Another legend has it that on Diwali day, Lord Vishnu in his fifth incarnation as Vaman Avatar rescued Goddess Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali.
People perform Lakshmi Puja on the day for peace, prosperity, material wealth and spiritual wealth.
Spiritual Significance of Diwali
O Ram! The light of lights, the self-luminous inner light of the Self is ever shining steadily in the chamber of your heart. Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Withdraw the senses. Fix the mind on this supreme light and enjoy the real Deepavali, by attaining illumination of the soul.
May you all attain full inner illumination! May the supreme light of lights enlighten your understanding! May you all attain the inexhaustible spiritual wealth of the Self! May you all prosper gloriously on the material as well as spiritual planes! (Swami Sivananda)
Diwali Thoughts – A Fresh Start
Diwali is a symbol of a fresh start, a new beginning. I always say that God doesn’t open our old files. Whenever we go to Him, whenever we bow our heads humbly and say, “God, I am yours,” He will accept us. We must only offer ourselves completely at His holy feet.
On Diwali, most people begin a new checkbook, as a symbol of a “fresh start,” and they usually write the first check payable to God. This is a beautiful symbol of devotion to Him. It symbolizes that everything we are, everything we have, everything we earn is being laid at His holy feet. This is the beauty of Indian culture. In our yagnas, the mantras end with “idam na mama.” This means, “not for me, but for you, God.”
This year, let us vow to not only offer God a check (a piece of paper), say a few mantras and then go on with our lives as they were before. But, rather let us vow to live according to the realization that we owe everything to Him and let us truly make an attempt to offer back to Him.
So, this year, write the first check to God. Yes, this is beautiful. Put that check in the mandir. But, then, write the second check to God’s children who are suffering. “He who serves the poorest of the poor is also serving Me,” our scriptures say. (Swami Chidanand Saraswati)
Some Rare Facts About Diwali