Today is Deepavali/ Diwali - the so called festival of lights.
The sound of bursting crackers started in the evening in my apartments.My son was in the group and I had to be beside him helping out in bursting the crackers.
Sitting near the cycle stand, I was watching the children enjoying the arrival of Diwali. My son wanted to join the guys again at 5.00 am in the morning.
I was thinking of my childhood days at Rockfort, Trichy. The memories did not fade away. I still remember the cost of buying the crackers then and now, the joy of sharing with the neighbours, bursting the crackers from dawn to dusk. The elder guys teaching the younger how to burst each cracker. I still remember those days in Guindy at III Block when we were bursting the crackers during Diwali. Thanks to Thakalli ( Balaji), for bringing the crackers from his home town Sivakasi.
The neighbours have been good. My son is enjoying with them.
Life has been a long journey. I just thought how this Diwali has been for me during the next phase of life.Diwali in Coimbatore was quite different. I have started earning!!. New friends, new place.In the childhood days,I was excited to know how much my dad will buy crackers for me. Now I had money but did not buy any crackers!! Just watching the new channels Sun and others every year. Not so great.Now after marriage, we have to join the family in celebrating the Diwali even if we are not keen.But every year, we look forward to spend this Diwali -as an enjoyment for us or for others.
As I was thinking of the past, slowly I came back to where I am now, Bayline Apartments.
We buy dresses, make sweets at home and eagerly start talking about Diwali. All trains are full, people somehow want to go home to celebrate the festival with their parents or in laws. Too much traffic on the Roads, Bus tickets are being sold at thrice the normal rates.
I was thinking what is all this about?
As usual, this year also, in the morning I read in the Newspaper the stories behind celebrating Diwali.
1) The top story of them always is the killing of Narakasura by Lord Krishna, (Through Satyabhama). Narakasura had requested that this day be celebrated as Diwali by all.Where was Narakasura?
2) The next story ( another possible reason behind Diwali) is the arrival of Sita to Ayodhya after vanquish of Ravana by Rama. Again, an asura/ demon/villain however we may term him.
Anyway the victory of Good over Evil.
3) The third story I read was the day of Vamana avatar, the Day god Mahavishnu kept his feet on Maha Bali chakravarthy .I am not sure, because the Onam festival in Kerala during the monsoon also carries this story behind it.
I was thinking the common thread on all this. Hindusim is a great religion that is why it is still being followed over the ages. The fight between good and bad, truth and false hood is still going on and on.
What is the message for all of us,in these days when we have not seen the asuras / demons.
Are they non-existent like the Dinosaurs? So what is the need for celebrating the death of Narakasura?We have not felt any misery from him, why then we have to celebrate on his death day. In fact I realised the present day politicians ruling our country are not keeping us happy. Every election we change our ruler.Again and again we end up in disappointment.
The asuras are still there, well within ourselves. The thoughts of Greed, Lust, Anger are the demonic qualities. The presence of Ego, the feeling of 'I' are the common traits of all asuras leading to their downfall. The thought of Vengence,Power, Pride are driving us mad like the Asuras. The never ending material pursuit is another cause behind all these qualities.The Asuras have not died, they are still alive, within ourselves making us feel the misery . The removal of these from our mind will bring us the real happiness. The bowing of Maha Bali before God and the Lord keeping his feet on his head, destroys his ego enabling him to attain salvation.
Let us all try to bring the real happiness in to us by destroying the evil qualities within ourselves.Let us destroy the modes of passion and ignorance,move towards the passion of goodness.Every day will be colourful like the festival of lights.
Wish you all a Happy Diwali.
The sound of bursting crackers started in the evening in my apartments.My son was in the group and I had to be beside him helping out in bursting the crackers.
Sitting near the cycle stand, I was watching the children enjoying the arrival of Diwali. My son wanted to join the guys again at 5.00 am in the morning.
I was thinking of my childhood days at Rockfort, Trichy. The memories did not fade away. I still remember the cost of buying the crackers then and now, the joy of sharing with the neighbours, bursting the crackers from dawn to dusk. The elder guys teaching the younger how to burst each cracker. I still remember those days in Guindy at III Block when we were bursting the crackers during Diwali. Thanks to Thakalli ( Balaji), for bringing the crackers from his home town Sivakasi.
The neighbours have been good. My son is enjoying with them.
Life has been a long journey. I just thought how this Diwali has been for me during the next phase of life.Diwali in Coimbatore was quite different. I have started earning!!. New friends, new place.In the childhood days,I was excited to know how much my dad will buy crackers for me. Now I had money but did not buy any crackers!! Just watching the new channels Sun and others every year. Not so great.Now after marriage, we have to join the family in celebrating the Diwali even if we are not keen.But every year, we look forward to spend this Diwali -as an enjoyment for us or for others.
As I was thinking of the past, slowly I came back to where I am now, Bayline Apartments.
We buy dresses, make sweets at home and eagerly start talking about Diwali. All trains are full, people somehow want to go home to celebrate the festival with their parents or in laws. Too much traffic on the Roads, Bus tickets are being sold at thrice the normal rates.
I was thinking what is all this about?
As usual, this year also, in the morning I read in the Newspaper the stories behind celebrating Diwali.
1) The top story of them always is the killing of Narakasura by Lord Krishna, (Through Satyabhama). Narakasura had requested that this day be celebrated as Diwali by all.Where was Narakasura?
2) The next story ( another possible reason behind Diwali) is the arrival of Sita to Ayodhya after vanquish of Ravana by Rama. Again, an asura/ demon/villain however we may term him.
Anyway the victory of Good over Evil.
3) The third story I read was the day of Vamana avatar, the Day god Mahavishnu kept his feet on Maha Bali chakravarthy .I am not sure, because the Onam festival in Kerala during the monsoon also carries this story behind it.
I was thinking the common thread on all this. Hindusim is a great religion that is why it is still being followed over the ages. The fight between good and bad, truth and false hood is still going on and on.
What is the message for all of us,in these days when we have not seen the asuras / demons.
Are they non-existent like the Dinosaurs? So what is the need for celebrating the death of Narakasura?We have not felt any misery from him, why then we have to celebrate on his death day. In fact I realised the present day politicians ruling our country are not keeping us happy. Every election we change our ruler.Again and again we end up in disappointment.
The asuras are still there, well within ourselves. The thoughts of Greed, Lust, Anger are the demonic qualities. The presence of Ego, the feeling of 'I' are the common traits of all asuras leading to their downfall. The thought of Vengence,Power, Pride are driving us mad like the Asuras. The never ending material pursuit is another cause behind all these qualities.The Asuras have not died, they are still alive, within ourselves making us feel the misery . The removal of these from our mind will bring us the real happiness. The bowing of Maha Bali before God and the Lord keeping his feet on his head, destroys his ego enabling him to attain salvation.
Let us all try to bring the real happiness in to us by destroying the evil qualities within ourselves.Let us destroy the modes of passion and ignorance,move towards the passion of goodness.Every day will be colourful like the festival of lights.
Wish you all a Happy Diwali.
5 comments:
Hi! I agree with you and it has become a custom to do so many things without asking why. Let us resolve to question all and find our own modern answers for them and pass it on to the next gen!
Hi!
AVJS is Sanjeevi.
Well said about the demonic qualities in us and what are we rejoicing for
Vannakkam,
All parables, mythological or otherwise, legends or spiritual stories found in our Vedas and other scriptures can also be viewed and understood esoterically.
These stories teach us life lessons. And each of us have to assimilate these human value based stories within our own intellect and micro circumstances, though the values these stories convey may have a common factor among them,ie.triumph of good over evil.
I always ask myself as these festivals approach before asking my children etc..
...have I AT LEAST DONE ANYTHING THAT HAS MADE ANYONE HAPPY, INCLUDING MY FRIENDS AND FOES.
IN SHORT HAVE I BEEN A Ram, a Krishna, or Vamana for the past year at least for a moment in the eyes of my family, friends and foe.
..this adds more meaning to Deepavali and not mere repetition of all the stories related to Deepavali etc.
The change must come from the individual self.
Vanakkam
K.Bala Chandran
Vannakkam,
All parables, mythological or otherwise, legends or spiritual stories found in our Vedas and other scriptures can also be viewed and understood esoterically.
These stories teach us life lessons. And each of us have to assimilate these human value based stories within our own intellect and micro circumstances, though the values these stories convey may have a common factor among them,ie.triumph of good over evil.
I always ask myself as these festivals approach before asking my children etc..
...have I AT LEAST DONE ANYTHING THAT HAS MADE ANYONE HAPPY, INCLUDING MY FRIENDS AND FOES.
IN SHORT HAVE I BEEN A Ram, a Krishna, or Vamana for the past year at least for a moment in the eyes of my family, friends and foe.
..this adds more meaning to Deepavali and not mere repetition of all the stories related to Deepavali etc.
The change must come from the individual self.
Vanakkam
K.Bala Chandran
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