The fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of
Ashwina is celebrated as Narakachaturdashi . It is also called Roopachaturdashi
or Kali Chaudas. Ritual oil bath, Neerajan and Diwali feast mark this day.
after this one should raise his hands and chant the following mantra ten times
यमो निहन्ता पितृधर्मराजो वैवस्वतो दंडधरश्च कालः |भूताधिपो दत्तकृतानुसारी कृतांत एतद्दशभिर्जपंति ||
This is a very concise description of the ritual. One can visit other sites to obtain a more detailed procedure if interested.
3. Neeraajana and feast :
After these rituals people worship their family gods. They wear new clothes and feast on the delicacies prepared specially for Diwali.
There is also a small ritual of crushing the kareet fruit with the left foot and tasting its bitter juice or applying its tilak on the forehead. This is supposed to signify the destruction of Narakasura. After this ritual, oil lamps are waved in front of all male members and children of the family to ward off evil. The ladies receive gifts in cash or kind for this Neeraajana vidhi.
4. Kali Chaudas :
In some parts of India Goddess Kali is worshipped on the night of Diwali and that’s why it is also called Kali Chaudas.
Narakasura vadha
Courtsey radhemaa .org
Courtsey radhemaa .org
Mythology :
As per Srimad Bhaagavatam and other Puranas like Vishnu Purana and Kaalika Purana, Narakasura was a born to Bhoodevi (Earth Goddess) and Varaha Bhagawan. He was valiant and ruled over Praagjyotishpura which was is in present day Assam. He stole the earrings of Aditi the mother of Gods and kidnapped 16000 damsels and wished to add them to his harem. He was a menace to Devas and humans both.
Aditi approached Shri Krishna’s wife Satyabhaamaa and asked for her help. Krishna along with Satyabhaamaa went to Praagjyotishapura riding Garuda. He destroyed the enormous army of Narakasura and finally slew him. He released the 16000 damsels and later consented to wed them to save them from social stigma. That day was known as Narakachaturdashi ever after to commemorate the end of Narakasura.
Rituals:
1. Abhyanga Snaana:
Down south starting from Maharashtra, Narakachaturdashi is marked by the ritual oil bath taken early before sunrise. This is called Abhyanga Snaana. People get up very early in the morning on that day. Generally ladies of the house massage their husbands and children with medicinal fragrant oil or Sesame oil. Besan (Chick pea flour), milk and sometimes coconut milk is applied on the body. A fragrant medicinal Ubtan is also applied during bath. All this is aimed at making the skin soft during the dry winter days of Diwali. The shastras say that an Apaamaarga (Aaghaadaa in Marathi) sapling or its leaves or the leaves of pumpkin are encircled thrice over the body and thrown away to avert any bad karma. After bath oil lamps are waved in front of the members of the family. It is said that one who takes such a bath will never go to hell.
2. Yama Tarpana:
Actually Narakachaturdashi might have actually got its name due to the various rituals meant to eliminate the possibility of going to Naraka(hell) in the afterlife. Yama tarpana is one such ritual. After bath on Narakachaturdashi morning , one should sit facing south and resolve to do Yama tarpana for destroying sins and escape the torture of hell by the grace of Yama.
Those whose father is alive should perform tarpana with the yadnyopaveeta over the left shoulder. They should take rice grains or unhusked barley grains in their right hand and offer water once with each of the following mantras allowing it to flow straight from the palm to the finger tips.
Those whose father is deceased should keep the yadnyopaveeta on their right shoulder and perform tarpana with black sesame seeds by offering water thrice chanting the mantras three times each . The water should flow from the middle of the right palm through the space between the thumb and forefinger.
यमं तर्पयामि| धर्मराजं तर्पयामि| मृत्युं तर्पयामि| अंतकं तर्पयामि| वैवस्वतं तर्पयामि| कालं तर्पयामि|
सर्वभूतक्षयं तर्पयामि| औदुंबरं तर्पयामि| दध्नं तर्पयामि| नीलं तर्पयामि| परमेष्ठिनं तर्पयामि| वृकोदरं तर्पयामि|
चित्रं तर्पयामि| चित्रगुप्तं तर्पयामि|
Aditi approached Shri Krishna’s wife Satyabhaamaa and asked for her help. Krishna along with Satyabhaamaa went to Praagjyotishapura riding Garuda. He destroyed the enormous army of Narakasura and finally slew him. He released the 16000 damsels and later consented to wed them to save them from social stigma. That day was known as Narakachaturdashi ever after to commemorate the end of Narakasura.
Rituals:
1. Abhyanga Snaana:
Down south starting from Maharashtra, Narakachaturdashi is marked by the ritual oil bath taken early before sunrise. This is called Abhyanga Snaana. People get up very early in the morning on that day. Generally ladies of the house massage their husbands and children with medicinal fragrant oil or Sesame oil. Besan (Chick pea flour), milk and sometimes coconut milk is applied on the body. A fragrant medicinal Ubtan is also applied during bath. All this is aimed at making the skin soft during the dry winter days of Diwali. The shastras say that an Apaamaarga (Aaghaadaa in Marathi) sapling or its leaves or the leaves of pumpkin are encircled thrice over the body and thrown away to avert any bad karma. After bath oil lamps are waved in front of the members of the family. It is said that one who takes such a bath will never go to hell.
2. Yama Tarpana:
Actually Narakachaturdashi might have actually got its name due to the various rituals meant to eliminate the possibility of going to Naraka(hell) in the afterlife. Yama tarpana is one such ritual. After bath on Narakachaturdashi morning , one should sit facing south and resolve to do Yama tarpana for destroying sins and escape the torture of hell by the grace of Yama.
Those whose father is alive should perform tarpana with the yadnyopaveeta over the left shoulder. They should take rice grains or unhusked barley grains in their right hand and offer water once with each of the following mantras allowing it to flow straight from the palm to the finger tips.
Those whose father is deceased should keep the yadnyopaveeta on their right shoulder and perform tarpana with black sesame seeds by offering water thrice chanting the mantras three times each . The water should flow from the middle of the right palm through the space between the thumb and forefinger.
यमं तर्पयामि| धर्मराजं तर्पयामि| मृत्युं तर्पयामि| अंतकं तर्पयामि| वैवस्वतं तर्पयामि| कालं तर्पयामि|
सर्वभूतक्षयं तर्पयामि| औदुंबरं तर्पयामि| दध्नं तर्पयामि| नीलं तर्पयामि| परमेष्ठिनं तर्पयामि| वृकोदरं तर्पयामि|
चित्रं तर्पयामि| चित्रगुप्तं तर्पयामि|
after this one should raise his hands and chant the following mantra ten times
यमो निहन्ता पितृधर्मराजो वैवस्वतो दंडधरश्च कालः |भूताधिपो दत्तकृतानुसारी कृतांत एतद्दशभिर्जपंति ||
This is a very concise description of the ritual. One can visit other sites to obtain a more detailed procedure if interested.
3. Neeraajana and feast :
After these rituals people worship their family gods. They wear new clothes and feast on the delicacies prepared specially for Diwali.
There is also a small ritual of crushing the kareet fruit with the left foot and tasting its bitter juice or applying its tilak on the forehead. This is supposed to signify the destruction of Narakasura. After this ritual, oil lamps are waved in front of all male members and children of the family to ward off evil. The ladies receive gifts in cash or kind for this Neeraajana vidhi.
4. Kali Chaudas :
In some parts of India Goddess Kali is worshipped on the night of Diwali and that’s why it is also called Kali Chaudas.
Customs:
Narakasura burning.
Goa has a tradition of burning large effigies of Narakasura. There are various groups who prepare tall statues using paper, hay and fire crackers. Competitions are held for the most impressive float.The slaying of Narakasura is enacted and the effigy is burnt finally. Nowadays this competition has become a major tourist attraction.
Narakasura burning.
Goa has a tradition of burning large effigies of Narakasura. There are various groups who prepare tall statues using paper, hay and fire crackers. Competitions are held for the most impressive float.The slaying of Narakasura is enacted and the effigy is burnt finally. Nowadays this competition has become a major tourist attraction.
Narakasura effigy in Goa
courtsey parrikar blogspot
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