Diwali Myths : Ramayana, Mahabharta to Jain and Sikhs Religion
Diwali or Deepavali is celebrated by different religions and different faiths. Each of them have different reasons for celebrating. Each faith follower has their own special reason that they believed is the cause behind the festival.
Let us look at different mythical and historical reasons for celebrating Diwali:
Ramayana & Diwali
This is the most popular story that we here when we talk about Diwali. The story behind Diwali is in the Ramayana. Rama, the prince of Ayodhya was ordered by his father, King Dasharatha, to go away from his country and come back after living in the forest for 14 years. Rama went on exile with his devoted wife Sita and faithful brother, Lakshmana. When Ravana, the demon king of Lanka abducted Sita and took her away to his island kingdom of Lanka, Rama fought against and killed Ravana. He rescued Sita and returned to Ayodhya. To celebrate Rama’s return to Ayodhya, they lit up their houses with earthen lamps, burst crackers and decorated the entire city.
Mahabharata & Diwali
Mahabharata has its very own tale to tell about Diwali. It reveals to us how the Pandavas suffered defeat in the hands of Kauravas in a game of dice (gambling). As a rule imposed on them, the Pandavas had to serve a term of 13 years in exile. When the period was over, they returned to their birthplace Hastinapura on ‘Kartik Amavashya’. The five Pandava brothers, their mother and their wife Draupadi return to Hastinapura and the common people illuminated their state by lighting bright earthen lamps everywhere. The tradition is believed to have been kept alive through the festival of Diwali is held in remembrance of the Pandava brothers’ homecoming.
Bhagavata Puranam & Diwali
Diwali, according to Bhagavata Puranam is celebrated when on a Kartik day that Lord Vishnu, took on the form of a dwarf (Vamana-avtaaram) and defeated King Mahabali. He was a powerful demon king who ruled the earth. Even gods failed to defeat him in battles. Finding no way to defeat Mahabali, the Devas went to Lord Vishnu and insisted him to find a way to stop him. Lord Vishnu made a plan. He disguised himself as Vamana and approached Mahabali for some charity. A large-hearted king, Mahabali tried to help the Brahmin, leading to the King to give up all his kingship and wealth. Diwali celebrates this defeating of Mahabali by Lord Vishnu.
Goddess Lakshmi & Diwali
It is said on Diwali day, Goddess Lakshmi rose up from the ocean. The Hindu scriptures tell us that both Gods and Demons were mortal. But they wanted to live forever. So they churned the ocean to seek Amrita, the nectar of immortality, during which many divine objects came up. was Goddess Lakshmi was one important God that came up, who arose on the new moon day (amaavasyaa) of the Karthika Masam. That very night, Lord Vishnu married her. Brilliant lamps were illuminated and placed in rows to mark this occasion. This event is supposed to have given rise to an annual celebration at the same time each year called Diwali.
Goddes Kali & Diwali
Long ago after the gods lost in a battle with the demons, Goddess Kali took birth from the forehead of Goddess Durga 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. This memorable event has been commemorated ever since by celebrating Kali Puja, which is observed in several parts of India in about the same time as Diwali.
Vikramaditya & Diwali
On a Diwali day in 56 BC King Vikramaditya, the legendary Hindu king of India famed for his wisdom, bravery and large-heartedness, was crowned and declared to be a king. This was marked by a grand celebration by the citizens of Vikramaditya’s kingdom celebrated the coronation of their king by lighting up small earthen lamps and that custom still prevails. Many people and even some historians say that this event gave rise to the annual observance of Diwali.
Arya Samaj & Diwali
Diwali also marks the sacred occasion when on a Diwali day Swami Dayananda Saraswati, one of the greatest reformers of Hinduism attained his nirvana and became ‘Maharshi’ 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.
Jains & Diwali
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 October 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.
Sikhs & Diwali
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.
