CHINAR SHADE : DEEPAWALI IN RAMCHARITMANAS AND NILAMATA PURANA

DEEPAWALI IN RAMCHARITMANAS AND NILAMATA PURANA

Many ancient scriptures of India define the concept of Nagar-Shobha ,Grih -Shobha and Dwaar Shobha ,a practice that is in vogue to this day . We do it on Deepawali. The city is decorated, the homes are decorated so are entrances to the homes decorated. The city bears a festive look. The homes are cleaned, painted and illuminated . When Sri Rama returned after completing his exile of 14 years , the residents of Ayodhya celebrated it as Deep- Utsav performing Nagar Shobha, Grih Shobha and Dwaar Shobha .

Three days back, I read a write-up that Ramcharitmanas doesn't make mention of Deepawali festivity. I am surprised at the breed of such copy-paste writers who do no study before using their pen. Here is what Goswami Tulsidas wrote about Deepawali in Ayodhya when the city performed complete Nagar-Shobha, Grih-Shobha and Dwar-Shobha to welcome Sri Rama after his exile of 14 years. Goswami Tulsidas writes it was Kartik Amavasya when Sri Rama returned after his exile. The residents of Ayodhya cleaned their houses, decorated their doors, decorated streets ,burnt earthen lamps, distributed sweets, put on new clothes and performed Pooja and Pushp- Varsha upon Sri Rama and his companions . For the ignorant writer , who possibly has not read Ramcharitmanas, I quote some Chopais :-

(1)

Suman brashti nabh sankul,

Bhavan chale sukh-kandh..

Chadi ataarin dekhaheen

Nagar nari Nar brindh

( When Sri Rama returned to his Palace,

A rain of flowers fell down from the sky,

Groups of men, women children came to their balconies,

To have his glimpse.)

(2)

Kanchan kalash vichitra sanvaare,

Sabheen dhare saj nij nij dwaare..

Bandhanwaar pataaka ketu

Sabheen banaaye Mangal hetu ...

( Amazingly, they decorated their kalashas of gold ,

And brought them to their respective doors.

They brought buntings, flags welcome banners and put them on their doors.)

(3)

Beetheen sakal sugandh sinchaayi,

Gajmani rachi bahu chowk puraayi.

Nana bhaanti sumangal saaje

Harshi nagar nisaan bahu baaje.

( Every street had been sprayed with fragrant liquids,

Many chowks were decorated with precious stones like gajmani.

Many types of festivity banners decorated the city,

And in the city, many drums were played in happiness .)

I can quote many .

DEEPAWALI IN KASHMIR

One thing more I need to tell that Dwaar-Shobha, Bhoomi Shobha, Grih Shobha and Sukh Suptika are mentioned in Nilamata Purana of Kashmir. Sukh-Suptika is nothing but auspicious Deepawali .Deepawali was celebrated in Kashmir as Sukh-Suptika . As mentioned in the Nilamata Puraṇa.—The component parts of the Sukha Suptikā festival are: fasting at day time on Kartik Amavasya by all excepting the sick and the children; worship of Karisini (Lakṣmī) in the evening; placing lamp-trees in temples, crossings of roads, burning grounds, rivers, hills, houses, shops, pastures etc .; and decoration of shops with clothes; dining with friends, relatives, the Brāhmaṇas and the subordinates after wearing new clothes and playing at dice on the secand day. And Kashmiri Pandits have carried the tradition of Nagar Shobha ( Jhaankis) Dwaar Shobha ( Krool ) Bhoomi Shobha ( Vyoog ) ,Grih Shobha ( Ghar Naavai ) of Nilamata to this day . Deepawali finds mention in Padma Purana, Skanda Purana and many more ancient texts. Kavyamimasa, a 9th century Sanskrit work by Rajashekhra refers to Deepawali as Deepamalika. And many scholars believe that Rajashekhra was a Kashmiri who flourished during the rule of Avantivarman .

As per Mahabharata the Pandavas returned to Hastinapur on Kartik Amavasya.In Jainism, Mahavira attained Moksha (liberation) on Chaturdashi of Kartik month.The Sikhs celebrate Deepawali as "Bandhi Chorr Diwas" , the day when the sixth Guru Hargobindh Ji and 52 Hindu princes were released from Gwalior prison by Mughal King Jahangir .

Although not a primary festival of Buddhism, Diwali is celebrated by some Buddhists as a commemoration of the day when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the 3rd century bce.Deep Daan Utsav is also celebrated by Neo-Buddhists in India on the day of Kartik Amavasya . The festival is in accord with Buddha’s last words— “Atta Deepo Bhava“, which means “Be your own light.” The lighting of deep is, therefore, ingrained within the Buddhist philosophical tradition.

And I was moved by the Deepawali message of Sunita Williams, the NASA astronaut who is held up in space and faces some uncertainty about her return to earth at the moment . May she and her colleagues return safe. May peace arrive early to stay permanently on this planet.

HAPPY DEEPAWALI TO MY FRIENDS, FOLLOWERS AND READERS..

( Avtar Mota )