Today 1.25 billion
people who comprise about one sixth the population of the earth have lamps
burning in their homes to symbolise the joy of love, peace and goodness in the
form of Diwali.
I had phoned a Muslim
Chemist yesterday asking him for some medicines- and the first thing he said on
lifting up the phone was "Happy Diwali!" even though Diwali is a
traditional Hindu festival.
Diwali - the festival
of Lights. What does it symbolise?
It symbolises the
victory of Good over Evil, the victory of God over the Devil.
It is the day when in
3000 BC or earlier Lord Rama of the Hindus vanquished the evil Ravana and came
back to his kingdom- where the people were waiting for him, to receive him with
lights - lamps of Clay with cotton wicks burning in oil.
Indeed what is common
amongst the people of the world of whatever faith is the realisation that Good
is synonymous with God and Evil is synonymous with Satan.
Everywhere evil is
detested and Goodness exalted.
HH Shri Nathji, my
father had always said:
"The laws of God
have been written down within the depths of the human heart ever since time
immemorial - they are written down on the slate of the human conscience."
"And it is there
in the human conscience that the feeling exists that good is supreme and evil
is abhorrent. This is seen in all cultures, all races and in all parts of the
world, and has been with man ever since the dawn of history. The ultimate victory
of Good over Evil."
Indeed every time
evil is vanquished and good exalted there is the burning of the light of joy
within the heart of man. It is an eternal Diwali that has been going on since
time immemorial.
Goodness is
synonymous with Love, Peace, Righteousness, humility, Unselfishness,
helpfulness, charity, forgiveness, compassion etc. and indeed every action that
is good and noble in the world
These are the values
that Diwali is supposed to celebrate.
No comments:
Post a Comment