largest religion of the world. It is at this time that Hindu businessmen offer pujas, start new books of accounts, and pay off all debts to start a new year afresh, a good enough reason alone to indulge in the festivities. 


To conclude, there are several reasons behind Diwali celebrations and almost every region of India has its own reason to observe the occasion. All of these however, matters little to the festival itself. Whatever the cause behind its celebration, Diwali is undoubtedly a national festival of India, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith. 

          ******Wish Happy Deepawali to everyone!*******