HAPPY  DIWALI  !!!     MANGALASASANAMS  !

Priya Bhagavad Bandhus !

Jai Srimannarayana !

                                   DEEPAVALI  is a grand festival of LIGHTS.  People  Celebrate this occasion to remember that  Lord Krishna killed demon Narakasura.  Narakasura  wanted all the enjoyments for himself.  Narakasura  was the king of Praagjyothishpur.  He used  the greatest of the  technologies to protect  his kingdom.  If there is anything beautiful in the world, he would by hook or crook, bring it to his kingdom and enjoy it.   In this process, he brought 16000 beautiful girls from different kingdoms.  They were forcibly brought to his kingdom.  But, no body else was ever able to enter his kingdom because of the strong security  around  his kingdom. 
                                   When  Narakasura started to harm Rushis and devotees of God, then, Lord Krishna  wanted to kill  him and free  all the sufferers  from his  clutches.  But, Narakasura was the son of Mother Earth.  So unless she agrees, Lord Krishna doesn't want to put an end to him.  Before going to the battle, he went to Satyabhama, (the incarnation of mother earth)  and explained the  wickedness of Narakasura to her.  She felt very much  for all the sins of Narakasura  and she wanted Narakasura to be killed.   Satyabhama being a  valorous  lady, got motivated and  requested  Lord Krishna that she would join Him in the battle. Lord Krishna also explained  the terrific scene of the battle field and discouraged her accompaniment.  Though Lord Krishna  outwardly refused her in the beginning, finally, as she was firm in her decision,  Lord Krishna  took her to the battle. 
                                    Lord Krishna broke all the security rings  of  Pragjyothishapura and fought with Narakasura.  Even after long  battle,  Lord Krishna only defended himself and posed as if he is becoming weak. Satyabhama observing this situation insists Lord Krishna to Kill Narakasura at once.  Then, having taken consent from the mother, Lord Krishna easily killed Narakasura.  That night is the 14th day (Chathurdasi) of the waning moon during the month of Aswiyuja.  Hence, this day became popular as Naraka Chathurdasi. All the imprisoned 16000 girls have requested Lord Krishna to accept them.  Then Lord accepted them and took them to Matthura. 
                                    People  in the kingdom  celebrated the victory of  good over the evil.  During  Narakasura's rule people  lived  in the darkness and suffered a lot.  With the death of Narakasura, their sufferings have come to an end.  So they lighted up many lights all over, to dispel darkness  and also burnt crackers to mark the death of evil.  They  decorated their  houses and streets with rows of lights , joined together to pray Lord,  prepared sweets and shared them with one and all.
                                    In short, this is the story behind the celebration of this Deepavali festival.  People also  perform Lakshmi Puja  in the evening of this day for the sake of  wealth and prosperity.  
                                    However,  the greed, to forcibly gain other's belongings also and enjoy, is  Narakasura.  The cravings of the senses beyond the limits of the necessities will make the mind a  'Narakasura'.  Such Narakasuras exist always, even among many of us. When mind refuses to accept good, or tries to  harm the devotees of  Lord, that is an indication of the evility of  Narakasura.  Let this Deepavali  put an end to all such Narakasuras.  May the dazzling divine lights  lit by our Acharyas dispel the darkness of ignorance and fill all our hearts with Love and devotion towards the Lord.
                                    We offer our  Mangalasasanams  to  you all on this auspicious occasion.

                                     Jai Srimannarayana !
                                    

=chinnajeeyar=