The True Story Behind Diwali: A Journey of Self-Discovery

The True Story Behind Diwali: A Journey of Self-Discovery

Do you know why Diwali is celebrated on the darkest night of the year? It's time you knew the true story behind the festival of light. It all starts with the Ramayan, one of the greatest spiritual epics of all time. While the story has many layers of meaning, at its core it represents every person's struggle to know themselves. To put it simply, the message of Ramayan will help you to understand how to live a better life.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a celebration that holds deep significance in the hearts of millions around the world. It is a time of joy, illumination, and the triumph of good over evil. But beyond the dazzling fireworks and colorful decorations, there lies a profound story that resonates with the human experience. The Ramayan, an ancient spiritual epic, serves as the foundation for the true meaning of Diwali.

So how does it do that? Diwali is a story of a battle between Lord Ram and Ravana. But this isn't just a battle that happened thousands of years ago. This battle is happening right now inside every one of us. It starts with Lord Ram who represents our higher self, our divine soul. The infinite life force that lives inside everyone and in all places. Our soul. Ram lives in Ayodhya, a place of no conflict.

The story of Diwali revolves around the battle between Lord Ram and Ravana, but it is not merely a historical event. It is a timeless struggle that takes place within each individual. Lord Ram symbolizes our higher self, our divine soul that resides within us all. He represents the infinite life force that exists in every being and in every corner of the universe. Ram's dwelling place, Ayodhya, is a metaphor for a state of inner peace and harmony.

It means our soul lives in peace. It isn't concerned with trivial things like how I look today. What do others think of me? How much money do I have? What's my relationship status? Or what's my next career move? But in the story, everything changes upon Ram's marriage to Sita which represents the union between our soul and the human body. As soon as that happens, they are banished from Ayodhya. And in our own lives, whenever we focus our thoughts on the body rather than our soul then we too lose our peace and we're banished into the jungle of the world.

In Ayodhya, the soul resides in a state of tranquility, untouched by the trivial concerns of the material world. It is not preoccupied with superficial matters such as appearance, social status, or wealth. However, when Ram marries Sita, symbolizing the union between the soul and the human body, they are banished from Ayodhya. This signifies the loss of inner peace that occurs when our focus shifts from the soul to the external world. We become entangled in the complexities of life, losing touch with our true essence.

Even in the jungle, Sita continues to meditate on Ram. But one day, Sita sees a golden deer and gets enamored by it. Just like our eyes and senses are always distracted by worldly things. When she stops meditating on Ram and goes after the deer she's trapped by a demon called Raban who represents our ego. And he's depicted as having ten faces and 20 arms. This means that our ego is not so easy to identify and it often comes in disguises in many different forms.

In the wilderness, Sita remains devoted to meditating on Ram. However, her attention is diverted when she becomes captivated by a golden deer. This mirrors our tendency to be easily distracted by the allure of worldly possessions and desires. When Sita ceases her meditation on Ram and pursues the deer, she falls into the clutches of Ravana, a demon who personifies the ego. Ravana is depicted as having ten faces and twenty arms, symbolizing the elusive and multifaceted nature of our ego.

So the battle begins between Ram and Ravan and eventually Ram is victorious. He manages to defeat Ravana and bring his soulmate Sita back home. The spiritual Master Guru Nanak summarizes this real human struggle between our ego and our divine light. He says, Ghat gut ravraya Allak apare Ram. In each and every heart is this unseen and infinite Ram. Allak apar apar sacha apamar Milaya. When we kill our egos only then will we unite with this invisible and infinite truth.

The epic battle between Ram and Ravana unfolds, culminating in Ram's triumph over the ego. He successfully defeats Ravana and rescues his beloved Sita, bringing her back to their rightful home. Guru Nanak, a revered spiritual master, encapsulates the essence of this internal struggle between the ego and our divine essence. He proclaims that within every heart resides the unseen and infinite Ram, the divine presence. Only by conquering our egos can we unite with this invisible and boundless truth.

So why do we celebrate Diwali? On the darkest night of the year. It's so that we can remind ourselves to break free from our dark habits, worldly obsessions, egos, self-importance, insecurities, and all our inner demons. This year, as well as lighting candles and fireworks, let's learn and share the deeper meaning of this celebration. It makes this Diwali a challenge for us all to let our divine nature shine as bright as possible so that we too can become a beacon of light and help those who are still in darkness.

The celebration of Diwali on the darkest night of the year serves as a powerful reminder for us to liberate ourselves from our inner darkness. It calls upon us to transcend our negative habits, worldly attachments, egos, self-centeredness, and insecurities. Beyond the external rituals of lighting candles and fireworks, Diwali presents an opportunity to delve into the profound significance of this festival. Let us embrace this Diwali as a personal challenge to illuminate our divine nature, radiating light to guide those who are still lost in the shadows.

In conclusion, the true story behind Diwali is a journey of self-discovery and inner transformation. It teaches us that the battle between good and evil is not confined to external forces but is a perpetual struggle within ourselves. By understanding the deeper meaning of Diwali, we can embark on a path of self-realization and spiritual growth. Let us embrace the message of the Ramayan and strive to conquer our egos, reconnect with our divine essence, and become beacons of light in a world that yearns for illumination. As we celebrate Diwali, may we ignite the flame of self-awareness and compassion, spreading the radiance of love and wisdom to all.