*Festival of Lights* *Series: Part 3* 🌿 Naraka Chaturdashi — The End of Darkness and the Rise of Consciousness 🪔

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“Wake up, wake up! Diwali has arrived…”

Wake up, it’s time for the sacred oil bath!

That tender, love-soaked call of mother still echoes in the ears.

Outside, the mist still blankets the morning, yet the courtyard glows —

fresh rangoli at the threshold, gentle rows of lamps,

and steam curling up from the copper pot on the stove —

the entire house wrapped in warmth, fragrance, and light.

Mother says,

“Apply oil to your head first, or you’ll catch a cold!”

But what her hands truly pour is not oil —

it is warmth, care, and blessings in liquid form.

The fragrance of ubtan fills the air.

With every drop of water, the heart too feels cleansed.

The Abhyang Snan (oil bath) is not just about purifying the body —

it is a ritual of mental and spiritual cleansing.

In that quiet dawn, we speak to our body:

“This body is my temple;

today, I will adorn it once again with light.”

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Naraka Chaturdashi marks the first ray of illumination.

After Dhantrayodashi — the celebration of health and balance —

comes this dawn of awakened consciousness.

This day reminds us:

Bathing is not merely for the body;

it is an awakening of the soul.

According to legend, Lord Krishna slew the demon Narakasura on this day.

But that demon was not an external being,

he was the symbol of our own inner darkness — ego, greed, and envy.

Krishna represents consciousness,

and Satyabhama symbolizes faith aligned with truth.

When faith and awareness unite,

the inner darkness begins to dissolve.

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Abhyang Snan — applying oil — is not a mere ritual;

it is an act of gratitude toward one’s body.

It is a moment to thank the body

that tirelessly serves us every single day.

This oil bath is not only to awaken physical warmth,

but to rekindle the inner warmth of love and gratitude.

The ancient Ayurvedic verse says:

“Abhyangam acharyaruchitam — āyuh, prajñā, balam, sukham.”

Oil bath enhances longevity, wisdom, strength, and joy.

That morning becomes a moment of self-conversation —

a quiet festival between you and yourself.

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*The Five Forms of Darkness — and Their Remedies*

1️⃣ The darkness of ignorance — dispelled by knowledge and introspection.

2️⃣ The darkness of anger — melts through forgiveness.

3️⃣ The darkness of envy — dissolves through compassion.

4️⃣ The darkness of ego — fades through humility.

5️⃣ The darkness of fear — vanishes through faith and meditation.

Naraka Chaturdashi invites us to light the inner lamp

that banishes these five shadows of the mind.

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*Deepdan*— The Journey of Energy, The Expansion of Inner Light

On this day, lighting lamps (Deepdan) holds great significance.

It is not mere decoration —

it is a subtle science of energy balance.

Our ancestors prescribed five sacred places to light lamps —

🪔 At the entrance — welcoming positivity and prosperity.

🪔 In the shrine — kindling devotion and inner awareness.

🪔 In the kitchen — expressing gratitude for nourishment.

🪔 Near the Tulsi plant — honoring nature and ecology.

🪔 In the courtyard — symbolizing harmony and sharing within community.

Each lamp corresponds to the five energy centers of life,

Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space —

the Panchamahabhutas that sustain our existence.

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*The Social and Ecological Essence of Naraka Chaturdashi*

Cleaning homes, drawing rangoli, decorating with flowers,

and sharing food — these are not mere customs;

they are the living principles of holistic well-being.

Outer cleanliness is the beginning of inner purification.

Sharing food is extending one’s inner joy —

letting the light spread from self to society.

Because truly —

“The world is illuminated not by lamps,

but by the light we radiate through our actions.”

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*Scientific Perspecyive of Chaturdashi and Bio-Energy Purification*

Chaturdashi, the 14th lunar day, marks the final phase of the waning moon.

In this cycle, the body and mind naturally undergo cleansing.

Oil baths, fragrant herbs, and lamp lighting —

these Ayurvedic practices balance the Tridoshas — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha —

restoring vitality and serenity.

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“Let there be darkness in your home if need be,

but do not let it dwell within your heart.”

The true Naraka (hell) lies not outside —

it resides in anger, envy, greed, and fear.

These toxic emotions are the real Narakasuras within us.

To wash them away — that is the true Naraka Chaturdashi bath.

Lighting a lamp means dispelling inner darkness

with the light of knowledge and awareness —

that is the true essence of this sacred day.

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*The Journey from Darkness to Light*

Naraka Chaturdashi is not about killing a demon outside —

it is the story of conquering the darkness within.

It reminds us —

Do not fight darkness;

Just light a lamp.

When light appears, darkness disappears effortlessly.

✨

Tomorrow — Amavasya: The Festival of Inner Light

Once the body, mind, and consciousness are cleansed,

it is time to unite with the divine light.

On Diwali night — the Amavasya —

that light no longer shines outside,

but radiates from within our own hearts.

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Reflections on the Festival of Lights —

*Jayant Joshi*