22 FEATURE mid-day Sunday, October 15, 2017 | www.mid-day.com | twitter.com/mid_day | epaper.mid-day.com Ram got Ravana to share his knowledge with him SHARED BY AMISH and asked politely, “Ravan you Ram went to Ravana and have earned a lot of knowledge. Legends WARM-UP THE story that occurs to me is sat at his feet and asked You are a devotee of Lord Shiva one that’s not part of the official politely, “Ravana, you have and it’s important that this TO DIWALI Valmiki Ramayan, but is a very earned a lot of knowledge. knowledge survives. If you popular tale in the folk tradi - You are the devotee of Lord share it with me, I will make tions in north India. sure that it does. And also, Ravan may have committed Shiva and it’s important that it will never be forgotten many crimes, no doubt, but he that this knowledge that you gave this knowledge of Diwali was also a brilliant intellectual survives.” to me.” and a very good warrior. And so, Then, Ravan started speaking. the story goes that after Ravan The lesson here is that even Deepavali celebrates Ravana’s defeat and Ram’s was shot and lay dying, Lord arrogant and is not saying any - someone as knowledgeable and Ram told his brother Lord Lax - thing.” Then Lord Ram asked great as Lord Ram, showed hu - homecoming. India’s best-known mythological man, “The man is a genius and him, “How did you ask him? mility and kindness towards an fiction writers share their favourite Diwali story his knowledge should not go Where were you standing?” “I enemy. He realised that the war waste.” Lord Ram then asked was standing close to his head.” was over. The story also shows Lord Laxman to go sit with said that your knowledge should was the answer. that everyone has something Ravan and learn from him. Lord not go waste. So, tell me what Lord Ram told Lord Laxman good in them, even Ravan. A woman saved the world Laxman, as you know, was quite you know.” And Ravan just that that was not the way one SHARED BY RADHA VISHWANATH short-tempered. turned his face and did not say should ask Ravan to share his Amish is the author of the Meluha He went to Ravan who lay on anything. knowledge. series, Scion of Ikshvaku and Sita: IN the southern states, Deepavali is the ground and stood close to Lord Laxman came back to Lord Ram went to Ravan and Warrior of Mithila associated with the killing of Naraka - his head and said, “Lord Ram Lord Ram and said, “He is still he stood close to Ravan’s feet sura, the son of Lord Vishnu and Bhoodevi. It’s a story I have grown up with and I like it for its sense of woman power. Narakasura and the cycle of karma Narakasura was killed by Satyab - hama, a reincarnation of Bhoodevi. SHARED BY ANAND While there are contradictory ver - NEELAKANTAN sions, the story I grew up with says that when the child was born to IT’S fascinating to see how the Bhoodevi she was restored to her chain of karma (action) and position from the depths of the ocean karma phala (fruits of action) by Vishnu in his boar-incarnation could kill Narakasura and he knew operate in our Puranas. We can (varaha-avatar). Being a mother, she that Satyabhama was the reincarna - see this link in several epics. didn’t want the child to die, even tion of Bhoodevi. “I want to go. I want The Puranas are rarely black though he was a rakshasa. She asked to see a war and how you fight.” and white, and the stories have Lord Vishnu to bless him with a long Satyabhama, who was completely never been about Good versus life. He told her, “That’s okay, but he under the spell of maya, insisted. Evil, as they are being made has to die.” She told him, “Then bless “Don’t think this is Nandanavana. out to be. It’s Abrahamic reli - him that he should die at my hands; I There won’t be fragrant flowers or gions that operate in a binary should be the reason for his death. I breeze and no chirping birds. Instead, way — god versus satan, virtue should wish it and only then it there will be blood, gore and the cries against sin, and eternal life should happen.” of dying people,” Krishna warned her. against death. Eastern philoso - The story goes that Narakasura Satyabhama said, “I am not chicken phy believes in the cyclical na - went to the three worlds and raided hearted. I want to see you fight. I have ture of life. them. While he was in Swarga, he stole heard of your great valour.” The links of karma and the earrings of Aditi, considered the Krishna underlined this with, “Okay, karma phala are not straight - mother of all gods. Narakasura also but remember I am taking you only forward. And, this is evident stole the white umbrella belonging to because you want to go.” even in the most famous story Varuna. The theft of the earrings was Once the war started, Krishna and surrounding Deepavalai, that They were reincarnations of akin to rape, her honour had been sul - his army fought the generals, sons of of Narakasura. Thus, Vishnu’s vardan of the rakshasa who was killed in lied. She was hurt and wanted him Narakasura and the entire army. Then, Narakasura was the son of conquering evil, led to a Lanka by Rama when he had killed. Indra tried to fight Narakasura they breached the fort. Narakasura Vishnu and Bhoomidevi. When chain of events that ended waged a war to rescue Sita but was unable to reach Narakasura’s used the Shaktiastra and hit Krishna Vishnu took on the avatar of from Ravana’s captivity. home in the fortress-like setting of on the head. Varaha (bore) in the hill of Hi - up creating more evil. So, in one birth, Rama kills Pragjotishpura. Unable to even reach Krishna fainted and Satyabhama got ranyakasha, a son was born to Narakasura could only be 16,000 rakshasas to save his the rakshasa, Indra went to Krishna for upset and angry. In her rage, the him and Bhoomidevi or defeated by Krishna and wife. In the next birth, 16,000 of help. Krishna agreed to help. However, woman who had not even learnt war - mother Earth. Bhoomidevi re - his wife Satyabhama, his wives are captured by the given the inaccessibility of Pragjotish - fare took up Krishna’s bow, shot an quested Vishnu to bless her incarnations of Vishnu and same rakshasas. And who kills pura, he commissioned Garuda (the arrow and killed Narakasura. Her son to become all powerful. Bhoomidevi. In other Krishna? It is Vali, killed by only time Krishna used the Vishnuva - thought, “I must kill him,” made the Vishnu complied. This is Rama, who is reincarnated han) to transport him and his entire boon come true, ensuring that the karma. Let’s see how karma words, those responsible as Jara. army. How Satyabhama tagged along dreaded rakshasa died. phala unfolds. The son grew up for creating the evil would By lighting lamps, we are re - is interesting. Radha Vishwanath is the author ILLUSTRATION/UDAY MOHITE to be arrogant and conquered have to find a solution too. minding ourselves that for Krishna knew that only a woman of Ravan Leela the world. He kidnapped every light, there is a shadow. 16,000 women and unleashed a By lighting crackers, we tell reign of terror. Thus, Vishnu’s of events. ourselves that even the great - vardan of conquering evil led Krishna married the 16,000 est flash of light and booming to a chain of events that ended women. However, he bore an sound is temporary in the vast Why Diwali comes a month later to the hills up creating more evil. Naraka - evil son from another wife, darkness of time. That is why sura could only be defeated by Jambavati. This son, Samba, God in Indian culture is known SHARED BY ASHWIN SANGHI regional variation. Why should a mountainous and inaccessible areas the killing of Narakasura, the return of And, ultimately all these ideas con - Diwali is not only about Rama’s return. Krishna and his wife Satyab - was so evil that Krishna had to as Kalapurusha. That is why mainstream festival be celebrated a would have been unaware of Ram’s the Pandavas, the rescue of Lakshmi, stitute the core of Diwali, irrespective hama, incarnations of Vishnu curse him to become a leper. Shiva is Kalabhairava and in MOST of us associate Diwali with the full month later in some regions? return. The news of his victory over the coronation of Vikramaditya, at - of whether you celebrate it a month Diwali is also variously associated with the and Bhoomidevi. In other Sambha became the cause of Gita, Krishna says I am Time. return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya on the If we view the Ramayana as a his - Ravana and his safe homecoming tainment of nirvana by Mahavira and earlier or later. Destruction of dark - incarnation of Lakshmi, the killing of words, those responsible for destruction of Dwaraka and And, life is a function of end - darkest new moon night of the month torical rather than mythological would have reached these corners of the return of Mahabali to the subter - ness with light. Spiritual awakening. Narakasura, the return of the Pandavas, the creating the evil would have to the annihilation of the Yadava less cycles of action, result and of Kartika. But, there is one part of event, the logic of Boodhi Diwali be - the kingdom after several weeks. ranean world. But in the Boodhi Di - Renewal. Birth. Material prosperity rescue of Lakshmi, the coronation of find a solution, too. Deepavali clan. As Dwaraka was sinking, reaction. India that celebrates Diwali almost a comes apparent. When Lord Rama en - Hence, the people living in these parts wali districts, it is related to the through the arrival of Lakshmi. In that Vikramaditya, attainment of nirvana by is the day when Krishna and Krishna asked Arjuna to take full month after that date. In many tered Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, rejoiced a full month later. Thus, victory of the gods over demons, Dano sense, Diwali is a magnificent um - Satyabhama killed Narakasura. his 16,000 wives to Hastina - Anand Neelakantan is the author of districts of Himachal Pradesh — Ani, the news of his arrival spread. The cit - Boodhi Diwali is observed on the first and Asur who resided there as snakes. brella. Anyone can sit beneath it and Mahavira and the return of Mahabali to the Thus, they had to perform an pura. On the way, these wives books based on the Ramayana, such Nirmand, Shillai, Giripar, Sangrah, Ra - izens of Ayodhya began celebrating by new moon after regular Diwali in As part of the celebrations, a rope create yet another reason to celebrate. subterranean world. But in the Boodhi Diwali action — or karma — to defeat were captured by rakshasas as Asura: Tale of the Vanquished, jgarh and Chopal — this timelag ver - lighting mud lamps and distributing these regions. fashioned from grass and resembling districts, it is related to the victory of the evil, which came as the karma under the leadership of Dur - Ajaya: Roll of the Dice and Ajaya: Ashwin Sanghi is the author of The Rozabal sion of Diwali is known as Boodhi mithai. But this rejoicing would have But, Diwali is not only about Rama’s a snake is carried into the fields. It is gods over demons, Dano and Asur who phala of jaya. They defeated Arjuna and Rise of Kali. More recently, he has Line, Chanakya’s Chant, The Krishna Key written The Rise of Sivagami: Book 1 Diwali, literally meaning old Diwali. I been limited to the capital and imme - return. Diwali is also variously associ - then cut into pieces, thus representing resided there as snakes. their own action. This action in took away the wives. have always been fascinated by this diate surrounding regions. Many ated with the incarnation of Lakshmi, the victory of good over evil. and The Sialkot Saga turn created another chain Who were these rakshasas? of Baahubali - Before the Beginning