Monday 28 October 2024

Scriptural References for Deepavali


Dīpāvali (दीपावली) comes from the roots:

1. Dīpa (दीप) – From the root dīp (दीप्), which means "to shine" or "to illuminate."

2. Āvali (आवली) – meaning "a row" or "a series".

The poetic verse in the koṣa illustrates an example to its usage:

 द्विजावली बालनिशाकरांशुभिः 

dvijāvalī bālaniśākarāṃśubhiḥ

Dvija: twice-born

Āvalī : row

Bāla : young

Niśākara : moon

Aṃśubhiḥ : with rays

Generic meaning:

A row of birds illuminated by the tender rays of the young moon.



Profound meaning:

The term dvija can be also used for the initiates. When one is initiated into the Gāyatri, he is 'born' again. He is referred to as a twice born. Such an initiate is illuminated by the tender grace of the divine bliss ( Soma = moon ).

Simply put, Dīpāvali refers to a 'row of light'. The generic expression takes place in the form of festivity where we light lamps and arrange them to fashionably illumine our homes.


The profound expression corresponds with the theme of enlightenment. This includes the annihilation of dark qualities within us, seeking spiritual enlightenment, establishing deities who represent illumination like Sūrya and śrī, celebrating the theme of dharma vs adharma as evidenced by the victory of Lord Rāma etc.

Pramāṇa

Let us look at some scriptural references for this festival.

Bhaviṣyottara Purāṇa (140-71):

उपशमित-मेघनादम् प्रज्वलित-दशाननं रमितरामम् ।

रामायणम् इव सुभगं दीपादिनम् हरतु वो दुरितम् ॥

upaśamita-meghanādam prajvalita-daśānanaṃ ramitarāmam ।

rāmāyaṇam iva subhagaṃ dīpādinam haratu vo duritam ॥

upaśamita (उपशमित) – śam = calm + upa= completely : completely silenced

meghanādam (मेघनादम्) – Son of Rāvaṇa, also called Indrajit

prajvalita (प्रज्वलित) – pra= intensifying + jvala= flame: blazing

daśānanaṃ (दशाननं) – ten-faced, referring to Rāvaṇa

ramita (रमित) – ram= delight : joyful / pleased

rāmam (रामम्) – Rāma

rāmāyaṇam (रामायणम्) – the Rāmāyaṇa

iva (इव) – alike

subhagam (सुभगम्) – su= excellent + bhaga= fortune: "beautiful" or "auspicious"

dīpādinam (दीपादिनम्) – dīpā = light + dinam = day: festival of light

haratu (हरतु) – may it destroy

vaḥ (वः) – your

duritam (दुरितम्) – suffering

Meaning: 

During Deepavali, just as Indrajit (Meghanāda) was silenced in the Rāmāyaṇa,  just as the ten-faced Rāvaṇa was set ablaze, so too will the wicks of the lamps burn brightly. May the festival of Deepavali, as beautiful and grand as the Rāmāyaṇa, dispel all our sufferings.

Padma Purāṇa:

तैले लक्ष्मीर् जले गङ्गा दीपावल्याश् चतुर्दशीम् ।

प्रातः काले तु यः कुर्यात् यमलोकं न पश्यति ॥

taile lakṣmīr jale gaṅgā dīpāvalyāś caturdaśīm ।

prātaḥ kāle tu yaḥ kuryāt yamalokaṃ na paśyati ॥

thailam (थैलम् ) – oil

lakṣmīḥ (क्ष्मीः) – lakṣmīḥ 

jalam (जलम् ) – in water

gaṅgā (गङ्गा) – gaṅgā 

dīpāvalī (दीपावली ) – "on Deepavali"

āḥ ( आः )- of

caturdaśīm (चतुर्दशीम्) – fourteenth ( day of lunar cycle )

prātaḥ (प्रातः) – morning

kāla (काल ) –  time

tu (तु) – indeed

yaḥ (यः) – whoever

kuryāt (कुर्यात्) – performs

yamalokam (यमलोकम्) – realm of Yama

na (न) – not

paśyati (पश्यति) – see / paś= (to see)

Overall meaning:

On the morning of Chaturdashi (the fourteenth day of the fortnight) during Deepavali, Lakshmi resides in oil and Ganga in the form of water. Those who bathe using this anointed oil and water in the morning will be protected from going to Yamaloka (the realm of Yama). 


This explains why oil bath is taken during this day. This Dīpāvali, let us bond through relations, food and gatherings, putting aside all darkness for good.

Read More:

(1) Deepavali Vs Diwali 









No comments:

Post a Comment