Deepavali - 3 Days - Naraka Chaturdasi, Laskhmi Festival & Bali Padyami

Deepavali - 3 Days - Naraka Chaturdasi, Laskhmi Festival & Bali Padyami
29-Oct-08

This deepavali after getting more interested in Krishna Conciousness, wanted to know the significance of the 3 days of festivities offered in Deepavali. Also wanted to collect the views about acharyas, shruti's, etc. Below is one such collection of ideas from various sources.

Deepavali
[1] 10th October. 1968, (Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Hamsadutta dasa written from Seattle., Letters book Vol 1. p.549.) Diwali ceremony can be observed in the temple by illuminating 100's of candles, indifferent parts of the temple, and offering a special Prasad to the Deity. This ceremony was observed by the inhabitants of Ayodhya, the Kingdom of Lord Ramachandra, while Lord Ramachandra was out of His Kingdom due to His 14 years banishment by the order of His father. His younger step-brother Bharat, took charge f the Kingdom and the day on which Lord Ramachandra took back the charge again from His brother, and seated on the throne, this is observed as Diwali, and Deepabali. Deepabali means the same thing - Deepa means candles, and bali means numerous.

Naraka Chaturdasi
[2] Srimad Bhagavatam, 10th Canto, 59th Chapter
Lord Krishna killed Narakasura (the son of Hiranyaksha and Bhumi Devi) he stole the 16000 princesses and did generally all manner of bad things. Bhumi requested Krishna to come and kill the demon. Devotees glorify Krishna as the personification of good, who always triumphs and destroys evil - on this day!!!

Amavasya, Dipavali - Dipanvita - Damodhar lila happened.
Deepawali is also celebrated to mark the victory of Rama over Ravana, of good over evil which is the basic theme of the Ramayana. Rama returned home to Ayodhya after fourteen years in exile and was crowned king. Every house in Ayodhya was illuminated to welcome Him.
[3] Lord Damodara and the broken pot - Binding on Diwali Day Srimad Bhagavatam 10:9:1-2.
The day after Deepawali is celebrated as Govadhan Puja when Mount Govardhan, near Mathura, is worshipped. Pious people keep awake the whole night and cook fifty-four (or 108) different types of food for the bhog (the offering of food) to Krishna. This ceremony is called ankut which means a mountain of food. Various types of food – cereals, pulses, fruit, vegetables, chutneys, pickles, and salads – are offered to the Deity and then distributed as prasada to devotees.

Glimpse of Govardhan Puja at ISKON this deepavali on 29th Oct 08 - http://www.iskconbangalore.org/festivals/govardhana_puja.htm

At ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna Mandir, Bangalore, the Krishna Deity is decorated in Giridhari alankara, holding a small Deity of Govardhana Hill on the pinky of His left hand. Devotees worship a hill made of 100% vegetarian cake weighing about one thousand kilograms! This cake is baked at the temple’s bakery and is made of different flavours and topped with cookies of various kinds. At the end of the ceremony the cake is distributed as prasadam to all those who are present. Devotees strive to make an exact replica of the original Govardhana Hill. The Govardhana cake is offered to the Krishna Balarama Deities. Then the Govardhana Puja pastime is narrated to the devotees. After this an arati is performed for Krishna Balarama accompanied with the singing of the song – jaya Radhe jaya Krishna jaya Vrindavan – which describes Lord Krishna’s various pastimes in Vrindavan.

Balipadyami / Bhaidhuj: (Bali-Daityaraj-Puja)
When Lord Vamandev was pleased with Bali maharaj and appeared in Vishnu-rupa, Bali asked a boon that Lord Vishnu would be on every door at Patalaloka because in Nether regions Bali wants his society Lord Vishnu agrees and goes to become a Dwarpalaka of Bali. Narad tells Laxmi where Lord Vishnu is. Laxmi plays trick on Bali - she goes to Bali as a poor woman seeking help - with her she takes raksha bandan. She says to Bali that she doesn't have a brother - and would dearly like one. When the raksha bandan is tied the brother has to offer her something. Bali asked Laxmi what he can give her, Laxmi replied that you have my everything in your service - please release Lord Vishnu.
As Yama's sister is Yamuna and she fed Yama to his satifaction he said that from now on any brother who visits thesister on Bhaidhuj day will escape the hand of Yamaraj - the sister prays for her brother.
Brother goes to sister's house – the very best of foods are cooked, and then the sister feeds brother.

Reference:
[1] http://www.salagram.net/parishad75.htm#SP%20on%20DIWALI
[2] Narakasura Vadha http://vedabase.net/sb/10/59/en
[3] Damodara Lila http://vedabase.net/sb/10/9/en
[4] Vamana Lila http://vedabase.net/sb/8/18/en