Saturday, October 17, 2009
Wish you a very Happy Diwali Day wishes....
Hello All,
I wish you and your family, friends, near and dear........
A very happy, safe and delightful Diwali/Deepavali wishes (17/10/09).
Deepavali, or Diwali, is a major Indian festival, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Many legends are associated with Diwali. It is celebrated by people across the globe as the "Festival of Lights", where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists. While Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light". The word "Diwali" is a modification of the Sanskrit word "Deepavali". 'Deepa' means "light of the dharma", and 'avali' means "a continuous line". The more literal translation is "rows of clay lamps". Firecrackers and fireworks are popular on the eve of Diwali. Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the ‘Atman’. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With the realization of the Atman, come universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (Inner Joy or Peace). The festival marks the victory of good over evil, and uplifting of spiritual darkness.
Diwali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship. While the story behind Deepavali varies from region to region, the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman). Indians pray to Gods on Diwali. According to one theory Diwali may have originated as a harvest festival, marking the last harvest of the year before winter. In an agrarian (or agricultural) society this results in businessmen closing accounts, and beginning a new accounting year. The deity of wealth in Hinduism, Goddess Lakshmi is therefore thanked on this day and everyone prays for a good year ahead. This is the common factor in Diwali celebrations all over the Indian subcontinent. In many parts of India, it is the homecoming of King Rama of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile in the forest. The people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deepa), thus its name, Deepavali, or simply shortened as Diwali. Southern India marks it as the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura (celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi). In western India it is also in honor of the day King Bali went to rule the nether/under-world by the order of Vishnu.
Diwali is celebrated on the first New moon day of the lunar Kartika month (although the celebrations begin two days prior and end two days after that day), which comes in the month of October or November. The grand celebrations of Diwali spread through five days. The First day is Dhanatrayodashi or Dhanteras. 'Dhan' means "wealth" and 'Trayodashi/Teras' means "13th day". It is an auspicious day for shopping of utensils and gold. Naraka Chaturdashi or Kali Chaudas is the Second day on which demon Narakasura was killed. It signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. Lakshmi Puja marks the most important (Third) day of Diwali celebrations. Hindu homes worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Ganesh, the God of auspicious beginnings, and then light lamps all across the streets and homes to welcome prosperity and well-being. Govardhan Puja is performed on the Fourth day also called Annakut, celebrated as the day Krishna defeated Indra. Lord Krishna taught people to worship nature, as mountains bring rains to earth. For Annakut, a mountain of food is decorated symbolizing Govardhan mountain lifted by Lord Krishna. In Maharashtra it is celebrated as Padva or Bali-Pratipada, commemorating King Bali. The Fifth day is Bhaiduj, on this day, brothers and sisters meet to express their love and affection for each other.
As per spiritual references, on this day "Lakshmi-Panchayatan" enters the Universe. Sri Vishnu, Sri Indra, Sri Kuber, Sri Gajendra and Sri Lakshmi are elements of this "Panchayatan" (a group of five). The tasks of these elements are:
1) Vishnu: Happiness (happiness and satisfaction)
2) Indra: Opulence (satisfaction due to wealth)
3) Kubera: Wealth (Generosity; one who gives away wealth)
4) Gajendra: Carries the wealth
5) Lakshmi: Divine Energy (Shakti) which provides energy to all the above activities.
There are two legends that associate the worship of ‘Goddess Lakshmi’ on this day. According to first one, on this day, Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagar, the Ocean of Milk, during the great churning of the oceans, Samudra manthan. The second legend (more popular in western India) relates to the Vamana avatar of Vishnu, the incarnation he took to kill the demon king Bali, thereafter it was on this day, that Vishnu came back to his abode, the Vaikuntha, so those who worship Lakshmi (Vishnu's consort) on this day, get the benefit of her benevolent mood, and are blessed with mental, physical and material well-being.
On the day of Diwali, many wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks. Some North Indian business communities start their financial year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day. Diwali marks the end of the harvest season in most of India. Farmers are thankful for the plentiful bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest for the year to come. Traditionally this marks the closing of accounts for businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and the last major celebration before winter. The deity of Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead. In India, Diwali is now considered to be a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith.
Many many happy returns of the day.
All the best and take care….
With thanks, regards and best wishes,
G.Srikanth.
I wish you and your family, friends, near and dear........
A very happy, safe and delightful Diwali/Deepavali wishes (17/10/09).
Deepavali, or Diwali, is a major Indian festival, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Many legends are associated with Diwali. It is celebrated by people across the globe as the "Festival of Lights", where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists. While Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light". The word "Diwali" is a modification of the Sanskrit word "Deepavali". 'Deepa' means "light of the dharma", and 'avali' means "a continuous line". The more literal translation is "rows of clay lamps". Firecrackers and fireworks are popular on the eve of Diwali. Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the ‘Atman’. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With the realization of the Atman, come universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (Inner Joy or Peace). The festival marks the victory of good over evil, and uplifting of spiritual darkness.
Diwali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship. While the story behind Deepavali varies from region to region, the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman). Indians pray to Gods on Diwali. According to one theory Diwali may have originated as a harvest festival, marking the last harvest of the year before winter. In an agrarian (or agricultural) society this results in businessmen closing accounts, and beginning a new accounting year. The deity of wealth in Hinduism, Goddess Lakshmi is therefore thanked on this day and everyone prays for a good year ahead. This is the common factor in Diwali celebrations all over the Indian subcontinent. In many parts of India, it is the homecoming of King Rama of Ayodhya after a 14-year exile in the forest. The people of Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) welcomed Rama by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deepa), thus its name, Deepavali, or simply shortened as Diwali. Southern India marks it as the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura (celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi). In western India it is also in honor of the day King Bali went to rule the nether/under-world by the order of Vishnu.
Diwali is celebrated on the first New moon day of the lunar Kartika month (although the celebrations begin two days prior and end two days after that day), which comes in the month of October or November. The grand celebrations of Diwali spread through five days. The First day is Dhanatrayodashi or Dhanteras. 'Dhan' means "wealth" and 'Trayodashi/Teras' means "13th day". It is an auspicious day for shopping of utensils and gold. Naraka Chaturdashi or Kali Chaudas is the Second day on which demon Narakasura was killed. It signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. Lakshmi Puja marks the most important (Third) day of Diwali celebrations. Hindu homes worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Ganesh, the God of auspicious beginnings, and then light lamps all across the streets and homes to welcome prosperity and well-being. Govardhan Puja is performed on the Fourth day also called Annakut, celebrated as the day Krishna defeated Indra. Lord Krishna taught people to worship nature, as mountains bring rains to earth. For Annakut, a mountain of food is decorated symbolizing Govardhan mountain lifted by Lord Krishna. In Maharashtra it is celebrated as Padva or Bali-Pratipada, commemorating King Bali. The Fifth day is Bhaiduj, on this day, brothers and sisters meet to express their love and affection for each other.
As per spiritual references, on this day "Lakshmi-Panchayatan" enters the Universe. Sri Vishnu, Sri Indra, Sri Kuber, Sri Gajendra and Sri Lakshmi are elements of this "Panchayatan" (a group of five). The tasks of these elements are:
1) Vishnu: Happiness (happiness and satisfaction)
2) Indra: Opulence (satisfaction due to wealth)
3) Kubera: Wealth (Generosity; one who gives away wealth)
4) Gajendra: Carries the wealth
5) Lakshmi: Divine Energy (Shakti) which provides energy to all the above activities.
There are two legends that associate the worship of ‘Goddess Lakshmi’ on this day. According to first one, on this day, Goddess Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagar, the Ocean of Milk, during the great churning of the oceans, Samudra manthan. The second legend (more popular in western India) relates to the Vamana avatar of Vishnu, the incarnation he took to kill the demon king Bali, thereafter it was on this day, that Vishnu came back to his abode, the Vaikuntha, so those who worship Lakshmi (Vishnu's consort) on this day, get the benefit of her benevolent mood, and are blessed with mental, physical and material well-being.
On the day of Diwali, many wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks. Some North Indian business communities start their financial year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day. Diwali marks the end of the harvest season in most of India. Farmers are thankful for the plentiful bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest for the year to come. Traditionally this marks the closing of accounts for businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and the last major celebration before winter. The deity of Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead. In India, Diwali is now considered to be a national festival, and the aesthetic aspect of the festival is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith.
Many many happy returns of the day.
All the best and take care….
With thanks, regards and best wishes,
G.Srikanth.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Wish you a very Happy Non-Violence Day wishes....
Hello All,
I wish you and your family, friends, near and dear........
A very happy, honoring and peaceful Non-Violence Day wishes (02/10/09).
The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2nd of October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the day is referred to in India as Gandhi Jayanti. Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday celebrated in India to mark the occasion of the birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the "Father of the Nation". It is celebrated on October 2nd, every year. It is one of the three officially declared National Holidays in India (Republic Day/Jan 26, Independence Day/Aug 15 and Gandhi Jayanti/Oct 2) and is observed in all its states and union territories. Coincidentally, 2nd of October is also the birthday of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the third Prime Minister of India, who was a great follower of Mahatma Gandhi and he dedicated his life to the service of the country.
On 15th June 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted to establish 2nd October as the International Day of Non-Violence. The resolution by the General Assembly asks all members of the UN system to commemorate 2nd October in "an appropriate manner and disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The first ever celebration of the International day of non violence was observed in Bangkok by United Nations ESCAP, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP or ESCAP), located in Bangkok, Thailand, is the regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat for the Asian and Pacific region. It was established in 1947 (then as the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East) to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. The name was changed to the current, ESCAP, in 1974. It is one of five regional commissions under the administrative direction of United Nations headquarters.
In January 2004, Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi had taken a proposal for an International Day of Non-Violence from Akshay Bakaya, a Hindi Teacher in Paris teaching International school students in Paris, to the World Social Forum in Bombay. The idea gradually attracted the interest of some leaders of India's Congress Party until a Satyagraha Conference resolution in New Delhi in January 2007, initiated by Sonia Gandhi and Archbishop Desmond Tutu called upon the United Nations to adopt the idea of World Non-Violence Day. This is not to be confused with World Peace Day, the International Day of Peace, which is on September 21st of every year (since 1981) and calls for a full day of peace and ceasefire throughout the world.
Many many happy returns of the day.
All the best and take care….
With thanks, regards and best wishes,
G.Srikanth.
I wish you and your family, friends, near and dear........
A very happy, honoring and peaceful Non-Violence Day wishes (02/10/09).
The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2nd of October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the day is referred to in India as Gandhi Jayanti. Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday celebrated in India to mark the occasion of the birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the "Father of the Nation". It is celebrated on October 2nd, every year. It is one of the three officially declared National Holidays in India (Republic Day/Jan 26, Independence Day/Aug 15 and Gandhi Jayanti/Oct 2) and is observed in all its states and union territories. Coincidentally, 2nd of October is also the birthday of Lal Bahadur Shastri, the third Prime Minister of India, who was a great follower of Mahatma Gandhi and he dedicated his life to the service of the country.
On 15th June 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted to establish 2nd October as the International Day of Non-Violence. The resolution by the General Assembly asks all members of the UN system to commemorate 2nd October in "an appropriate manner and disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The first ever celebration of the International day of non violence was observed in Bangkok by United Nations ESCAP, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP or ESCAP), located in Bangkok, Thailand, is the regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat for the Asian and Pacific region. It was established in 1947 (then as the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East) to encourage economic cooperation among its member states. The name was changed to the current, ESCAP, in 1974. It is one of five regional commissions under the administrative direction of United Nations headquarters.
In January 2004, Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi had taken a proposal for an International Day of Non-Violence from Akshay Bakaya, a Hindi Teacher in Paris teaching International school students in Paris, to the World Social Forum in Bombay. The idea gradually attracted the interest of some leaders of India's Congress Party until a Satyagraha Conference resolution in New Delhi in January 2007, initiated by Sonia Gandhi and Archbishop Desmond Tutu called upon the United Nations to adopt the idea of World Non-Violence Day. This is not to be confused with World Peace Day, the International Day of Peace, which is on September 21st of every year (since 1981) and calls for a full day of peace and ceasefire throughout the world.
Many many happy returns of the day.
All the best and take care….
With thanks, regards and best wishes,
G.Srikanth.
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