Spiritual Meaning of Divali
http://shree-kripaluji-maharaj.blogspot.com/2011/10/happy-divali-2011-past-dival
The following message on the spiritual meaning of Divali is excerpted
from a speech by a disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj
The blessed souls. Today we are celebrating Deepavali, festival of
lights. This Deepavali celebration has been celebrated for hundreds,
thousands, millions, billions, and trillions of years because this is
not just a social occasion--Deepavali was introduced by our Divine
descensions Bhagwan Ram and Krishn.
Bhagwan Ram you all know from the Ramayan. He went to Lanka, conquered
Lanka, killed Ravan, and came back to Ayodhya. He had been in exile
for 14 years before going to Lanka so it was after a long, long time
that Bhagwan Ram was coming back to Ayodhya. All the Ayodhyawasis
(those who lived in Ayodhya) were so over-thrilled with joy, "My Ram
is coming? My Ram is coming!" So they decorated their houses and lanes
and everywhere with light. The whole of Ayodhya was glowing with
light. That was Divali celebration.
So Bhagwan Ram comes. There were millions of people, all anxious to
see Bhagwan Ram at the same time. Bhagwan Ram had a little
problem...but it's no problem for God. Amit roop pragate tehi kala.
Yathayog mile sabahin kripala. (Ramayan Uttar Kand 5/3). The kripa
shakti (power of Grace) of Bhagwan Ram, with His kripa shakti, He met
everyone simultaneously and everyone thought, "My Bhagwan Ram has met
me first." It was just a Divine miracle. They were all contented. This
was the Divali celebration. From that day on, every year in Ayodhya
they celebrated Divali.
When Bhagwan Krishn appeared, He also celebrated Divali, along with
all the Brajwasis, to mark the return of Bhagwan Ram to Ayodhya. You
were just singing a Divali song, a Divali pad. In that song, it tells
that on the Mansi Ganga--Mansi Ganga is a very big pond in Braj--Radha
Rani and Krishn, They each came from opposite sides. Radha came from
Barsana. Krishn came from Nandgaon. Krishn had thousands of Gwalbals
with Him, His playmates. Radha Rani had thousands of Gopis. And they
all had a diya of light in their hands. They all came and in the big
huge Mansi Ganga, Mansi pond, from both sides they put the candles
from their side. Imagine...all those candles floating on the water--
thousands of candles from both sides. The whole of Mansi Ganga was
enlightened.
But the candle bowls were not moving because it was a pond. So from
their hands, they all just pushed the water like so to make some small
waves. The candle bowls and lights began to move and...all over the
water there were only deepaks, those candles--glowing. Just an
occasion. So on every Divali occasion Krishn and Radha celebrated
Deepavali in some new style.
Deepavali has two meanings, social and spiritual. Social means we
socially gather, meet together, forget our animosity of past, develop
new friendships, new relationships, new harmony in the family, with
friends, in the nation. That's all social the occasion. We have two
great festivals, Holi and Divali, and both are meant for developing
your social good will, social welfare, social harmony--all of that.
The spiritual meaning, however, is very deep. And it's for every soul
of the world! You see, in your heart, people say, "His heart is very
dark, not a good person. Oh, he is a very bright person, his soul is
evolved." You all have an inner light--the inner light of God. So
enlighten your heart with the light of God, that's the message for
Divali. Enlighten your hearts with the light of God, that is Deepavali
occasion. If you have that light, that Divine light in your heart,
then you don't care, because you are always happy in every situation.
You see in your family life, social life, things come--ups and downs.
Sometimes good days, sometimes bad days--they keep on coming good
after bad, bad after good. It's nature. But if you are contented, you
don't mind very much. So enlighten your heart with the love of God.
Divine light, Divine love comes after complete heart purification. To
receive that state, you have to do some devotion. So devotional love
and Divine love they are two states. Devotional light and Divine
light. So enlighten your heart with the devotional love of Radha and
Krishn.
Why Radha and Krishn? You can choose other forms if you want. There
are many forms of God: Durga, Shiv, Karttikeya, Ganesh, whatever you
like. I said Radha Krishn because all our rasik Saints described that
Bhagwan Radha and Krishn are the original form of Divine love. All
other forms of God are incorporated in these two forms, Radha and
Krishn. It's your own personal choice. But love is the common factor.
You have to love God. Selflessly. Not with any selfish motive. Loving
God selflessly is called devotion, that is bhakti. And with this
devotional love you have to enlighten your heart. Then you will feel
peace in your heart and mind always. That's the message which at every
Divali we give.
And at Radha Madhav Dham here, we always teach devotion to the loving
form of God. So come close to God, bring peace into your life, and be
happy forever. In this way, with these festivals of light, the
Deepavali festival with a social meaning and the Deepavali festival
which has a very deep meaning, in this way, try to come close to God.
Enlighten your heart with devotional love. That's my message to all of
you. You all have my blessings.
Now we will do chanting for a few minutes. Radhey Radhey Govind,
Govind Radhey. I told you that you need to develop your Divine love
for Radha and Krishn or any form of God you like. How to develop that
love, that I will tell you now. We teach a very simple form of
devotion--very simple. No posture. No breathing technique. No making
any thing. Nothing to do. Very simple. God has imbued all of His
powers in His names, in His personal names: Radha, Krishn, Govind,
Gopal, Shyam, Ram. Remember those names with love and you are on the
path. That's it. Very simple devotion.
So we'll do chanting of the names: Radhey Radhey Govind, Govind
Radhey. When you go back home, remember this chant in your heart and
think this chanting is going on in your heart while you are sleeping.
And do this every night. And you will see, your heart is getting
enlightened with devotional love for your beloved God. Radhey Radhey
Govind, Govind Radhey.
Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP) was founded by Jagadguru Shree
Kripaluji Maharaj, our beloved Shree Maharajji, the fifth prime
Jagadguru in the last 5000 years.
Founded in 1990, Radha Madhav Dham Temple and ashram serves as the
national center of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat in the United States and
is one of the largest Hindu temples in North America.
JKP Radha Madhav Dham Official Website: http://www.RadhaMadhavDham.org
Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Worldwide Mission: http://www.JKP.org
Swami Nikhilanandji's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SwamiNikhilanand
Official Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/RadhaMadhavDham
|
http://shree-kripaluji-maharaj.blogspot.com/2011/10/happy-divali-2011-past-dival
The following message on the spiritual meaning of Divali is excerpted
from a speech by a disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj
The blessed souls. Today we are celebrating Deepavali, festival of
lights. This Deepavali celebration has been celebrated for hundreds,
thousands, millions, billions, and trillions of years because this is
not just a social occasion--Deepavali was introduced by our Divine
descensions Bhagwan Ram and Krishn.
Bhagwan Ram you all know from the Ramayan. He went to Lanka, conquered
Lanka, killed Ravan, and came back to Ayodhya. He had been in exile
for 14 years before going to Lanka so it was after a long, long time
that Bhagwan Ram was coming back to Ayodhya. All the Ayodhyawasis
(those who lived in Ayodhya) were so over-thrilled with joy, "My Ram
is coming? My Ram is coming!" So they decorated their houses and lanes
and everywhere with light. The whole of Ayodhya was glowing with
light. That was Divali celebration.
So Bhagwan Ram comes. There were millions of people, all anxious to
see Bhagwan Ram at the same time. Bhagwan Ram had a little
problem...but it's no problem for God. Amit roop pragate tehi kala.
Yathayog mile sabahin kripala. (Ramayan Uttar Kand 5/3). The kripa
shakti (power of Grace) of Bhagwan Ram, with His kripa shakti, He met
everyone simultaneously and everyone thought, "My Bhagwan Ram has met
me first." It was just a Divine miracle. They were all contented. This
was the Divali celebration. From that day on, every year in Ayodhya
they celebrated Divali.
When Bhagwan Krishn appeared, He also celebrated Divali, along with
all the Brajwasis, to mark the return of Bhagwan Ram to Ayodhya. You
were just singing a Divali song, a Divali pad. In that song, it tells
that on the Mansi Ganga--Mansi Ganga is a very big pond in Braj--Radha
Rani and Krishn, They each came from opposite sides. Radha came from
Barsana. Krishn came from Nandgaon. Krishn had thousands of Gwalbals
with Him, His playmates. Radha Rani had thousands of Gopis. And they
all had a diya of light in their hands. They all came and in the big
huge Mansi Ganga, Mansi pond, from both sides they put the candles
from their side. Imagine...all those candles floating on the water--
thousands of candles from both sides. The whole of Mansi Ganga was
enlightened.
But the candle bowls were not moving because it was a pond. So from
their hands, they all just pushed the water like so to make some small
waves. The candle bowls and lights began to move and...all over the
water there were only deepaks, those candles--glowing. Just an
occasion. So on every Divali occasion Krishn and Radha celebrated
Deepavali in some new style.
Deepavali has two meanings, social and spiritual. Social means we
socially gather, meet together, forget our animosity of past, develop
new friendships, new relationships, new harmony in the family, with
friends, in the nation. That's all social the occasion. We have two
great festivals, Holi and Divali, and both are meant for developing
your social good will, social welfare, social harmony--all of that.
The spiritual meaning, however, is very deep. And it's for every soul
of the world! You see, in your heart, people say, "His heart is very
dark, not a good person. Oh, he is a very bright person, his soul is
evolved." You all have an inner light--the inner light of God. So
enlighten your heart with the light of God, that's the message for
Divali. Enlighten your hearts with the light of God, that is Deepavali
occasion. If you have that light, that Divine light in your heart,
then you don't care, because you are always happy in every situation.
You see in your family life, social life, things come--ups and downs.
Sometimes good days, sometimes bad days--they keep on coming good
after bad, bad after good. It's nature. But if you are contented, you
don't mind very much. So enlighten your heart with the love of God.
Divine light, Divine love comes after complete heart purification. To
receive that state, you have to do some devotion. So devotional love
and Divine love they are two states. Devotional light and Divine
light. So enlighten your heart with the devotional love of Radha and
Krishn.
Why Radha and Krishn? You can choose other forms if you want. There
are many forms of God: Durga, Shiv, Karttikeya, Ganesh, whatever you
like. I said Radha Krishn because all our rasik Saints described that
Bhagwan Radha and Krishn are the original form of Divine love. All
other forms of God are incorporated in these two forms, Radha and
Krishn. It's your own personal choice. But love is the common factor.
You have to love God. Selflessly. Not with any selfish motive. Loving
God selflessly is called devotion, that is bhakti. And with this
devotional love you have to enlighten your heart. Then you will feel
peace in your heart and mind always. That's the message which at every
Divali we give.
And at Radha Madhav Dham here, we always teach devotion to the loving
form of God. So come close to God, bring peace into your life, and be
happy forever. In this way, with these festivals of light, the
Deepavali festival with a social meaning and the Deepavali festival
which has a very deep meaning, in this way, try to come close to God.
Enlighten your heart with devotional love. That's my message to all of
you. You all have my blessings.
Now we will do chanting for a few minutes. Radhey Radhey Govind,
Govind Radhey. I told you that you need to develop your Divine love
for Radha and Krishn or any form of God you like. How to develop that
love, that I will tell you now. We teach a very simple form of
devotion--very simple. No posture. No breathing technique. No making
any thing. Nothing to do. Very simple. God has imbued all of His
powers in His names, in His personal names: Radha, Krishn, Govind,
Gopal, Shyam, Ram. Remember those names with love and you are on the
path. That's it. Very simple devotion.
So we'll do chanting of the names: Radhey Radhey Govind, Govind
Radhey. When you go back home, remember this chant in your heart and
think this chanting is going on in your heart while you are sleeping.
And do this every night. And you will see, your heart is getting
enlightened with devotional love for your beloved God. Radhey Radhey
Govind, Govind Radhey.
Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP) was founded by Jagadguru Shree
Kripaluji Maharaj, our beloved Shree Maharajji, the fifth prime
Jagadguru in the last 5000 years.
Founded in 1990, Radha Madhav Dham Temple and ashram serves as the
national center of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat in the United States and
is one of the largest Hindu temples in North America.
JKP Radha Madhav Dham Official Website: http://www.RadhaMadhavDham.org
Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Worldwide Mission: http://www.JKP.org
Swami Nikhilanandji's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SwamiNikhilanand
Official Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/RadhaMadhavDham