The Sacred Stories Behind Diwali Festival

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most celebrated festivals in Hinduism, observed with great devotion across India and the world. This ancient festival holds deep spiritual significance, rooted in several profound mythological stories that represent the eternal victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

The Return of Lord Rama – The Ramayana Connection

The Epic Journey

The most widely celebrated story behind Diwali comes from the ancient epic Ramayana. After fourteen years of exile in the forest, Lord Rama returned to his kingdom of Ayodhya along with his beloved wife Sita and devoted brother Lakshmana.

During their exile, the demon king Ravana abducted Sita and took her to his kingdom of Lanka. Lord Rama, with the help of his faithful devotee Hanuman and an army of vanaras (monkey warriors), waged a great war against Ravana. After an epic battle that lasted many days, Rama defeated and killed Ravana, rescuing Sita and upholding dharma.

The Celebration in Ayodhya

When news reached Ayodhya that their beloved prince was finally returning home, the entire kingdom erupted in joy. The people of Ayodhya cleaned and decorated their homes, streets, and temples. They lit thousands of earthen lamps (diyas) to illuminate the path for their returning king and to celebrate the victory of good over evil.

The kingdom sparkled with the glow of countless lamps, symbolizing the end of darkness and the beginning of a new era of righteousness. This tradition of lighting lamps continues to this day, making Diwali the most luminous festival in the Hindu calendar.

Spiritual Significance

This story teaches us that no matter how long the journey or how difficult the obstacles, righteousness always prevails. Lord Rama’s unwavering commitment to dharma, even during the hardest times, serves as an eternal inspiration for humanity.

Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu – The Story of Divine Prosperity

The Churning of the Ocean

One of the most significant stories associated with Diwali involves Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, prosperity, and fortune. According to ancient texts, the gods (devas) and demons (asuras) once churned the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan) to obtain the nectar of immortality (amrita).

During this great churning, many divine treasures emerged from the ocean, including Goddess Lakshmi herself. She appeared seated on a lotus, radiating divine beauty and grace. Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, became her consort.

The Wedding of Lakshmi and Vishnu

It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu were married on the new moon day of Kartik month, which is celebrated as Diwali. This day is considered extremely auspicious for worshipping Lakshmi, as she is believed to visit homes that are clean, well-lit, and prepared for her arrival.

The Symbolism

Devotees clean their homes thoroughly before Diwali, create beautiful rangoli designs at their doorsteps, and light lamps to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. The lighting of lamps is not just to welcome material wealth, but also to invite spiritual prosperity, wisdom, and the divine light of consciousness into their lives.

This story reminds us that true prosperity comes with purity of heart and home, and that divine grace blesses those who prepare themselves worthily to receive it.

Lord Krishna and the Demon Narakasura

The Tyranny of Narakasura

In South India, particularly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, Diwali is celebrated to commemorate Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura. Narakasura was a powerful demon king who had become extremely tyrannical and caused immense suffering to both gods and humans.

He had conquered the heavens, kidnapped 16,000 daughters of gods and saints, stolen the earrings of Aditi (mother of the gods), and brought darkness and terror to the three worlds. His reign of evil seemed unstoppable.

Krishna’s Divine Intervention

Lord Krishna, along with his wife Satyabhama, waged war against Narakasura. In an epic battle, Satyabhama, who was an incarnation of Bhudevi (Mother Earth), played a crucial role. It was prophesied that Narakasura could only be killed by his mother, and thus Satyabhama dealt the final blow that ended his tyranny.

The Day of Liberation

On the day of his death, before dying, Narakasura realized his mistakes and asked for forgiveness. He requested that his death anniversary be celebrated with joy and lights. Lord Krishna granted this wish, and the day came to be celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before Diwali.

Krishna freed the 16,000 imprisoned women and returned the stolen earrings to Aditi. The world rejoiced and celebrated the end of darkness and oppression with lights and festivities.

The Message

This story emphasizes that evil, no matter how powerful, will ultimately be destroyed by divine intervention. It also teaches us about the power of women (represented by Satyabhama) in defeating evil and establishing righteousness.

King Bali and Lord Vamana – The Victory of Humility

The Generous King

In Kerala, Diwali coincides with the festival of Onam and is associated with the story of King Mahabali and Lord Vamana, the dwarf incarnation of Lord Vishnu. King Bali was a righteous and generous asura king who ruled the earth with great wisdom and justice.

However, his growing power began to threaten the gods. Despite being virtuous, his pride and ambition were growing, and he was performing a yajna (ritual sacrifice) to gain sovereignty over the three worlds.

Lord Vamana’s Appearance

To restore cosmic balance, Lord Vishnu took the form of Vamana, a dwarf brahmin boy, and approached King Bali during his yajna. Following the ancient tradition of charity, Bali asked Vamana what he desired.

Vamana requested just three paces of land measured by his feet. Despite warnings from his guru Shukracharya, the generous King Bali agreed.

The Divine Revelation

Suddenly, Vamana began to grow in size, becoming cosmic in form. With his first step, he covered the earth. With his second step, he covered the heavens. When he asked where to place his third step, the humble King Bali offered his own head.

Pleased with Bali’s devotion and humility, Lord Vishnu granted him immortality and rulership of the netherworld. He also blessed Bali with the right to visit his beloved subjects once every year, which is celebrated as Onam.

The Deeper Meaning

This story teaches us about the virtue of humility and the importance of keeping one’s promises. It shows that true greatness lies not in power or possession, but in devotion, humility, and righteousness. The lights of Diwali celebrate this divine play and the establishment of dharma.

Lord Mahavira and Diwali – The Jain Connection

The Nirvana of Mahavira

For the Jain community, Diwali holds special significance as it marks the nirvana (final liberation) of Lord Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism. On this day in 527 BCE, Lord Mahavira attained moksha at Pavapuri, Bihar.

The Light of Knowledge

When Lord Mahavira attained nirvana, it is said that eighteen kings who were his disciples illuminated their kingdoms with lamps to symbolize the light of knowledge that Mahavira had spread. This tradition of lighting lamps continues in the Jain community to honor his memory and teachings.

Spiritual Awakening

For Jains, Diwali represents the spiritual awakening and the victory over the cycle of birth and death. It is a day to reflect on Mahavira’s teachings of non-violence, truth, and detachment from material possessions.

The Pandavas’ Return – The Mahabharata Connection

The Long Exile

According to the great epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas returned from their twelve years of exile in the forest and one year of living incognito on the day of Kartik Amavasya (new moon), which falls on Diwali.

Celebration of Reunion

The people of their kingdom celebrated their return by lighting lamps and decorating the entire kingdom. This symbolized the return of justice and righteousness after a period of darkness and uncertainty.

The Symbolism of Justice

This story reinforces the theme that those who follow the path of dharma, despite facing numerous hardships and injustices, will ultimately be vindicated and celebrated. The lights represent the joy of reunion with righteousness.

Goddess Kali and the Defeat of Demons

The Battle Against Evil

In Bengal and parts of Eastern India, Diwali is celebrated as Kali Puja, honoring Goddess Kali. According to mythology, when demons threatened the cosmic order, Goddess Durga manifested her fierce form as Kali to destroy them.

The Dance of Destruction

Goddess Kali defeated the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, protecting the gods and maintaining cosmic balance. Her fierce form represents the destruction of ego and ignorance, while her compassion represents the nurturing aspect of the divine mother.

The Inner Transformation

The worship of Kali during Diwali symbolizes the destruction of our inner demons – anger, greed, jealousy, and ego. The lights represent the illumination of consciousness after these negative forces are vanquished.

The Universal Message of Diwali

Light Over Darkness

All these stories, though different in their narrative, converge on one universal truth: the inevitable victory of light over darkness. This light is not merely physical but represents:

Knowledge over ignorance
Truth over falsehood
Hope over despair
Good over evil
Dharma over adharma

The Inner Diwali

The real Diwali is not just the lighting of external lamps, but the awakening of the inner light – the light of consciousness, wisdom, and divine love. The stories remind us that this light exists within each of us, waiting to be kindled.

Practical Wisdom

These ancient stories offer timeless wisdom:

Stand firm in righteousness even during adversity (Rama’s story)
Prepare yourself to receive divine grace through purity (Lakshmi’s story)
Evil will be defeated by divine power (Krishna’s story)
Practice humility and keep your promises (Bali’s story)
Seek spiritual liberation (Mahavira’s story)
Righteousness ultimately prevails (Pandavas’ story)
Transform your inner darkness into light (Kali’s story)

Celebrating the Sacred Stories

When we light lamps this Diwali, we connect with these ancient stories and their profound teachings. Each flame we light is a prayer, a remembrance, and a commitment to embody the virtues celebrated in these sacred narratives.

The beauty of Diwali lies in its ability to unite diverse stories under one luminous celebration, reminding us that though the paths may be many, the destination – the victory of light over darkness – remains the same.

May the sacred stories of Diwali inspire us to become bearers of light in this world, dispelling darkness wherever we go, and may the divine light illuminate our hearts, homes, and humanity.

Happy Diwali!