Wisdom on the Diwali Celebration
Namaste Friends and Family,
Happy Diwali!
Tonight is the traditional Diwali celebration where we celebrate the victory of good over evil and invite Mahalakshmi into our home and hearts.
Diwali is one of the most favored Hindu holidays. The celebration is a reminder to share our love and shine our light on humanity, nature, and the world at large.
The name "Diwali" is derived from the word deepavali, which means a "row of lights, or lamps."
On Diwali, we celebrate by lighting lamps and placing them all around the house and temple.
The spiritual significance of lighting the lamps is to remind us of the importance of sharing our own Inner Light that is inherent in all of us.
Let's take this time to dissolve our darkness and increase our higher intellect on Diwali.
This is what is meant by the victory of good over evil.
For Sadhana today, we recommend lighting lamps, chanting Her mantra, or even chanting the Lakshmi Ashtakam.
THIS POWERFUL MANTRA PLEASES HER
This beautiful Lakshmi mantra is chanted on Diwali. Chant it at the sacred fire ceremony (homa) or as japa.
It is a very powerful mantra and one of the best of the Lakshmi mantras to chant:
ऊँ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद।
श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं ऊँ महालक्ष्म्यै नमः।।
Om Srim Hrim Srim Kamale Kamalalaye Prasida Prasida |
Srim Hrim Srim Sri Mahalakshmye Namah ||
Oh Mother Lakshmi, the primordial energy of all creation, be pleased, be pleased, and grant me an increase in spiritual wealth. I bow to you.
MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF WEALTH WILL COME
Those who chant this mantra, who perform japa with this mantra, will obtain wellness within themselves.
It will be bring wisdom, wellness, happiness - TRUE happiness. This is what Mahalakshmi represents – abundance and wealth.
What kind of wealth?
The wealth of happiness
The wealth of faith.
The wealth of wisdom.
The wealth of fulfillment, and yes material wealth too.
Wealth is who Mahalakshmi is.
WHY WE WORSHIP MAHALAKSHMI ON DIWALI
Diwali is the day of the new moon. Usually when we worship Mahalakshmi it is on Purnima, the day of the full moon.
So why on Diwali, the darkest new moon day, do we worship Mahalakshmi?
The new moon day is dark. It is dark everywhere. And in that darkness, we light a little candle, a little diya, to provide light around us.
So this reminds us that when a very, very dark time comes in your life, a time of struggle, or a time that is confusing and you don’t know what to do, or a time when you have no support, remember to light a little candle.
That little candle will give you the wisdom to think clearly, for it represents the light of wisdom.
LET THE LIGHT OF WISDOM BRING INSIGHT
Today, light a little candle and place it on your altar and be there with it.
Just sit with it. Quiet the mind, and just be with the light of the candle. It will give you a little nugget of wisdom.
It will bring a flash of insight into your consciousness about what you are supposed to be doing. This is the grace of Mahalakshmi.
Also, you may place little lights all around the the house.
Jai Maa!