-Shree Ramesh Sharma
In the Sanatan tradition, Diwali is considered the greatest festival. It is a celebration of happiness, prosperity, and freedom from darkness and ignorance — a festival of inner joy. To attain the bliss of the soul, a person must remove the veil of ignorance and become a lamp of light for oneself. This very practice is known as Deepotsav — the festival of lights.
In Indian tradition, no festival or celebration is ordinary. Each has been established after deep study and reflection. Every festival carries the spirit of individual upliftment, family harmony, social unity, and nation-building. Diwali too conveys all these purposes together.
From the determination of its date to the rituals of celebration, Diwali carries deep and multi-dimensional meanings. The first message is to elevate one’s own personality — physically, mentally, economically, and spiritually. The second message is of harmony between family and society. The third is about the protection and nurturing of nature. The fourth expresses the wish for national prosperity.
Diwali is also known as the festival of prosperity. From simple clay toys to gold ornaments, from homes and land to all forms of wealth — buying and exchanging things during Diwali is considered auspicious. This circulation of money benefits everyone, which is why Goddess Lakshmi — the goddess of wealth — is at the center of this celebration.
The five-day festival begins on the thirteenth day (Trayodashi) of the dark fortnight of Kartik month and ends on the second day (Dwitiya) of the bright fortnight. Each of these five days carries a message:
Dhanvantari Jayanti – worship of health and wellbeing.
Naraka Chaturdashi (Roop Chaudas) – purification of body and mind.
Amavasya (Diwali) – awakening of the inner self.
Govardhan Puja – harmony with nature and environment.
Bhai Dooj – family bonding and affection.
Together, these symbolize the journey from the self to the infinite — to become enlightened and radiant from within.
“Ātmā Deepo Bhava” — Be Your Own Lamp
There is a fundamental difference between Eastern and Western philosophy. The Western world began its search with visible, material reality and is now moving toward the unseen and spiritual. In contrast, Indian philosophy begins with the invisible — with the spiritual — and moves toward the material.
This study of the unseen is called Adhyatma (spirituality), centered on the Atma (soul), which is a divine and luminous part of the Supreme Being. Yet, it remains covered by ignorance and illusion.
Indian life and philosophy focus on both — the physical needs of the body and the inner realm of feelings and consciousness. True development happens only when both are balanced. The mark of an enlightened person lies in duty, truthfulness, and devotion to righteousness.
When the soul awakens, life becomes radiant. But if the soul is asleep, a person remains lost in the darkness of ignorance — bound by desire, anger, greed, pride, and ego.
Indian philosophy emphasizes self-knowledge (Atma-jnana). This self-knowledge is linked with the subconscious mind, whose center is the soul itself. The subconscious connects human energy with the infinite energy of the universe.
Modern science too accepts that human consciousness uses only about 15–20% of its potential, while the subconscious holds 80–85%. If a person can awaken and direct this inner energy, their wisdom, efficiency, and creativity can expand greatly.
The entire process of Diwali worship over these five days is, in fact, a spiritual practice to awaken this inner power. That is why it is called the Festival of Lights — illuminating both the world and the soul.
From Darkness to Light
In Indian thought, ignorance is seen as darkness and knowledge as light. The soul is the center of human consciousness. God is described as “Jyoti Swaroop” — the embodiment of light — and the soul, being His part, is also luminous. Yet the soul remains covered by ignorance.
When the mind is restless and distracted by material desires, the light of the soul cannot shine through. For self-awareness, the mind must be calm and centered. Only when the five layers (Koshas) of the body become one in focus does the inner light (Atma Deep) emerge.
That is the meaning of Diwali worship and prayer. During the ritual, people recite:
“Asato ma sad gamaya, tamaso ma jyotir gamaya.”
— Lead me from falsehood to truth, from darkness to light.
This prayer expresses the desire to awaken the inner potential — to transform the power of the subconscious into conscious wisdom. Lighting lamps outside symbolizes spreading this knowledge within.
Knowledge and light require effort — just as the sun must rise to give light, or a person must light a lamp with their own hands. That same effort is required for gaining wisdom.
Great souls like Dattatreya, Buddha, Mahavira, Dayanand Saraswati, and Swami Vivekananda all became radiant through self-realization. Lord Buddha’s call — “Ātmā Deepo Bhava” (Be your own lamp) — carries the same timeless message.
The word Atma here means both soul and self. The prayer seeks freedom from the illusion of materialism (falsehood) and ignorance (darkness) — by awakening one’s inner light.
The Significance of the Diwali Dates and Rituals
Every Indian festival has a deep purpose — to awaken the soul and elevate human consciousness. The observances of Diwali were designed so that each individual could experience self-awareness through collective celebration.
Of all twelve new moon (Amavasya) nights in a year, the one in Kartik month is the darkest. It comes at a time when the reflection of sunlight is weakest and the skies are clear after the monsoon.
This deep darkness challenges the human spirit — and lighting countless lamps is the answer. It shows that no matter how deep the darkness, human effort can bring light. The lamps of Diwali symbolize the triumph of effort over despair.
That night, the worship of Goddess Lakshmi takes place. A single lamp is lit for the prayer, and then many others are kindled from it — a symbol of sharing light and knowledge. Neighbors exchange lamps and sweets, symbolizing harmony and togetherness.
The Worship of the Griha-Lakshmi (Lady of the Home)
Though Goddess Lakshmi is said to have appeared on the eighth day of the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), her worship on Diwali Amavasya carries a deeper meaning — it honors the Griha-Lakshmi, the lady of the house.
In Indian culture, the true guardian of the home is not the man but the woman. She is called Griha-Lakshmi, Griha-Swamini — the goddess of the household.
Most purchases made for Diwali — clothes, ornaments, decorative items — are connected to women. Her happiness and satisfaction symbolize the brightness of the home.
The festivals before Diwali — Guru Purnima, Raksha Bandhan, and Pitru Paksha — fulfill duties toward the teacher, siblings, and ancestors. Diwali, however, honors the woman of the house.
The scriptures clearly say — a home shines with light only where the woman is content and respected. It is she who has the power to turn even the darkest night into radiance.
Self-Light and Collective Illumination
The light of the soul is never individual; it naturally illuminates everything around it. Just as a lamp brightens its surroundings, an enlightened person brightens society.
From Dhanvantari Jayanti that inspires health, to Roop Chaudas that brings inner joy, and Diwali Amavasya that awakens the soul — these observances refine the mind and purify emotions.
Lord Mahavira attained final liberation (Nirvana) on Diwali, and Lord Buddha returned to Kapilvastu on the same day, proclaiming: “Appo Deepo Bhava” — Be your own light.
From Swami Vivekananda to Shivaji Maharaj, from Ahilyabai Holkar to Rani Lakshmibai — all these great souls lived by the radiance of their inner light.
Every person has that same capacity — to illuminate oneself and the world. Every year, Diwali returns to remind us of this eternal message — that true light lies within, and we must become our own lamp — Ātmā Deepo Bhavaḥ.
