Dear All,
Greetings and Namaste. Deepavali is just a couple of days away.
May I take this occasion to wish you all, your family and friends a very happy and prosperous Deepavali! May The Festival of Lights light an insatiable spark of knowledge and prosperity that showers your lives with Lord's Kataksha that fulfils every rightful wish of yours making this planet earth a more peaceful place to live and co-exist.
Though the spirit of Deepavali is same - not only in India/Hindu traditions but also outside of India - the practices vary as Hinduism seeks Unity of Purpose and NOT Uniformity of Deeds! The festivities and prayers revolve around the following:
- Yama Aradhana/Dipa
- Mahalakshmi Puja
- Sri Vishnu/Krishna Aradhana
I am attaching 3 very rare stotras for each of the above as below:
1. Yamashtakam - by Savitri - Brahma Vaivarta Puranam
This a short and sweet prayer on Lord Yama by Savitri (wife of Satyavan). This prayer was sung by her when Lord Yama explains the greatness and procedure for worshipping Vishnu (as part of Savitri Satyavan Story). It is claimed that one becomes fearless of Yama and gets completely relieved of all sins if this is chanted daily in the morning.
2. Sri Kolhapura Mahalakshmi Stuti - Padma Puranam
This is a short prayer on Kolhapur Mahalakshmi appearing as part of Kolhapur Mahatmya as told by Lord Shiva in Padma Purana. It is curious to note that Lord Shiva declares Mahalakshmi to be the root (Bija) for everything including trinity. As we have seen before, the premise of Shakta texts like Pradhaneeka Rahasyam is same as this. Rudra Yamalam claims Radha to be the root (Narada Pancharatra also does this to a large extent).
3. Sri Krishna Stuti - by Sage Ashtavakra - Brahma Vaivarta Puranam
Though short, this is an immensely exquisite prayer by Sage Ashtavakra. The sanctity of this hymn is succinctly given in the phalashruti - this is a Stotra Raja and is much more dearer than their own souls for the true seekers (Mumukshus). Do we need to say anything more? Yes - just one thing more - this hymn was given by Lord Narayana himself to Lord Shiva in Vaikunta.
Though I am a zero in literary knowledge, I am amazed by the beauty of this hymn - the choice of words, rhyme, relative meaning/contrast of the rhyming words - splendid indeed.
The quitessence of this prayer is that Lord Krishna is essentially the root of everything and how beautifully explains the concept of trinity arising from this root : aho yasya trayaH skandhA brahma VishNu maheshvarAH | (making any differentiation among them an artificial and wasted effort - making its Net Past/Present/Future Value as a confirmed Negative).
Once again, may I wish you all a very happy Diwali and festivities.
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