Darkness To Light And Death To Immortality

Darkness To Light And Death To Immortality

By - Akhil Chandra
Diwali is a festival of lights. It symbolises the removal of darkness or ignorance with the light of knowledge and understanding. In larger parts of north India, Diwali is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Rama over the evil Ravana, when people celebrated Rama’s return to his kingdom, Ayodhya. It is also an occasion when Lakshmi, also known as Sridevi, the goddess of wealth, is propitiated. But wealth ought to be earned or acquired through rightful means.
According to ancient Indian scriptures, attainment of wealth is one of the four legitimate and basic desires in the life of man. The four are dharma or righteousness, artha or wealth, kama or desire and moksha or freedom through communion with the Infinite. All these attainments of life when combined are known as purushartha.
Dharma is founded in truth and right conduct. It is the manner in which you live your life. Wealth has a wider connotation. Wealth is regarded not only as a token of exchange of goods or material wealth such as land, properties and grain but also includes priceless virtues such as patience, persistence, and purity. This wider meaning of wealth is symbolically celebrated by worshipping Lakshmi in her eight forms, referred to as Ashta Lakshmi.
Adi Lakshmi, the source goddess, is depicted serving her husband Lord Narayana who is omnipresent. So in effect, Adi Lakshmi serves entire creation. Dhana Lakshmi presides over not just material wealth but everything that is worthwhile. Dhanya Lakshmi provides food for sustenance, including grains. Dhairya Lakshmi infuses us with courage and strength. She is Gaja Lakshmi when, seated on a lotus, she is sprayed nectar by two elephants flanking her, and this is how she is visualised emerging, during the churning of the ocean.Santana Lakshmi bestows blessings on family, and Vijaya Lakshmi empowers us to win challenges. Vidya Lakshmi of knowledge and wisdom helps us discriminate between right and wrong.
One who has earned money through rightful means and hard work would be mindful of its value. But one who has obtained it dishonourably and who has followed the path of adharma, becomes a slave to acquisitions and squanders wealth so obtained.
Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged said that there are two classes of people in our society, those who create wealth through application of their mind and efforts and others, looters, obtaining money through fraudulent means. The first follows the path of dharma while the second follows the path of adharma.
Wealth obtained while following path of dharma comes through hard work and dedication. Bhartrihari has said that Lakshmi favours only those who are diligent and industrious. It is believed that Lakshmi or wealth goes only to those homes which are clean and where people are hardworking. She does not visit the places which are unclean or where people are lazy. Lakshmi is worshipped with Ganesh, God of wisdom who is also remover of obstacles. The owl, a bird which symbolises wisdom, is shown with Lakshmi as Her vahana or vehicle.
Illumination during Diwali conveys the message: “Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya” — from darkness unto light — to all peoples of the world. It is by removing the darkness and filth of ignorance and negativity that we progress to knowledge and from non-awareness to awareness and higher consciousness. Such an enlightened state is tantamount to having achieved immortality.
http://spirituality.indiatimes.com
Taken From Time of India