Deepavali, also known as Diwali, is the festival of lights,
celebrated with great joy, devotion, and enthusiasm across India. It is a
festival that brings families together, brightens homes, spreads happiness, and
reminds us of the eternal victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and
knowledge over ignorance.
The very word Deepavali means a row of lights. From the tiny
earthen diyas placed at our doorsteps to the beautifully decorated lamps in our
homes, every light carries a message of hope, peace, and prosperity.
The Glow of Diyas and Lamps
As Deepavali approaches, homes are cleaned, decorated, and
illuminated. Colourful rangolis adorn the entrances, strings of lights brighten
balconies, and traditional oil lamps are placed along windowsills, doorways,
and courtyards.
Yet, among all these beautiful decorations, the little diya holds
a special place in our hearts. The diya lit in the puja room before the Lord is
not merely a religious ritual. It is a prayer for wealth, calmness, peace, good
health, and prosperity. Its gentle flame reminds us to invite goodness into our
homes and lives.
The light of a diya is small, but its significance is immense. It
teaches us that even a little light can dispel darkness. A single lamp can
illuminate a room, and a single act of kindness can brighten someone's life.
The different forms of light add their own glory to Deepavali.
Traditional oil lamps bring warmth and devotion, decorative electric lights
create a festive atmosphere, candles add beauty, and the glow of fireworks
fills the night sky with excitement.
But the true beauty of Deepavali lies not merely in the lights we
see around us. It lies in the happiness, affection, generosity, and
togetherness that they bring to people who celebrate the festival.
Literature: A Light That Guides Generarations
Indian literature has always celebrated the significance of light.
Our epics, scriptures, poems, and stories have used light as a powerful symbol
of knowledge, truth, wisdom, and spiritual awakening.
The Ramayana tells us about the return of Lord Rama, Sita, and
Lakshmana to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile and the victory of Rama over
Ravana. The people of Ayodhya welcomed them by lighting rows of lamps,
celebrating the triumph of righteousness and the return of their beloved king. This
story continues to inspire generations. The lamps we light during Deepavali
remind us of the importance of truth, courage, duty, and goodness.
The Mahabharata and other Indian literary works also explore the
struggle between good and evil, the importance of wisdom, and the need to
overcome ignorance. Through stories, characters, and teachings, literature
helps us understand the deeper meaning of life.
One of the most beautiful expressions of this idea comes from the
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:
“Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya”
“Lead me from darkness to light.”
This prayer is not merely about physical darkness. It is a request
to move from ignorance to knowledge, confusion to clarity, fear to courage, and
selfishness to compassion.
Literature serves as a lamp in our lives. It introduces us to
different experiences, helps us understand people and cultures, and encourages
us to think beyond ourselves. A meaningful book can illuminate our minds just
as a diya illuminates a dark room.
Let Literature and Light Brighten Our Lives
As we celebrate Deepavali, let us remember that the festival is
not limited to lighting lamps, decorating homes, exchanging sweets, and celebrating
with family and friends.
Let us also light the lamp of knowledge in our minds, the lamp of
kindness in our hearts, and the lamp of hope in the lives of those around us.
Let us share books, stories, and meaningful words with children.
Let us encourage them to read, question, learn, and grow. Let us understand
that education and literature have the power to transform individuals and
societies.
A diya burns by giving away its light. Similarly, knowledge
becomes more meaningful when it is shared. A good book, a thoughtful word, or a
small act of kindness can make a lasting difference in someone's life.
This Deepavali, may the lights in our homes bring peace to our
hearts, the light of literature enlighten our minds, and the light of goodness
spread throughout the world.
May the festival of lights illuminate every home with happiness,
every heart with compassion, and every life with knowledge, health, peace, and
prosperity.
Wishing everyone a very Happy Deepavali!
Let us celebrate not only the light around us, but also the light
within us.
Here are some beautiful and meaningful references
1. Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad – A Prayer for Light
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad 1.3.28
Transliteration:
Asato mā sad gamaya
Tamaso mā jyotir gamaya
Mrityor mā amritam gamaya
Meaning:
·
Lead me from the unreal to the real.
·
Lead me from darkness to light.
·
Lead me from death to immortality.
The light referred to here is not merely the light of a lamp. It
represents knowledge, truth, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment. It
beautifully connects the lighting of diyas with the desire to remove ignorance
from our lives.
2. Bhagavad Gita – The Light of All Lights
Bhagavad Gita 13.18
Meaning:
“That is the Light of all lights, beyond darkness.”
The Bhagavad Gita describes the Divine as the supreme light,
beyond physical darkness, and as the source of knowledge and wisdom dwelling in
every heart.
The little flame before the deity reminds us of the greater light
that illuminates our minds and hearts.
3. Rig Veda – The Gayatri Mantra
Rig Veda 3.62.10
The Gayatri Mantra invokes the divine radiance of Savitr, the Sun,
and seeks inspiration for our understanding and intellect.
Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat
Meaning:
We meditate upon the divine radiance of Savitr. May that light
inspire and guide our intellect.
The connection between the Sun's light and the light of the
intellect is especially meaningful. Just as sunlight enables us to see the
world around us, knowledge enables us to understand the world within and beyond
us.
Indian literature has always celebrated light as a symbol of
knowledge, truth, and wisdom. The ancient prayer from the Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad, “Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya” — Lead me from darkness to light — is a
timeless reminder of humanity's search for enlightenment. The Bhagavad Gita
describes the Divine as the “Light of all lights,” while the Gayatri Mantra
seeks the divine radiance that inspires our intellect.
These beautiful references remind us that light is not merely
something that illuminates our homes. It is also something that awakens our
minds, strengthens our hearts, and guides our actions.
Literature, too, is a form of light. A book can dispel ignorance,
a story can teach compassion, and a meaningful poem can inspire hope. Just as a
diya spreads its glow without losing its own flame, knowledge becomes more
powerful when it is shared.
This Deepavali, as we light our lamps, let us also kindle the
light of reading, learning, and understanding. May the words we read and share
illuminate our lives and help us spread goodness, peace, and wisdom to others.
The most relevant references are those where a lamp or light
becomes a metaphor for knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to guide others.
1. Tamil literature – Subramania Bharati: Knowledge is a Lamp
Subramania Bharati , the great Tamil poet, wrote passionately
about knowledge, education, and the awakening of society.
In a poem titled Arivu (Knowledge), a verse describes knowledge as
a lamp that guides us and removes the darkness of ignorance.
The following lines are particularly relevant:
Neri kaattum vilakkadhu
Meaning: "It is a lamp that shows the way."
Ariyaamai ennum irul agatritum oli arive
Meaning: "Knowledge is the light that removes the darkness
called ignorance."
Tamil poet Subramania Bharati beautifully describes knowledge as a
lamp that shows us the way and removes the darkness of ignorance. The diya we
light during Deepavali can therefore be seen as a reminder to seek knowledge,
cultivate wisdom, and help others find their path.
2. Telugu literature – Yogi Vemana: The Lamp of Wisdom
Yogi Vemana is one of the most celebrated Telugu poets. His verses
convey profound philosophical and moral truths through simple, everyday images.
In one of his verses, Vemana compares the light of wisdom in a
saint's heart to a lamp that illuminates the whole world.
The verse appears in the Vemana Satakam:
Shiva-yogi jñāna dīpamu
Bhuvanambula velugu jēyu, polupuga Vemā.
Meaning:
"The lamp of wisdom in the heart of a saint illuminates the
entire world."
The verse explains that lighting a lamp in a temple is not
extraordinary; the true wonder is the light of wisdom that shines within a
person and spreads throughout the world.
Telugu poet Yogi Vemana reminds us that the light of wisdom within
a person can illuminate the entire world. The little diya we light at home
during Deepavali becomes a reminder that our knowledge, goodness, and wisdom
should reach beyond our own homes and touch the lives of others.
3. Bengali literature – Rabindranath Tagore: Light, My Light
Rabindranath Tagore celebrated light in his Bengali song Alo Amar
Alo Ogo meaning "Light, my light."
The song was written in 1911 and is part of his musical and
literary collection Geetabitan. It celebrates light filling the world,
awakening the heart, and bringing joy to nature and humanity.
alo amar alo ogo
A short-translated phrase from the song is:
"Light, my light, the world-filling light."
The song beautifully describes light as something that fills the
universe and awakens the human heart.
Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore celebrates light as a force that
fills the world and awakens the heart. His words remind us that the beauty of
Deepavali is not limited to the lamps we light outside. The light must also
enter our hearts, awaken our compassion, and bring joy to the lives of others.
4. Tamil literature – Bharathidasan: A Luminous Home
Another interesting Tamil literary reference is Kudumba Vilakku meaning "The Family Lamp," by
Bharathidasan.
The work is also known in English as A Luminous Home. The title itself offers a beautiful metaphor:
a family can be a lamp that spreads warmth, knowledge, goodness, and happiness.
Tamil literature also gives us the beautiful image of a family as
a luminous lamp. During Deepavali, when every home is illuminated, let us
remember that the real light of a household comes from the love, understanding,
and wisdom shared by its members.
The Light of Regional Literature
The significance of light is beautifully reflected in the rich
traditions of Indian regional literature. Our poets have always looked beyond
the physical glow of a lamp to explore the deeper meaning of light in human
life.
Tamil poet Subramania Bharati describes knowledge as a lamp that
shows the way and removes the darkness of ignorance. Telugu poet Yogi Vemana
reminds us that the lamp of wisdom within a person's heart can illuminate the
entire world. Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore celebrates light as a force that
fills the universe and awakens the human heart.
These literary expressions remind us that the light of a diya is
not merely a symbol of celebration. It represents the knowledge that guides us,
the wisdom that helps us make the right choices, and the goodness that enables
us to bring happiness to others.
Literature itself is a lamp. Every book we read, every poem we
understand, and every meaningful story we share can illuminate our minds and
hearts. It helps us overcome ignorance, understand different perspectives, and
develop compassion.
As we light our homes this Deepavali, let us also kindle the lamp
of knowledge within ourselves. Let us share the light of literature with
children, encourage the habit of reading, and remember that wisdom becomes more
meaningful when it is shared.
The diya may illuminate a home, but the light of literature can
illuminate an entire life.
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