Deepavali – shining light
As the battle ensues between Krishna and the mighty ``Narakasura’’ in which the latter’s elimination; just before his demise requested Krishna let the commoners rejoice in his death by lighting light in their homes and everywhere. That was the story I knew since young, told to me by parent. However, I was told of another important lesson from that ``puranic’’ stories of yore. Though the essence of the story is victory of goodness over evil (dharma conquering adharma), parent failed to narrate the actual meaning of celebrating Deepavali or simply know as Diwali.
I do well remember when I was in secondary two, my Malay teacher asked us, the Indian Hindus, in the class what is the meaning of Deepavali? Grinning with shyness and without deep knowledge, we would sheepishly look down at our desk indicating we were not sure. She would then explain to the class her reading understanding the significance of Deepavali celebration. Yes of course, it was not as accurate as she just explained per the ``Civic’’ text book - part of the curriculum book elaboration without depth or real substance. It took me even many years or so since then (20 years) to actually understand deeply the significance of the celebration.
As to why we celebrate the festival is not as important than having real fun plying crackers, donning new clothes, shoes and receiving `money’ from elders. The open house concept of celebration further adds to the colorful event where friends from different communities (Malay and Chinese) would join our `open house’ – rumah terbuka! The idea of making `others’ happy and promoting good neighbourhood with different races was the main focus and inspiration. Thus, commonly foods that we feasted too our guests reflect that taking care of thy neighbor’s heart was an obligation and treating them as extension of god. That was my basic lesson during childhood - Guest is god.
Deepavali eve was another joyous occasion to be celebrated. I remembered that during every Deepavali eve mother would prepare meals and beverages as part of ancestral (grandparents) prayers. Chicken curry, assortments of their inner body parts, mutton, prawns, fried curried crabs, and also a bottle of `alcohol beverage’ near grandparents’ pictures appeasing their `soul’ or ``atma shanti’’. When asked the reasons with them, I was told of how dead people liked to be offered these offerings as they had that craving when they’re alive. Innocent as ever at that point of childhood and teenage years, I would not much dwell in depth. As long we enjoy in the mist of the lights all over, that will do!!
Somehow my attitude has significantly changed when I went to college. I had more intellectual grasp after asking for e answers to the many Hindu beliefs and practices. I started to read, listen and a little exposed to Hinduism knowledge as well reasoning of most of the rituals done or connected to Hindu prayers. One day, I dreamed mother was placing non-vegetarian meals (meat) on prayer alter and I said no (prohibited) to her. I woke in the morning and called her to ask if she had placed any meat on prayer alter. She said she did but not place directly on alter but just a picture of a demigod and offered meat as part of ritual obligation asked to be performed to her by a wandering ``shaman’’. I explained to mother why we shouldn't place meat as offering on the alter and significance of being vegetarian as well. Meaning of ``Hindu'' – practitioners of religious belief that placed ahimsa (non injury/killing) towards all living being as foremost sacred duty. She agreed and that was the starting point where on every Deepavali, no meat is being served for prayers at all and for ancestral prayers as well.
As my intellectual understanding and awareness started to deepen, I began abstaining meat as well couldn't’t have a heart to digest another living creature just as to please my selfish taste bud. Thirukkural advice pertaining to abstinence of consuming meat did had a real impact as well the fact that my early experience of `slaughtering’ a chicken at age of seven where half way through the action, had a fright and let go off the chicken causing severe blood loss on the chicken and seeing a gory effect - dangling neck with unfinished cut. That was my first and last attempt to slaughter a living creature!! Shivering and frightened to core of my inner soul, reacted firmly and told mother not to ask me to perform such `cruel’ act in future. Indeed had a deep impact of how painful feeling could inflicted to another living creature. It took me months to come back from heavy guilty consciousness.
My spiritual understanding journey about Deepavali took a new turning point for good. I became a vegetarian at the age of 18.Mother too became one and no practice of meat offering on alter during the eve or on Deepavali day were practiced. However, the core practice of appeasing the guests by serving them sumptuous non-vegetarian meals still was a standard practice then. In my family, I stopped being one. I asked mother to serve only vegetarian meals to my friends who came for ``Deepavali open house’’. Understandably all liked the vegetarian dishes and had no qualms eating. Setting a different pattern of positive action requires courage and patience. Say no to over indulgence with alcohol consumption or serving guest with polite gesture. Replace that with good healthy food and wellness beverages.
The real meaning of victory of righteousness over evil in the real sense, I understood as a significant transformation of good habit from the bad ones, performing dharma than adharma, serving the needy as well uplift religion and community from darkness to light. See god everywhere and in everyone. Love every living creatures and being compassionate towards them (including animal kingdom). The joy of celebrating Deepavali is more of family togetherness, being humble, building strong bonds between family members, relatives and friends. Also time to look back and review actions that had hurt others. Taking vows not to repeat that action in future. Seek forgiveness where possible. ``Killing/slaying’’ the little demons that reside in our heart – anger, jealousy, hatred, hurtfulness and asuric tendencies within.
Darkness that enshrouds our outer mind soon will be gone, revealing the pure white light. That is the real victory in celebrating Deepavali. The ``self’’ conquers the ``self’’’. Elevate higher in awareness and pure consciousness. Gain pure mind thoughts and exemplary personal conducts. Improve personal positive traits. Steady small upward movement of meaningful positive self-transformation as light (deepam) shines over dark pockets of mind guiding us towards the straight path (Sanathana dharma).
Belated Happy Deepavali (Diwali) to all and have a wonderful and joyous day!!!
As the battle ensues between Krishna and the mighty ``Narakasura’’ in which the latter’s elimination; just before his demise requested Krishna let the commoners rejoice in his death by lighting light in their homes and everywhere. That was the story I knew since young, told to me by parent. However, I was told of another important lesson from that ``puranic’’ stories of yore. Though the essence of the story is victory of goodness over evil (dharma conquering adharma), parent failed to narrate the actual meaning of celebrating Deepavali or simply know as Diwali.
I do well remember when I was in secondary two, my Malay teacher asked us, the Indian Hindus, in the class what is the meaning of Deepavali? Grinning with shyness and without deep knowledge, we would sheepishly look down at our desk indicating we were not sure. She would then explain to the class her reading understanding the significance of Deepavali celebration. Yes of course, it was not as accurate as she just explained per the ``Civic’’ text book - part of the curriculum book elaboration without depth or real substance. It took me even many years or so since then (20 years) to actually understand deeply the significance of the celebration.
As to why we celebrate the festival is not as important than having real fun plying crackers, donning new clothes, shoes and receiving `money’ from elders. The open house concept of celebration further adds to the colorful event where friends from different communities (Malay and Chinese) would join our `open house’ – rumah terbuka! The idea of making `others’ happy and promoting good neighbourhood with different races was the main focus and inspiration. Thus, commonly foods that we feasted too our guests reflect that taking care of thy neighbor’s heart was an obligation and treating them as extension of god. That was my basic lesson during childhood - Guest is god.
Deepavali eve was another joyous occasion to be celebrated. I remembered that during every Deepavali eve mother would prepare meals and beverages as part of ancestral (grandparents) prayers. Chicken curry, assortments of their inner body parts, mutton, prawns, fried curried crabs, and also a bottle of `alcohol beverage’ near grandparents’ pictures appeasing their `soul’ or ``atma shanti’’. When asked the reasons with them, I was told of how dead people liked to be offered these offerings as they had that craving when they’re alive. Innocent as ever at that point of childhood and teenage years, I would not much dwell in depth. As long we enjoy in the mist of the lights all over, that will do!!
Somehow my attitude has significantly changed when I went to college. I had more intellectual grasp after asking for e answers to the many Hindu beliefs and practices. I started to read, listen and a little exposed to Hinduism knowledge as well reasoning of most of the rituals done or connected to Hindu prayers. One day, I dreamed mother was placing non-vegetarian meals (meat) on prayer alter and I said no (prohibited) to her. I woke in the morning and called her to ask if she had placed any meat on prayer alter. She said she did but not place directly on alter but just a picture of a demigod and offered meat as part of ritual obligation asked to be performed to her by a wandering ``shaman’’. I explained to mother why we shouldn't place meat as offering on the alter and significance of being vegetarian as well. Meaning of ``Hindu'' – practitioners of religious belief that placed ahimsa (non injury/killing) towards all living being as foremost sacred duty. She agreed and that was the starting point where on every Deepavali, no meat is being served for prayers at all and for ancestral prayers as well.
As my intellectual understanding and awareness started to deepen, I began abstaining meat as well couldn't’t have a heart to digest another living creature just as to please my selfish taste bud. Thirukkural advice pertaining to abstinence of consuming meat did had a real impact as well the fact that my early experience of `slaughtering’ a chicken at age of seven where half way through the action, had a fright and let go off the chicken causing severe blood loss on the chicken and seeing a gory effect - dangling neck with unfinished cut. That was my first and last attempt to slaughter a living creature!! Shivering and frightened to core of my inner soul, reacted firmly and told mother not to ask me to perform such `cruel’ act in future. Indeed had a deep impact of how painful feeling could inflicted to another living creature. It took me months to come back from heavy guilty consciousness.
My spiritual understanding journey about Deepavali took a new turning point for good. I became a vegetarian at the age of 18.Mother too became one and no practice of meat offering on alter during the eve or on Deepavali day were practiced. However, the core practice of appeasing the guests by serving them sumptuous non-vegetarian meals still was a standard practice then. In my family, I stopped being one. I asked mother to serve only vegetarian meals to my friends who came for ``Deepavali open house’’. Understandably all liked the vegetarian dishes and had no qualms eating. Setting a different pattern of positive action requires courage and patience. Say no to over indulgence with alcohol consumption or serving guest with polite gesture. Replace that with good healthy food and wellness beverages.
The real meaning of victory of righteousness over evil in the real sense, I understood as a significant transformation of good habit from the bad ones, performing dharma than adharma, serving the needy as well uplift religion and community from darkness to light. See god everywhere and in everyone. Love every living creatures and being compassionate towards them (including animal kingdom). The joy of celebrating Deepavali is more of family togetherness, being humble, building strong bonds between family members, relatives and friends. Also time to look back and review actions that had hurt others. Taking vows not to repeat that action in future. Seek forgiveness where possible. ``Killing/slaying’’ the little demons that reside in our heart – anger, jealousy, hatred, hurtfulness and asuric tendencies within.
Darkness that enshrouds our outer mind soon will be gone, revealing the pure white light. That is the real victory in celebrating Deepavali. The ``self’’ conquers the ``self’’’. Elevate higher in awareness and pure consciousness. Gain pure mind thoughts and exemplary personal conducts. Improve personal positive traits. Steady small upward movement of meaningful positive self-transformation as light (deepam) shines over dark pockets of mind guiding us towards the straight path (Sanathana dharma).
Belated Happy Deepavali (Diwali) to all and have a wonderful and joyous day!!!
