Today is Deepavali! It is celebrated all over the country but the reasons associated with it are different in different regions of the country (Ram’s return to Ayodhya, Killing of the evil by Kali among others). But the reason for celebration remains unchanged------like most festivals in India—it is once again time to celebrate the victory of good over evil!
Back home, Deepavali celebrations start with arrival of King Balivendra (King Bali) on earth on the eve of Naraka Chaturdashi (in Kerala, King Bali arrives around Onam, a month or so ago). Naraka chaturdashi (the day Narakasur was killed) is followed by Lakshmi puja,the celebration of prosperity(the cattle are also worshipped on this day. In our community the cattle are loved like pets and represent prosperity). On the evening of the last day- Balipadyami- King Bali leaves earth and returns to his kingdom down below!
Who are Narakasura and King Balivendra? Well the mythology tells us the following-
Narakasura was a evil king (a contemporary of Lord Krishna). Well he was very powerful too. He had conquered the earth and the Indra Loka. He had created hell everywhere. He had to be vanquished. But there was a problem………he could only be killed by his mother (that was the boon granted to him). And his mother was already dead and gone. So he ruled without fear of death! When Narakasura’s despotic rule was at its height, Lord Krishna happened upon a flower (the Parijata, it’s a very beautiful flower, white with a orange pedicel). He took it home and gave it to his wife Rukmini! This angered Satyabhama (his other wife)……she was a very jealous and egoistic lady! She fought with Krishna. Krishna in order to calm her down said that he had given only one flower to Rukmini, for Satyabhama he planned to gift the whole plant. So, off they went to get the plant. Now, the plant was in Indra Loka, which was under Narakasura’s rule. So, when they went to get the plant, Krishna had to fight Narakasura. However since Narakasura was unvanquishable Krishna almost lost, Satyabhama had to enter to save her husband! And in the fight killed Narakasura! (Narkasura’s mother had taken birth as Satyabhama). So, the Evil was destroyed!
But the story of Parijata does not end here……….Satyabhama’s ego was still not vanquished! They brought home the plant; the plant grew……..it bore few flowers! With these flowers in hand, Satyabhama went to Rukmini’s quarters to show off! But something strange had happened……she saw that the branches of the plant which had entered Rukmini’s quarters had borne more flowers than the ones on her side (some say that Krishna had planted it such a way that the most branches went into Rukmini’s quarters). An act born out of ego is never rewarded! Well, Satyabhama crushed the flowers in her hand out of dismay! The Parijata flower although very beautiful withers very quickly……
Now King Bali was a very good demon king, a very able king at that! His kingdom was the most prosperous one! Having made his kingdom prosperous, he wished to attain the seat of power and luxury; he wanted to become head of Indra Loka, the Indra. So, he did many things needed of him to attain this, through social service and what not! He almost succeeded in this endeavour! To stop him from upsetting the power balance in the Indra Loka in this unprecedented manner and to teach him the vanity of material wealth, Lord Vishnu took his fifth avatara—that of the Vamana. Vamana was a puny brahmin. He was very short (slightly over 4 feet)! He went to King Bali, during the last of his endeavours which among other things included donating generously. The King in his pride (he was also a very generous king) said he could ask for anything and it would be granted. So, Vamana said he needed land as much as his three steps could cover. The King laughed and granted the wish! So, Vamana took his steps------with one he covered the entire earth, with the second he covered the heavens above and then where was he to put his third step? He asked the King so! Now the King was in trouble, what was he to do? All that he had was already taken. Nothing left to give! King Bali did not lose heart though and realized that Lord stood before him in the guise of Vamana! So he knelt down, and said…….Oh, Lord! You can place your third step on my head!
And thus King Bali learnt his lesson of humility!
With the third step on Bali’s head, the Lord sent him down into the underworld! Patala! With a word of advice……….a person as able as you must wish for more than power and luxury! He must wish to be one with God!
The Lord was touched by the King Bali’s determination to keep his word even in the face of dire consequence! So, he proclaimed Bali the king of Patala Loka and in the form of Vamana stands as a guard at the gate of King Bali’s Patala! From then on King Bali visits earth once every year to make sure everybody is fine in his kingdom above! And so that he is not disappointed, he is invited at the most prosperous time on earth…….during harvest!
I guess, our ancestors had recognized the evil on earth lay within the hearts of man-----ego, jealousy, envy, arrogance, anger, hatred so on and so forth. So many stories, so many different ways; each telling us, reminding us to do away with these evils! Without these negative elements man could create paradise on earth!
So, this Deepavali-------let us try to vanquish the evil within us - our hatred, jealousy, ego and pride! To lead a simple happy and prosperous life beneficial to one and all, and tame the greed for material wealth!
Easier Said than Done! ;)
