Significance of Diwali in Hinduism

The festival marks the victory of good over evil. The Sanskrit word Deepavali means array of lights that stands for victory of brightness over darkness. As the knowledge of Sanskrit diminished, the name was popularly modified to Diwali, especially in northern India.

On the day of Diwali, many wear new clothes, share sweets and light firecrackers. The North Indian business community usually starts their financial new year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day.

Hindus find cause to celebrate this festival for different reasons:

• As per sacred texts, according to Skanda Purana, the goddess Shakti observed 21 days of austerity starting from ashtami of shukla paksha (waxing period of moon) to get half part of the body of Lord Shiva. This vrata is known as kedhara vrata. Deepavali is the completion day of this austerity. This is the day Lord Shiva accepted Shakti into the left half of the form and appeared as Ardhanarishvara. The ardent devotees observe this 21 days vrata by making a kalasha with 21 threads on it and 21 types of offerings for 35 days. The final day is celebrated as kedhara gauri vrata.
• Diwali also celebrates the return of Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya from a war in which he killed the demon king Ravana. It is believed that the people lit oil lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness. In North India, the festival is held on the final day of the Vikram calendar. The following day marks the beginning of the North Indian new year, and is called Annakut.
• It commemorates the killing of Narakasura, an evil demon who created havoc, by Lord Krishna's wife Sathyabhama. This happened in the Dwapara Yuga during this time of Lord Krishna's avatar. In another version, the demon was killed by Lord Krishna himself. In South India, Diwali does not coincide with the beginning of a new year as South Indians follow a different calendar, the Shalivahana calendar.
• In Bhavishyottara and Bramhavaivarta Purana, Diwali is associated with the Daitya king Bali, who is allowed to return to earth once a year.

Why we celebrate festivals?

Some of us don't even know why we celebrate festivals in general. Just think whether we would go and pay our respect to elders if there is no celebration? First of all will we ever visit them at all!

But, above all there is some more special relevance for the celebration in India!

We give alms to poor people. We distribute edibles and sweets to neighbors and relatives.

We forget previous grudges with others and mingle which would pave a new path of relationship!

Without our knowledge we do a lot of remedies!

Do you know how?

We distribute sweets: in general it is Guru (Jupiter) preethi (remedy!)

Among sweets…

Laddus indicate Guru (Jupiter) preethi ! You know how?

•  round shape is that of Guru (Jupiter)
•  yellow color is that of Guru (Jupiter)
•  the besan (channa dhal ) with which it is made -is that of Guru (Jupiter)
•  the ghee which is the main ingredient as well as medium of cooking-is that of Guru (Jupiter)
•  sweet taste-is that of Guru (Jupiter)

the same way Jangiri indicate Rahu preeti! How?

Urad dhal is the main cereal of Rahu preethi !

Every taste and every cereal indicate one planet or other! If we distribute or gift dresses/clothes- every color indicates a planet!

•  red is remedy of sun
•  white is remedy of moon
•  Orange/pink is remedy of mars /Kuja/ chevvai/ mangal.
•  green is remedy of Budha (Mercury)
•  yellow/cream color is remedy of Guru (Jupiter)
•  bright white is remedy of Venus (Sukra)
•  black is remedy of sani (Saturn)
•  blue is remedy of Rahu
•  Multicolor is remedy of Kethu!

case you are gifting jewel to some one means…

•  Ruby is remedy of sun
•  white pears are remedy of moon
•  orange coral is remedy of moon
•  emerald/jade is remedy of Budha (Mercury)
•  yellow sapphire/gold is remedy of Guru (Jupiter)
•  diamond/American diamond/zircon is remedy of Venus (Sukra)
•  blue stone /iron is remedy of sani (Saturn)
•  Gomethagam is remedy of Rahu
•  Cat's eye is remedy of Kethu!

The remedies do not end with this!

When we wear best dresses we do Venus (Sukra) remedy!
When we wear gold jewel we do remedy of Guru (Jupiter)
When we eat best food we do Venus (Sukra) remedy!
When we use perfumes we do Venus (Sukra) remedy!
When we gift an umbrella or sandals (footwear) we do remedy of sani (Saturn)
When we give/gift books we do remedy of Budha (Mercury)
When we offer milk/milk sweet to others we do remedy of moon/Chandra!

There are many other remedies in day -to -day life, which we do or neglect to do without our knowledge!

Thus, give, give and give! Who knows? It may be a great remedy without your knowledge! Let us celebrate this Diwali though giving and by charity!

It is frightening to learn that the world will cease to exist after 2012. Time and again, we get such news through various news channels, articles and websites about astrologers predicting doom in 2012. “Jyotish” commonly called Vedic astrology is derived from the words “Jyot” meaning light and “Ish” meaning God. The intention of “Jyotish” should be to spread light, love, healing and guidance of God for the wellbeing of man kind. However, with time this knowledge has become a handy tool of self seekers to instill fear and insecurity in the minds of the people. This has been wrongly utilized for making money and spreading rumors.

It is important to know why western astrologers in particular are pointing about the end of the world in 2012. Western astrologers argue that the world is running in the Age of Aquarius and on Dec. 21, 2012, the day of the annual winter solstice, the Sun will rise roughly over the center of the Milky Way galaxy (as per Mayan Calendar) which may lead to the end of the world. The Hindus believe that we are in the period of Kaliyug. The end of Kaliyug would mean the end of the world and the restart of the process of creation. Kaliyug is not ending immediately as per Vedic astrology.

In Western astrology, the Age of Aquarius is one of the twelve astrological ages and every age is about 2,150 years long. However, the method of calculating the age is highly debatable. Some astrologers take the current age and some take the coming age in such calculation. For example some western experts say that we are running in the “Age of Aquarius” while others believe that we are still in the “Age of Pisces”.

We would like to know whether western astrology is competent enough to predict the outcome of such planetary placement and for the prediction of doom.

Differences between Western Tropical astrology and Vedic Sidereal astrology:-

Western astrology focuses on the psychological nature of the individual, but lacks reliability for predicting future cycles and events. Vedic astrology, in addition to judging a person psychologically gives more emphasis on cycles and events, both for an individual as well as on all mundane subjects.

Vedic astrology gives a better view of:

1. A person's karmic tendencies

2. Predicting the time for manifestation of such tendencies.

The timing of life events is shown through a detailed system of planetary time cycles, called "dashas." There is no corresponding method in Western astrology to time an event, because their methods are based solely on the transit of planets. The dasa system in Vedic astrology has been invented to co-relate the karmic tendencies with transit of planets which gives a better result.

Western astrologers, who were introduced to Vedic astrology, often adopted Vedic astrology because of its greater scope, depth and accuracy for predicting the future.

Astronomical differences:-

The basic difference between the two systems is that the Vedic zodiac is Sidereal and the Western is Tropical.

• In Sidereal astrology, the zodiac is aligned with 27 constellations, or fixed star groups. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, aligns with the first constellation, called Ashwini.

• In the tropical zodiac, the point in space when the Sun crosses the earth's equator is the beginning point of the zodiac, or Aries.

The earth's equator shifts backward through the signs of the zodiac at the rate of about 51" of longitude per year known as "precession of the equinoxes." Because of this phenomenon, the theoretical Aries of the western zodiac drifts further and further from the Aries used by Vedic astrologers -- at the rate of about 1 degree every 72 years.

The tropical (Western), and the Vedic Aries were on the same zodiacal plane around 285 AD because of the precession of the equinoxes. At present, there is approximately a 23 degree difference. Thus, all of the planets in a Vedic horoscope, including the rising sign, will be about 23 zodiacal degrees earlier than they would be in a Western chart. Since, planetary placements will vary considerably; Vedic astrologers cannot rely on the interpretation made by western astrologers.

Some Questions to Astrologers who point towards the deadline of 2012:

• They should find an answer for a person having rajya yoga, marriage yoga or any other important yoga operating in or after 2012 as to how, the soul, who is born to enjoy the fruits of his karma in this world, will do so when there is no world left for him.

• They should also make it clear as to why they attribute all the problems in this world to only Saturn. In the year 2012 Saturn will be exalted as per Vedic astrology. Some astrologers have attributed all miseries for the year 2012 to Saturn. Transit of Saturn in Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are considered bad. But, the transit of Saturn in Libra (in exaltation) is good. Hence, how can a strong Saturn destroy the world? As per classical astrology, Saturn has been assigned the role of “Kaal”. Without the sanction of Saturn no destruction of the world is possible.

Our humble submission is that the world is going to change a lot during the year 2012, but this does not amount to the end of the world. It will make the world a better place, because the planet of divine justice (Saturn) will be strong and will be in a decisive position. The most important thing during this period will be change in power centers. The supremacy of the superpowers may be threatened. Countries having belief in democracy will win because Saturn helps the down-trodden and common man the most.

Many changes in the lifestyle, polity and thought process of the world are taking place and will continue to take place in the year 2012 also. Old ideas will be replaced by New Ideas. The fear is because of the human tendency to repel changes. All changes are not bad, because it is only change that brings in a new and improved setup.

Angelic and Spiritual Interpretation about 2012:

Angel Guides, philosophers and spiritual people talk about 'Millennium Children' and “End- Times Children” who are relevant for 2012 . For a discussion about what the world will be like in the year 2012, it is pertinent to know about these children.

Within the last decade or so, a growing number of children have been born that appear to be more intuitive and more creative than older generations were at that age. They take to computers as easily as a fish takes to water. They have natural understanding of technology in general. These bright and gifted youngsters were called "Millennium Children" in the book of the same name by Caryl Dennis and Parker Whitman, published in 1998.

Some of them are also called the "End-Times Children" who are living amongst us. Like the “Millennium Children”, they have also exceptional qualities and unbelievable capabilities. The difference is that "Millennium Children" stand for positive qualities where as “End- Times Children” stand for negative qualities.

"End-timers" are also intelligent and creative. They, too, have a natural understanding of technology. But it is generally the technology of destruction-such as bombs, firearms or other weapons-that interests them the most. They can develop methods to turn into professional hackers at times. Their fascination towards destruction can make them develop high technology weapons.

The ‘Millennium Children' and the ‘End-Times Children' especially the indigo children born in 1980's and 1990's will attain adulthood by 2012. It is likely that there can be some clashes between these two groups of opposite mindsets to attain the purpose of their incarnation. This indicates that extremism, opportunism and hunger for power will be on the rise on account of “End-Times Children” whereas healing, tenderness, love, understanding and protection will also rise on account of activities of ‘Millennium Children'.

Conclusion:

The world is transforming and power shifts are taking place. By, 2012 we will witness philosophical, social, economical and political changes throughout the world. Power centers may change. There may be violent wars. But, the world, as such, will remain and souls will keep on incarnating for furtherance of their divine life purpose and for enjoying the fruits of their karma.

In a deck of Tarot cards the XIII th card is “The Death” card. But, for a Tarot reader this card may mean many things depending on the questions pertaining to health, career, marriage, childbirth and various other problems. This card indicates that change is taking place and the end is coming to something which exists. The same reading can mean different things to different experts in different situations. Hence, the change of era which is making the astrologers panic, may mean end of stagnating mindset and beginning of a wonderful era.