The Spiritual Significance of Narak Chaturdashi

The Spiritual Significance of Narak Chaturdashi
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Kali Chaudas or Narak Chaturdashi is the second of the five-day festival of Diwali - Festival of Lights.

Narak Chaturdashi which falls on the 14th day of the dark half of the month Karthik is the day when demon Narakasur was killed by Krishna and Satyabhama. Naraka means hell and it is believed that he was the son of Mother Earth and had been cursed to die at the hands of his own mother. Satyabhama who is considered as an incarnation of mother earth along wand as such became the reason for this demon’s death! 

Narakasur had over 16000 women in captivity which represent the subtle energies/shaktis of devotion.

The dying Narkasur asked Shrīkrushṇa for a boon, “On this day (tithi) the one who takes an auspicious bath (mangalsnan) will not suffer in hell.” Shrīkrushṇa granted him the boon.

All ancient Hindu legends and stories are symbolic in nature with deeper meaning. Here it needs to be noted that Naraka which means hell is an offspring of our life on earth. Earth is also called as the Karma bhoomi, i.e. it is our karmas which bring about hell. And anything hellish can only be dissolved by our karmas. After all- devotion, asking the divine for intervention and forgiveness as well as even Karmic clearing is all ultimately karma i.e. action. And of course, only our karmas will allow us to get rid of any hellish circumstances.

Now Kali who represents the Adi or the First Shakti is not only closely related to karma and action but is also related to Krishna. She is the prime energy depicting all actions including divine action. In fact, the bija mantra Klim which is typically considered Krishna bija mantra, can and is at times used in Kali worship.

So basically, Kali Chaudas or Narak Chaturdashi is the day where mother earth in the form of Satyabhama along with Krishna (Divine Consciousness) slay the demon of hell (Narakasur) and bring forth freedom of captive positive subtle energies- 16000 women (shaktis) is the day which is celebrated by honouring Kali- the first Shakti along with Krishna and Satyabhama.

On this day when Shrīkrushṇa returned home at dawn, after slaying Narkasur, adorning a spot (tilak) of Narkasur’s blood on His forehead, Nanda gave Him an auspicious bath. The women expressed their joy by moving lit lamps around His face (ovalani).’

Annihilation of Tamasik Energies

On this day, lighting lamps can destroy tamasik energies. The day before Chaudas, the fourteenth day of the fortnight, after 12 a.m.; the atmosphere starts getting polluted with raja-tama frequencies, because on this day the Universe moves from the Chandra-nadi (or the moon channel), into the Surya-nadi (or the Sun channel).

This helps the tamasik energies in ‘Pataal’. The sound waves generated from ‘Pataal’ are created by heat generated from the movement of particles loaded with raja-tama components. To neutralize the effect of these waves, one must bathe early in the morning, light ghee lamps in earthen pots and ritualistically worship them.

The lamps radiate waves of particles charged with the fire element, which helps to destroy the raja-tama laden particles in the environment. Due to this, raja-tama particles present in the cells of tamasik energies also melt away, which helps to destroy the protective sheath around the tamasik energies. Hence, a soul begins afresh to perform any auspicious activity. On this day tamasik energies get annihilated, in a way amounting to the destruction of negative frequencies emanating from hell.

Yamatarpan (Offering to Yamaraj)

After abhyangasnân one should make an offering to Yamaraj to overcome untimely death (apamrutyu). This ritual of offering (tarpan) is explained in the religious almanac (panchāng).

One should consult the religious almanac and then perform this ritual accordingly. Thereafter the mother moves lit lamps in front of her children’s faces (ovalani). Some break karit (a bitter fruit) with their toes to signify the slaying of Narkasur while some apply a little of its juice onto the tongue as his blood.

Women doing aarti of their son and husband

The frequencies associated with dissolution emitted in the environment on Naraka Chaturdashi are absorbed 10 percent more by men compared to women. When a woman does aarti of her son and husband on this day, they gain Energy associated with Creation from her.

Due to the Energy associated with Creation gained from the woman, the frequencies of dissolution absorbed by the men become inactive. Due to this Energy, the frequencies of dissolution absorbed by the men become inactive. Hence, their sojourn towards dissolution is stopped.

Offering a meal to brahman

It is believed that offering a meal to brahman on Naraka Chaturdashi means paying gratitude to God Who has appeared for religious mission through the medium of the brahman. Through this medium, the frequencies of Dharma spread in the Universe are nurtured. God is invoked to destroy the downward bound distressing frequencies.

Offering Cloth

There is a practice that on Naraka Chaturdashi cloth is offered in the evening. The cloth is offered to invoke the frequencies of Deities to descend on Earth. Through this medium, God is awakened to perform the task.

Yamadipadan

During Diwali, lamps are offered to Deity Yama on Dhantrayodashi, Naraka Chaturdashi, and Yamadwitiya. This protects the person from untimely death.

Significance of Yamadipadan

Acquiring longevity by doing dipadana: By doing dipadana, a person gains radiance (Tej). By this, his vital energy increases and he gains longevity.

Gaining the blessings of Yamadeva: On the day of Dhanatrayodashi the flows of Yama frequencies are active in the Universe. Hence, on this day the proportion of getting fruits of all the rituals associated with Yama Deity is higher by 30 percent as compared to other days. On this day lamps are offered to Yamadeva and His blessings are sought.

Expressing gratitude towards Yamadeva: On the day of Dhanatrayodashi, Yamadeva rules over Hell. On Dhanatrayodashi the frequencies emitted by Yamadeva reach various regions of Hell. For this reason, the frequencies emitted by the negative energies present in Hell are under control. As a result, the proportion of frequencies of Hell on Earth is reduced. So Yamadeva is worshipped with spiritual emotion and dipadana is performed to express gratitude towards Him.

Performing Yamadipadana means pleasing Yamadeva and offering a prayer for protection from the distressing frequencies which are responsible for the untimely death.

Substances of worship required for Yamadipadana

In the ritual of Yamadipadana there should be sandalwood paste, flowers, turmeric, vermilion, consecrated rice, that is, unbroken rice, etc. in the ritualistic platter. Similarly, for the purpose of achaman a copper platter, tumbler (panchapatra), spoon (achamani) are also necessary. For the purpose of Yamadipadana, special lamps made of kneaded wheat flour mixed with turmeric powder are used.

Importance of lamps made of wheat flour:

On Dhanatrayodashi the tama-dominant Energy frequencies and tama-dominant frequencies of Water Principle are active in a higher proportion. These frequencies are responsible for the untimely death of a person. The lamp made of wheat flour has the ability to pacify these frequencies. So, for the purpose of Yamadipadana the lamps made of wheat flour are used.

Science underlying drawing a rangoli associated with the Krushna Principle for placing a lamp at the time of Yamadipadana:

For installing the lamp for the purpose of Yamadipadana a rangoli of Srikrushna device (yantra) is drawn. There is special importance of making a rangoli of Srikrushna yantra in this manner for the purpose of Yamadipadana. Before the ritual of worshipping a lamp, a resolve is made after invoking Sri Vishnu with His 24 Names.

‘Srikrushna’ is a complete incarnation of Sri Vishnu. Yamadeva also has Srikrushna Principle. For this reason, the arrival of Yamadeva occurs in the form of Principle at the venue of the ritual in a short time. The distress caused to a person because of the inertia-indicating frequencies associated with death is reduced as a result of the worship of Srikrushna and Yamadeva.

Shiva Principle is also present in Yamadeva. For this reason, rangoli associated with Shiva Principle is also drawn.

Pradoshpuja

Pradoshkal means 72 minutes after sunset. To avoid going to Hell and for getting cleansed from sins, a lamp with four wicks should be lit in the ritualistic worship performed in pradoshkal.

Ritualistic worship of Shiva

For the destruction of the downward bound frequencies causing distress to society, ritualistically worshipping the destroyer form of God and paying gratitude unto Him is achieved through ritualistic worship of Shiva.

This year, Naraka Chaturdashi falls on 14th November 2020 (Saturday).

Timings: Chaturdashi Tithi Starts: 18:00 - 13th November 2020

               Chaturdashi Tithi Ends: 14:15 – 14th November 2020