Deepavali — Message of Blessings
Jagadguru Pujyasri Jayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamiji
In this timeless benedictory discourse, His Holiness illuminates the deep Puranic significance of Deepavali. He reveals why Lord Krishna went to battle accompanied by Satyabhama, how Mother Earth transformed her grief into universal joy, and how our early morning Mangala Snanam bestows the transcendent fruits of Ganga Snanam.
The Four Yugas and the Wonders of the Divine Avatars
Kruta Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga are the four great cosmic cycles.
In the Kruta Yuga, the Supreme Lord manifested as Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, and Vamana Avatars. Having accomplished their divine missions, these avatars withdrew from earthly sight.
In the Treta Yuga, there appeared Parasurama and Sri Rama Avatars, who lived among humanity for thousands of years, performing countless divine deeds and setting supreme benchmarks for Dharma.
In the Dwapara Yuga, the glorious Sri Krishna Avatar and Balarama Avatar took place. These Avatars, living for centuries, performed magnificent leelas (divine sports). Foremost among these wondrous leelas was the cosmic event that gave birth to the festival of Deepavali.
The Battle with Narakasura and the Mystery of Satyabhama
Starting from the vanquishing of Putana (the demoness arriving in a nurturing mother’s guise), Kanna Piran (Lord Sri Krishna) accomplished every divine victory single-handedly.
Yet, for the historic battle against Narakasura — the victory that inaugurated Deepavali — Lord Krishna specifically chose to ride into combat accompanied by Satyabhama.
The profound cosmic reason is that when Lord Narayana was united with Bhumi Devi (Mother Earth), Naraka was born as their offspring. The word “Nara” signifies man; “Naraka” denotes one who abandons human nobility to perform heinous, despicable deeds. For ferocious Asuras, drinking the blood of innocent, righteous souls is as routine as drinking water and consuming food for ordinary mortals.
Although born into divine lineage, Naraka succumbed to evil tendencies and perverted penance. Having acquired formidable boons through wrongful means, he unleashed terror upon noble kings, sages, devas, and helpless citizens. A soul is born pure, but becomes debased by corrupt associations and wicked actions. Because of his tyranny against all living beings, Naraka had to be vanquished by Lord Narayana, even though he was His own son. Such is the unswerving, impartial justice of the divine.
The Uncompromising Standard of Dharma: Manu Needhi Chola
One can witness this same uncompromising standard of righteousness in the celebrated history of King Manu Needhi Chola.
When a young calf was accidentally struck and killed beneath the chariot wheel of the King’s only son, the grief-stricken mother cow rang the bell of justice at the palace gates. In adherence to the highest dictates of Dharma, the King dispensed absolute justice by placing his own beloved son beneath his royal chariot and driving it himself! This extraordinary commitment to justice was demonstrated right here in our land.
Similarly, Lord Sri Krishna advanced to battle Narakasura accompanied by Satyabhama, who was an embodiment (amsa) of Sri Bhumi Devi herself. When the climactic leela reached its conclusion and the demon was slain, Mother Earth appeared in all her motherly majesty.
Mother Earth’s Sublime Prayer: Transforming Mourning into Joy
Customarily, when someone dies, that day is remembered every year as a period of sorrow and mourning. However, both Mother Earth and the redeemed Narakasura made an extraordinary supplication to Lord Sri Krishna and Satyabhama:
Rejoicing over the benevolent prayer of Sri Bhumi Devi for the welfare of all humanity, Lord Sri Krishna and Satyabhama graciously granted this eternal boon. That divine grace became “Deepa Oli” — the radiant Light of the Lamp — which is celebrated as Deepavali.
Deepa-Avali: Rows of Light and the Discipline of the Gita
The holy name Deepavali literally signifies “Deepa Avali” — avali meaning continuous rows, as endless rows of terracotta oil lamps are illuminated on this sacred night to vanquish ignorance and darkness.
Because this sacred festival originated from the harmonious union of divine love, motherly affection, righteous duty, rule of law, and impartial justice, let all devotees celebrate Deepavali strictly observing Dharma. Let us cultivate the spiritual disciplines taught to Arjuna by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.
When we offer our prayers on extraordinary occasions like Deepavali, the spiritual benefit earned is manifold greater than prayers on ordinary days. On any normal day, bathing cleanses only the physical body. But when we take our sacred oil bath before dawn on Deepavali, we receive the exalted purifying benefit of Ganga Snanam, washing away accumulated sins and filling our homes with divine effulgence.