Heralding the inner light

Called Diwali in North India and Deepavali in South India, this major festival which falls on November 8, this year, is seen as a celebration of life by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs all over the world.

Known as the "Festival of Lights," the day symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and is believed to be a day that heralds peace and hope for humankind. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional dipa or deeya (earthen lamps).

Among the believes regarding the origin of Deepavali the most repeated version is that it marks the time when Lord Rama achieved victory over Ravana. Some also view it as the day Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura while others believe this was the day Bali went to rule the nether-world, obeying the order of Vishnu. In Jainism it marks the nirvana of Lord Mahavira, which is said to have occurred on Oct. 15, 527BC.

Yet, even though Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant esoteric meaning of the festival is believed to be "the awareness of the inner light".

This view is based on the Hindu philosophy, which asserts that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman.

Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as an unchanging, infinite, and transcendent reality.

With the realization of the Atman, comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things. This brings Ananda (Inner Joy or Peace).Deepavali celebrates this concept through lights, flowers, sharing sweets, and worship.

While the story behind Deepavali varies from region to region, the essence remains the same - to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).