From darkness to light: The significance of Deepavali
View(s):Deepam (lamp) + Oli or vali (rows of lights) means Deepavali – the most auspicious day in which the rows of living lights were created.
Human beings today are not aware of who they are really, to whom they belong, from where they have come and where they have to go back.
In the history of the world, until the middle period, that is during the Golden and Silver Ages (first and second era of the world cycle) human beings lived in soul consciousness. Even though they were living in human bodies, they considered themselves as souls (living lights) and practised all divine qualities, living in happiness. Those who lived during these eras are called deities.
As souls continued to take rebirth in different bodies, in different homes, lands and families, their purity and powers declined gradually. Then at the end of the half of the world cycle that is at the end of the Silver Age, they lost the awareness of soul and divine qualities and gradually became impure, becoming slaves to the body – to ego, attachment, lust, greed and anger. As with the souls, so too the world, the divine kingdom tarnished from its divinity. From then the human world begins.
This pattern continued throughout Copper and Iron Ages (the second half of the world cycle) and when it reached the end of the Iron Age, the brightness of souls had became totally dark. Knowledge and purity decreased, the sparkle of the souls became dim and dark and ignorance settled in the minds of all.
Darkness is a sign of sorrow. An ignorant mind which experiences sorrow, in search of happiness adopts many different methods to create a better atmosphere internally and externally. With the absence of the light of knowledge in themselves the sorrow increases, in spite of many teachings, rituals, prayers taught by Mahatmas and founders of religions. The battle between original qualities of divinity and adopted natures of devilishness continues and results in conflicts in every home which become a place of darkness with stress, worries, bondage in relationships, diseases, untimely death etc.
God, the Ocean of Knowledge listening to the call of humans to liberate them from sorrow, liberates His devotees with the oil of knowledge. His incarnation dispels the darkness of ignorance and offers the oil of knowledge to ignite the lamp of the living lights, the souls. Only God who is Eternally Light can ignite the lights of the souls. This is the significance of Deepavali.
He uses the simplest method which is common and suitable to all by directing the souls to remember accurately the Supreme Soul, God the Almighty with the right understanding of spiritual knowledge. With this endeavour the battle finishes within the souls, the living lights transform completely and bring back the sparkle of light in their lives.
The Festival of Lights is celebrated every year by Hindus as God, the Sun of knowledge Himself comes to transform the world of sorrow (darkness) into a world of happiness (light). The light of knowledge dispels the inner darkness and gives constant light to the external world too.
Raja Yoga is a kind of meditation which will enhance spiritual knowledge to know who I am really, whom I belong to, where I have come from and where I will go back. Let us all become victorious conquering the base nature within and celebrate Deepavali.
Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Center