Deepawali Photo Essay - Part 2
Deepavali Dyuta Krida
The act of gambling is known in
Hinduism since Vedic period. However, it was known as game of Dyuta and called
Dyuta-Krida (द्यूत-क्रीडा). The board on which it is
played is known as Chaupar and dice are known as Pasha (पाश).
As per religious books, wearing
new clothes after Abhyang Snan on the first day of Kartik month should be
followed by Dyuta Krida and taking Mangal Aarti from female members of the
family.
Elephanta Caves Sculpture. Shiva cheats at the game of Dice and Parvati
sulks affectionately.
This attitude of Parvati is called
Sanskutimana.
The Legend:
It is believed that the game of
dice was invented by Lord Shiva who had then declared to Goddess Parvati,
"O Devi! I have created the game of dice for passing time, for those who
want to amass sudden wealth and to destroy the wealth of someone".
As per Hindu religious books, it
was the day of Kartik Pratipada when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati played the
game of dice the very first time. Before they began to play, says one version
of the myth, Parvati and Shiva were one, the androgyne, Ardhanarisvara. Narada,
a sage, visited them and enticed them to play by telling them, “the game of
dice has many forms—and the two of you are likely to find it more pleasing than
making love”
Ardhanarishwara
Parvati takes the dice and begins
to play, after she separates herself from Shiva so that they become two
different players.
And so the
fragmentation begins. Shiva, usually
reluctantly at first, begins to play; then they become entirely absorbed in the
game and both of them begin to cheat and play in tricky ways. At first Shiva beats Parvati, and she gets
angrier and angrier. This makes her more
beautiful to Shiva, so he keeps playing. But then more is wagered and Shiva
loses everything—all of his attributes to her.
Parvati demands what he has wagered but Shiva reneges.
Shiva & Parvati playing dice – Ellora cave 21
“Shiva merely smiled at this
point and said something true: ‘I wasn’t really beaten by you, dearest; look at
things from the right perspective. No
living being can ever overcome me. You
shouldn’t talk like this”.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati playing Chaupar
A quarrel thus ensues because
Shiva has reneged on his pledge and refused to pay, let alone even acknowledge
that he lost. Shiva having lost all that he possesses and humiliated by his
defeat, gets up and walks off to avoid further argument. He goes into the cedar
forest leaving Parvati all alone.
The Wandering Ascetic Shiva
Here Shiva wanders around and meets Vishnu who feels sorry for him and offers to
help:
“Play another game. This time I promise you will win,” he tells
Shiva. And that is exactly what happens.
Shiva and Vishnu
Shiva wins back all that he had lost in his
earlier games, even his loincloth. Parvati, suspicious of Shiva’s sudden success, calls him a cheat.
Parvati Chides Shiva
Shiva outraged by the accusation,
demands an apology. Words are exchanged,
insults are hurled…
To pacify them both, Vishnu
appears on the scene and reveals to Parvati the secret of Shiva’s victories.
Vishnu tells Parvati the secret of Shiva's victory
“My spirit entered the dice. The dice moved not according to your play but
my wish. So neither has Shiva really won
nor have you really lost. The game was
an illusion; your quarrel is thus, a product of delusion.”
On hearing Vishnu, Parvati and
Shiva realize that life is like their game of dice—totally unpredictable and
beyond control. They say, “Let the gods
bless all who play dice on this day and realize this cosmic truth.”
This day is celebrated as Diwali,
the festival of lights.
Many people believe erroneously
that it is auspicious to gamble on Diwali night. Actually, none of the Hindu
Scriptures mention gambling on the night of Diwali. However, most of them do suggest
playing Dyuta on the day of Kartik Pratipada.
The day after Diwali is also the day to worship Vishwakarma. Vishvakarma was the divine architect, and one of the fourteen precious treasures that appeared out of the Samudra Manthan (the churning of the ocean to gain Amrita, the nectar of immortality).
Vishwakarma
Lord Vishwakarma, Ghat Ki Guni, Jaipur
Vishwakarmaconstructed the holy city of
Dwarka where Lord Krishna ruled, The Maya Sabha of the Pandavas and was
the creator of many fabulous weapons for the gods. This day is often
used by manufacturers to pray for their equipment so that it works well
and makes profit during the year ahead.
Panchamukhi Vishwakarma
Some Other Diwali Traditions
On the orders of Bharata, the
people of Ayodhya cleaned their houses and placed oil lamps (diyas) to light
the path of the Pushpaka Vimana that brought Rama back from Lanka.
Hindus clean their house before
Diwali. They whitewash, renovate and decorate their houses with flowers and
rangolis. It is thought that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity arrives
in a clean and inviting house.
At night, traditional Diyas and candles are lit.
Some believe that Lakshmi will be better able to find her way into well-lit homes.
Women often set diyas
afloat on a river, especially Ganga during Diwali. If the light makes it to the other side of the river, this
is taken as a sign of good luck.
Driving out Alakshmi: Alakshmi is considered the goddess of bad
luck, poverty, and misfortune, so she has to be driven out from the houses. This
ritual is generally done by the oldest woman of the house.
Lakshmi and Daridra(Alakshmi)
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असंगोऽहम्
चेतना के चैतन्य चिंतन...
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Hi all,
I am posting here after three years! It's Dhana Trayodashi, an auspicious day to start again...
Here's a photo essay on the 5 Day Festival of Diwali 2014. Hope you enjoy it.
Happy New Year! It is Vikram Samvat 2071!
The beginning date of the calendar is supposed to mark the victory of king Vikramaditya over the Sakas, who had invaded Ujjain. Kalakacharya and the Saka King. From "Kalakacharya Kathanaka" by Jain sage Mahesara Suri.
Deepawali, the festival of lights.
Lakshmi puja being performed on occasion of Diwali at Swaminarayan Temple, Dadar, in Mumbai. Businessmen keep their account books to be sanctified on the Diwali day for success in the ensuing Samvat.
BSE brokers busy in Diwali Muhurat trading at Bombay Stock Exchange on occasion of Lakshmi Pujan at Mumbai.
A Pata for Diwali.
Mystic Madhubani for Diwali.
Diwali at Golden Temple, Amritsar.
Rangoli for Diwali from Maharashtra.
Flower rangoli with Swastika.
The festival of lights!
And sound - rather, a terrible din and polluting smoke lasting for days!
The Legends of Diwali:
The
5 day festivity begins with Dhanvantari Trayodasi or Dhanteras. There
is a story of the sixteen year old son of King Hima. As per his
horoscope he was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his
marriage. On that particular fourth day of his marriage his young wife
did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold
and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband’s boudoir
and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on
telling stories and singing songs. When Yama, the god of death arrived
there in the guise of a serpent his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of
those brilliant lights and he could not enter the prince’s chamber. So
he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there
whole night listening to the melodious songs. In the morning he quietly
went away.
Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then, this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "YAMADEEPDAAN" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yama, the god of death. Dhanteras is also known as Dhanatrayodashi, and takes place two days before Diwali, in honour of Dhanavantri, the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu.
Traditionally, people purchase gold and silver on this day.
Gold shopping at a medium sized jewellery outlet in Patna on Dhanteras, 2013.
This day, has now become the biggest consumer event in India.
Then comes Naraka Chaturdashi and the Legend of Narakasura! On the day preceding Diwali, Lord Krishna killed the demon king
Narakaasur and rescued 16,000 women from his captivity. This day is
called Narak Chaturdasi and the celebration of this freedom went on for
two days including the Diwali day as a victory festival.
Naraka, son of Bhudevi, acquired immense power from a blessing given by Lord Brahma after a severe penance. He soon unleashed a reign of terror in the kingdom of Kamarupa, harassing celestial beings with his invincible might. But Naraka could not be easily killed as he had a boon that he would face death only at the hands of his mother Bhudevi. So, Krishna asks his wife Satyabhama, the reincarnation of Bhudevi, to be his charioteer in the battle with Naraka. When Krishna feigns unconsciousness after being hit by an arrow of Naraka, Satyabhama takes the bow and aims the arrow at Naraka, killing him instantly. The slaying of Naraka by Sathyabhama could also be taken to interpret that parents should not hesitate to punish their children when they stray on to the wrong path. The message of Naraka Chaturdasi is that the good of the society should always prevail over one's own personal bonds. Krishna Storms the Citadel of Naraka. Krishna Cleaves the Demon Narakasura with his Discus. Idol of 'Narakasura' goes up in flames at the 'Narakasura Samharam', Tirupati. And the famous Govardhan Puja (Annakoot) too occurs on this day in other parts of India. This is a symbolic puja where Goverdhan is symbol of nature, which gives us so much wealth. Krishna persuaded people in Gokul, to worship and take care of Goverdhan mountain, which is the source of their fertile land and natural wealth. This did not please Indra. He sent thunder and torrential rain down on the village. Krishna saved the villagers by lifting the top of the mountain with his finger. The offering of food to God on this day (a day after Diwali) is a reminder of the importance of food and it is a time for being thankful to nature.
Krishna lifts Govardhan.
Chodhyo Pradeep: The Indian Halloween and the importance of the number 14 to the BengalisSome Bengalis celebrate the festival of lights for three days. The day before Diwali is known as ‘chodhyo prodeep’ (14 diyas) or ‘bhooth chaturdashi’. On this day, Kali puja is performed from midnight till early hours of the next morning.Chodhyo Prodeep is observed to pay homage to 14 ancestors, requesting them to save everyone from evil spirits and ghosts. 14 lamps are lighted and placed in 14 corners of the house to eliminate evil and darkness. Separate oil is bought for Kalipuja or Diwali. Bengalis cook ‘chodhyo saag’ using 14 varieties of green leafy vegetables and eat it with rice on this day. Naraka Chaturdashi is the most auspicious day during Diwali festival.On the day of Naraka Chaturdashi people observe fast and lamps are lit in the evening in the honour of yamaraj. According to an ancient tale, a king named Ranti Deva was a religious and wise man. He was highly involved in religious works and service of mankind. At the time of his death, messengers of Yamaraj came to take his soul.When the messengers stepped towards the king, he asked them, “despite not having done any evil deeds throughout my life, why have you all have come to take me to hell? Please tell me my sin. Then the messengers told him, “once you let a priest go back hungry from your door, due to which you have attained hell. The King asked them to grant him a year's time.The messengers increased his life by an year due to his blemish free life. The king visited some saints and told them the entire story.The saints told the king to observe the fast on the Naraka Chaturdashi, feed the priests and apologise to them for his mistake. This, they said, would give him relief from his sins. The king then observed the fast and was relieved of his sin. Since then, people observe a fast on Naraka Chaturdashi to get freedom from hell and to become free of sins.
With
the chanting of Mahalakshmi ashtakam comes Deepawali. There is a
popular belief that Goddess Lakshmi first appeared from the
churning of ocean (Samundra Manthan). But according to our Mythology,
this is actually a rebirth of Goddess Lakshmi. The Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi
incarnated on the new moon day (amaavasyaa) of the Kartik month during
the churning of the ocean (samudra-manthan), hence the association of
Diwali with Lakshmi Puja.
The traditional Deepawali triad.
Ritual Painting of Goddess Lakshmi for Worship on Diwali The day is also celebrated as Kali Puja or Shyama Puja in Bengal and some parts of Assam and Orissa. Raja Krishnachandra, the king of Navadipa started the Bengali puja of Mahakali in the 18th century. The tradition was carried forward by his descendants and the other wealthy zamindar families in Bengal. There is a mythical story for kali puja as well. Once, two asuras, Shumbha and Nishumbha, and their asura armies, plagued the Earth and Heaven. The gods prayed to Goddess Durga who is the eternal Shakti of the Universe. To answer their prayers, Kali was born from the forehead of Durga. Kali attacked the errant asuras with a 'khara' which is kind of twisted sword in her hand. Once she started slaying the asuras, her thirst for blood was aroused. She made a garland of the heads of dead asuras and wore it around her neck. Then she started slaying anyone who came in her way. To soothe her anger, Shiva (who is her husband) lay down in her path. When she stepped on her husband in her fury, she stuck her tongue out in shame and her entire body turned black in colour. Her fury ended at that very moment and that is why she is portrayed with her tongue stuck out and her foot on Shiva's chest. Raama's victory over Raavana and his return to Ayodhya is celebrated as Deepawali. According to the epic ‘Raamaayana’, it was the new moon day of Kartik when Raama, Sitaa and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhyaa after vanquishing Raavana and conquering Lanka. In Ayodhyaa, the people welcomed them by lighting rows of clay lamps. So, it is an occasion in honour of Raama's victory over Raavana; of Truth's victory over Evil. ..............................
The
day after Diwali is Bali Pratipada. King Bali was a generous but very
ambitious ruler. He has become extremely powerful and controlled all
three worlds, The Earth, The Heaven and
the netherworld. He had also entrapped goddess Lakshmi within his body.
Lord Vishnu in his Vamana Avatar (the Dwarf), approached Bali on the Diwali day, when Bali was about to complete his 100th Ashwamedha Yagna, which would have given him the power of Indra, and asked for three footsteps of land. Bali, known for his generousness, granted this wish, even when his Guru advised him to the contrary. Once Bali granted the request, Vishnu expanded his body until he became so large that he covered Earth to Heaven in one step, and the netherworld in second. Bali eventually provided his own head for the third step, to fulfill his promise. Then Vamana permitted Bali to go and live in the netherworld. Also, pleased with the generosity of Bali, Vamana granted him a boon that he could return to earth for one day in a year to be with his people and have them light millions of lamps to dispel darkness and ignorance, and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It is this day that is celebrated as the Bali Padyami/Pratipada, - the annual return of Bali from the netherworld to earth on the day after Diwali. Cows being worshipped(?!!!) in villages in South India on Balipratipada.
Vamana and Bali. Kalighat Painting
Vishnu as Vamana. The First two steps.
The Third Step.
Vamana as Trivikrama with three legs.
The fifth and last day is Yama Dwitiya or Bhai Duj. It celebrates the love between brothers and sisters. The famous legend of Bhai Duj states that once Yamraja went to meet his twin sister Yamuna after a long time. When he reached there, she was very happy to see him and put tilak on his forehead, performing aarti, and offered him sweets to eat and gave him a small gift as a token of love. She treated him with appetizing meal. Yamraja was so pleased to see the love and care of his sister that he declared that any brother, who receives tilak from his sister on this day, will never be sent to the hell and will live a long life. Since then the custom of celebrating Bhai Duj started and this is why it is also known as Yama Dwitiya. The sibling duo of Yama (right side of the picture) and Yamuna at Vishram Ghat.
Another
legend is linked with Lord Krishna when he went to meet his sister
Subhadra after killing the demon Narakasura. Subhadra was very happy to
see her brother and she gave a warm welcome to him with flowers and by
performing aarti and putting tilak on his forehead as a mark of
protection and by offering him sweets to eat. This legend then gave
birth to the festival of Bhai Duj, stating that sisters, no matter
what, will pray for the well-being and long life of their brothers.
The Trinity of Balarama, Subhadra and Krishna at the Temple of Jagannatha.
Bhai Duj celebrations.
Brothers and sisters taking a holy dip in the Yamuna on Bhai Duj
Some other interesting aspects of Deepawali:
According to the great epic ‘Mahabharata’, it was ‘Kartik Amavashya’ 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 fourteen auspicious dreams, arranged around a picture of goddess Lakshmi who appears in one of the dreams herself. Although technically not from the traditional Diwali set of tales, this is an interesting aside from the Jain Tradition.
The Powerful Shri Yantra.
The Ashta Lakshmi Shri Yantram.
It's that time of the year when we are on a sweet eating overload! As you probably know we Bengalis have an insatiable sweet tooth!
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