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:
No comments:
Post a Comment