University of Manitoba Hindu Students Association
University of Manitoba R3T 2N2 Winnipeg, MB, Canada

FORMULA FOR LIFE

Watch the Deathless Saint Babaji Maharaj. #saint #babajimaharaj #hinduism

Wishing everyone a blessed Narak Chaturdasi / Chhoti Diwali! The day before Diwali is celebrated as Chhoti Diwali / Narak Chaturdasi or 'small Diwali'. It is Diwali on a smaller scale, with fewer lights lit and fewer crackers burst. Narak Chaturdashi is celebrated every year by performing puja of the Goddess Kali who had killed the demon named Narakasura. That’s why the day is known as Narak-Chaturdashi and Kali Chaudas as well. People offer puja in order to eliminate their... laziness and wickedness from their life as well as bring real light into their life. Another story goes that the demon king Narakasur ruler of Pragjyotishpur (a province to the South of Nepal) after defeating Lord Indra had snatched away the magnificent earrings of Aditi, the Mother Goddess (the ruler of Suraloka and a relative of Satyabhama, Lord Krishna's wife) and imprisoned sixteen thousand daughters of the gods and saints in his harem. Lord Krishna's divine intervention led to the killing of the demon, Narakasura and liberation of the imprisoned damsels as well as recovery of the precious earrings of Aditi. As a symbol of that victory Lord Krishna smeared his forehead with the demon king's blood. Krishna returned home in the very early morning of the Narakachaturdashi day. He was massaged with scented oil to his body and gave him a good bath to wash away the filth from his body. Since then the custom of taking bath before sunrise on this day has become a traditional practice specially in Maharashtra.

The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triodasi or Dhanwantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras. On this day, it is believed that Lord Dhanvantari came out of the ocean with Ayurvedic medicines for mankind. This day marks the beginning of Diwali celebrations. On this day at sunset, Hindus bathe and offer a lighted deeya with Prasad (sweets offered at worship time) to Yama Raj, the Lord of Death and pray for protection from untimely death. This offering should be made near a Tulsi tree, the Holy Basil or any other sacred tree that one might have in their yard.

Concept of death explained.