Deepavali Anugraha Bhashanam (from 1980s):
"Today is Deepavali.
Among the many festivals we celebrate in this (hoary), land of Bharata, Deepavali is one of the most auspicious. Be it anywhere in the world, any Hindu will celebrate Deepavali.
In our Upanishads, there is prayer:
तमसोमा ज्योतिर्गमय
tamasōmā jyōtirgamaya
O Lord! pray take me from darkness to light
- this is the meaning of the prayer.
We always need light. We do not need darkness. However, the meaning does not only confine to the physical (normal) light and darkness (but means) Take me from ignorance to wisdom.
We experience so much sorrow, being shrouded by ignorance. If we get freed from ignorance, if we are blessed with Supreme Knowledge, we will attain emancipation (Moksham), we can enjoy everlasting bliss. We must transcend from ignorance to illumination; this is what our Ancestors have taught us by means of this prayer in the Upanishads.
The observance of this Deepavali festival reminds us of the pursuit to transcend ignorance and be illuminated (by Supreme Knowledge). Today we keep lights everywhere and make no place for darkness.
In conjunction with this Deepavali festival, we must remember yet another thing. Once upon a time, a demon by the name of Narakasura enslaved scores of people, women in particular, and tortured them. At that juncture, the Supreme Lord incarnated Himself as Bhagavan Krishna and vanquished Narakasura. As a result of the various vices committed by Narakasura, death befell him in that manner.
In the end, Narakasura asked - (O Lord!) Pray, grant me a boon. What was the boon? He said, "Bless that all might celebrate this day." It is because of that, that we celebrate this festival of Deepavali.
Narakasura humiliated scores of women and in the end suffered for his sins. It is thus that, nobody should be an adulterer and misbehave with women. In our (hoary) culture, we say:
मातृवत् परदारेषु परद्रव्येषु लोष्टवत् ।
आत्मवत् सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्यति स पश्यति ॥
mātr̥vat paradārēṣu paradravyēṣu lōṣṭavat ।
ātmavat sarvabhūtēṣu yaḥ paśyati sa paśyati ॥
- meaning:
One must consider any (other) women as one's own mother. We must look upon women with due respect, eschewing any evil thoughts, in the same manner as we would towards our own mother.
By such means, we should purify our lives. We must move from darkness to light - Deepavali is being celebrated to teach us this lesson. Everyone should remember this on this auspicious day and lead their lives accordingly (in the path of righteousness)."
Copyright: Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri
Video: https://youtu.be/4OH8HJCx1aA
Source for original video and translation: https://vimeo.com/27870228
#Sringeri #Deepavali
"Today is Deepavali.
Among the many festivals we celebrate in this (hoary), land of Bharata, Deepavali is one of the most auspicious. Be it anywhere in the world, any Hindu will celebrate Deepavali.
In our Upanishads, there is prayer:
तमसोमा ज्योतिर्गमय
tamasōmā jyōtirgamaya
O Lord! pray take me from darkness to light
- this is the meaning of the prayer.
We always need light. We do not need darkness. However, the meaning does not only confine to the physical (normal) light and darkness (but means) Take me from ignorance to wisdom.
We experience so much sorrow, being shrouded by ignorance. If we get freed from ignorance, if we are blessed with Supreme Knowledge, we will attain emancipation (Moksham), we can enjoy everlasting bliss. We must transcend from ignorance to illumination; this is what our Ancestors have taught us by means of this prayer in the Upanishads.
The observance of this Deepavali festival reminds us of the pursuit to transcend ignorance and be illuminated (by Supreme Knowledge). Today we keep lights everywhere and make no place for darkness.
In conjunction with this Deepavali festival, we must remember yet another thing. Once upon a time, a demon by the name of Narakasura enslaved scores of people, women in particular, and tortured them. At that juncture, the Supreme Lord incarnated Himself as Bhagavan Krishna and vanquished Narakasura. As a result of the various vices committed by Narakasura, death befell him in that manner.
In the end, Narakasura asked - (O Lord!) Pray, grant me a boon. What was the boon? He said, "Bless that all might celebrate this day." It is because of that, that we celebrate this festival of Deepavali.
Narakasura humiliated scores of women and in the end suffered for his sins. It is thus that, nobody should be an adulterer and misbehave with women. In our (hoary) culture, we say:
मातृवत् परदारेषु परद्रव्येषु लोष्टवत् ।
आत्मवत् सर्वभूतेषु यः पश्यति स पश्यति ॥
mātr̥vat paradārēṣu paradravyēṣu lōṣṭavat ।
ātmavat sarvabhūtēṣu yaḥ paśyati sa paśyati ॥
- meaning:
One must consider any (other) women as one's own mother. We must look upon women with due respect, eschewing any evil thoughts, in the same manner as we would towards our own mother.
By such means, we should purify our lives. We must move from darkness to light - Deepavali is being celebrated to teach us this lesson. Everyone should remember this on this auspicious day and lead their lives accordingly (in the path of righteousness)."
Copyright: Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri
Video: https://youtu.be/4OH8HJCx1aA
Source for original video and translation: https://vimeo.com/27870228
#Sringeri #Deepavali
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