Important Rituals of Deepavali
Deepavali is perhaps the most important festival in the religious calendar of the Hindus. The festival of lights consists of at least five days of celebrations and rituals, commencing from the Trayodashi of the Krishna Paksha of Ashwayuja and going up to the Dwitiya of the Shukla Paksha of the Kartika masa.
Out of these five days, the festivals of Naraka Chaturdashi, Amavasya and Bali Padyami are the most important ones. On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashwayuja, the killing of Narakasura by Sri Krishna is celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi. On the next day, i.e. on the day of the new moon of Ashwayuja, Lakshmi puja is widely celebrated. On the first day of the bright fortnight of Kartika, Bali Padyami or the day of Sri Vamana’s victory over King Bali is celebrated.
Although the most exciting parts of Deepavali are the bursting of crackers, consuming sweets and savories, putting on new clothes and meeting relatives and friends, the festival is also known for its numerous rituals. Let us look at a few important ones practiced to this day by devout Hindu families.
Naraka Chaturdashi
On the Naraka Chaturdashi, the most important ritual is the taking of the oil bath. Almost all the scriptures that talk about Deepavali highlight this custom.
आश्वयुक् कृष्णपक्षस्य चतुर्दश्यां विधूदये |
तैलाभ्यङ्गं प्रकर्तव्यं नरैर्नरकभीरुभिः ||
“On the Chaturdashi of the Krishna Paksha of Ashwayuja, at the time of moon-rise, all those who are fearful of Naraka must mandatorily perform oil bath”
It is believed that taking an oil bath, with warm water, on this day ensures that the devout shall be spared of the turmoil of Naraka.
The Smriti Muktavali grantha mentions the following as the main parts of the ritual:
- Waking up around the Brahmi Muhurtha – one and a half hours before sunrise
- Preparing hot water which has five auspicious twigs mixed in it
- Applying oil on the body
- Getting a mangalarati done through Sumangalis
- Taking hot water bath
- Performing the puja of Lakshmi
The scripture says that a person who celebrates Naraka Chaturdashi in this manner shall obtain all kinds of wealth, and Lakshmi shall reside in his house always.
Sometimes, Chaturdashi spans two days. On such occasions, whenever Chaturdashi occurs at the time of moon-rise, the rituals of Naraka Chaturdashi are to be observed. During Ashwayuja masa Krishna Paksha Trayodashi/Chaturdashi, moonrise always occurs around 2 hours before sunrise. Hence on the day when Chaturdashi exists two hours before sunrise, the custom is to be observed.
Smriti Muktavali further describes the utmost importance of the oil bath:
ख्याता लोके महापुण्या नरकाख्याचतुर्दशी |
न हि व्रतं विलुप्येत कार्तिकव्रतिनां नृणाम् ||
विधवानां यतीनां च तस्यां तैलस्य सेवनात् |
“(Due to the killing of Narakasura) this particular Chaturdashi is very well known as the one that brings great merit. Even those who are undertaking a vrata in the Kartika month, or widows or sanyasis will not suffer a loss of vow (when they take an oil bath)”
The usual practice in our Dharma is for those undertaking any vrata to not take an oil bath for the duration of the vrata. Similarly, widows and sanyasis give up oil bathing. However, on this particular day, taking an oil bath is mandatory for all of them. That is how important this ritual is!
Lakshmi Puja
On the Chaturdashi day, and on the next day which is Amavasya, all devout Hindus worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and opulence. The worship of Sri on this day ensures one gets rid of poverty and inauspiciousness.
Smriti Muktavali explains the reason behind the worship of Lakshmi on this day.
तदानीं तु रमादेवी समुत्तिष्ठति तल्पतः |
ततो नीराजनं तस्याः कुर्वीत विधिवन्नरः ||
“On that day, Ramaa Devi gets up from her sleep. At that time, people should welcome her with arati as per the scriptures”
As per our granthas, the time calendar of humans and Devatas are different. One year corresponding to the manavas or humans is equivalent to one day of the devatas. In other words 360 days of our time is equivalent to one day of the Devatas.
On the Shukla Ekadashi of the month of Ashada, the second part of the night of the Devatas begins. On this auspicious day, known as the Shayani Ekadashi, Sri Vishnu goes to shayana or sleep. This day marks the beginning of the Chaturmasya Vrata. The four months of the Chaturmasas are the deepest parts of the night for the Devatas. Hence the perceived ‘sleep’ of the Parabrahman.
Sri Narayana wakes up on the 12th day of the Shukla Paksha of Kartika Masa. This day is known as Uttana Dwadashi, and is celebrated grandly all over Bharata. So the duration between Shayani Ekadashi and Uttana Dwadashi is the dark night of the Devatas.
Mahalakshmi is the devoted wife of Narayana, and a pativrata. As per the Shrutis and Agamas, a pativrata wife is supposed to wake up at least a muhurtha (roughly 48 minutes) before the husband. Lakshmi, being the devoted spouse that she is, promptly wakes up one muhurtha before the Lord arises.
In a day, there are 30 muhurthas. The day of the Devatas is 360 human days. Therefore, each muhurtha of the Devatas is (360/30) = 12 days. Hence 12 days before Uttana Dwadashi or on the day of Ashwayuja Amavasya, Lakshmi wakes up to get ready to serve her Lord – exactly one muhurtha before her husband is awake!
As humans, it is our custom to welcome anyone important by performing a “neerajana” or “arati” with diyas. Hence it is the custom of Hindus to worship Lakshmi with as many diyas/deepas as possible during Deepavali Amavasya!
Yama Tarpana
Another important ritual that is practiced on the Chaturdashi of Deepavali is the offering of water or “Tarpana” to Yama. Since Yama is the presiding deity of death, and the departed ones, on this auspicious day, all Hindus offer their tributes to the God of Death through the Tarpana.
The person offering the Tarpana stands facing south, and offers water along with sesame seeds to Yama (those whose parents are still alive offer water and raw rice) while chanting the following mantra:
यमाय धर्मराजाय मृत्यवे चान्तकाय च |
वैवस्वताय कालाय सर्वभूतक्षयाय च ||
औदुम्बराय दध्नाय नीलाय परमेष्टिने |
वृकोदराय चित्राय चित्रगुप्ताय वै नमो नमः ||
The Yama Smriti further states that if one were to take bath in a river this day before offering Tarpana to Yama, then all the sins of such a person will get destroyed.
These are the most important rituals of Deepavali, and the reasons behind their observance for thousands of days. May this year’s Deepavali bring health, happiness and prosperity to all Dharmikas.
Sri Krishnarpanamastu
