A NEWS LETTER OF HINDU COUNCIL OF KENYA OCTOBER 2017 ISSUE ARTICLES DIRECTORATES PAGE 2 onwards ACTIVITES PAGE 5 ONWARDS Goddess Lakshmi Sloka MESSAGE FROM National General Secretary "Sarvagyay Sarvavarday Sarvadushtbhaydkree Sarvadukhaharay Devi Mahalakshmi Namostutay" Meaning: O Maa Lakshmi, you know everything, you grant favors to all, you are a terror to the evil and your art removes the misery of all. O propitious goddess, I surrender to you. "Siddhi Buddhipraday Devi Bhuktimuktipradayeenee Mantramurtay Sada Devi Mahalakshmi Namostutay" Meaning: O divine goddess, you are the provider of success and intelligence. You are the benefactor of both worldly pleasure and freedom. The magical sound symbols-the Mantras, verily comprise their form with your grace. Propitious Mother, I surrender to you always. "Aadhantarhitay Devi Aadhshakti Maheshwari Yogajay Yogasambhutay Mahalakshmi Namostutay" Meaning: O Ultimate Mother, your art is without beginning and end. Your art is the primal power. Your art comes out of Yogic practice and your art is evident through Yoga. Promising Mother, I surrender to you. "Sthulsukshmay Maharodray Mahashakti Mahodray Mahapaapharay Devi Mahalakshmi Namostutay" Meaning: Goddess Lakshmi, your art in gross and subtle, is the most awful and powerful. Mother, you contain all things and you remove even the greatest sins. Auspicious Mother, I surrender to you. "Padnaasanstithay Devi Parbrahmaswaroopeenee Parmashree Jaganmatra Mahalakshmi Namostutay" Meaning: Maa Lakshmi, you reside in the hearts of devotees and prove the art of the Supreme Brahman. You are mother of the universe with your supreme art. O Great Mother, I bow to you. Dear Friends Heartiest Diwali Greetings!!! I am pleased to extend my sincere wishes for another edition of Hindu deep. Further on behalf of Hindu Council of Kenya, I appreciate all member institutions for their continued support. Hindu Council of Kenya is a non-commercial organization aimed to serve the Hindu communities living in the Republic of Kenya. Hindu Council is also known as an umbrella body for all Hindu communities and institutions in Kenya. Hindu Council is always involved in various social, eco-nomical, cultural and environmental accomplishments for their members. Hindu Council of Kenya is conducting various social and cultural programs to make a great bond-ing in the society; also through our business and environmental initiations we tried society prosperous and green. Our member institutions are always been participative towards the need of the time and work hand in hand to make things better in Kenya. We look forward your more and more participation in council activities. God Bless Kamal Gupta National General Secretary Hindu Council of Kenya www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 1
History and Significance of Diwali, the Festival of Lights DIWALI Deepawali or Diwali is the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It is the festival of lights: deep means "light" and avali "a row,"or "a row of lights." Diwali is marked by four days of celebration, which literally illuminates the country with its brilliance and dazzles all with its joy. The Diwali festival occurs in late October or early November. It falls on the 15th day of the Hindu month, Kartik, so it varies every year. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is separated by a different tradition. What remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment, and a great sense of goodness. The Origins of Diwali Historically, Diwali can be traced back to ancient India. It most likely began as an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali. Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, with Lord Vishnu. Others use it as a celebration of her birthday as Lakshmi is said to have been born on the new moon day of Kartik. In Bengal, the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength. Lord Ganesha the elephantheaded god, and symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day. In Jainism, Deepawali has the added significance as marking the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana. Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama (along with Ma Sita and Lakshman) from his fourteen -year-long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers. The Four Days of Diwali Each day of Diwali has its own tale, legend, and myth to tell. The first day of the festival, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya, the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi when she is in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. A mavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the tyrant Bali and banished him to hell. Bali was allowed to return to earth once a year to light millions of lamps and dispel darkness and ignorance while spreading the radiance of love and wisdom. It is on the third day of Deepawali, Kartika Shudda Padyami, that Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as Y ama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj) and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes. Dhanteras: The Tradition of Gambling Some people refer to Diwali as a five-day festival because they include the festival of Dhanteras (dhan meaning "wealth" and teras meaning "13th"). This celebration of wealth and prosperity occurs two days before the festival of lights. The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva. She decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. The Significance of Lights and Firecrackers All of the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story to tell. Homes are illuminated with lights and firecrackers fill the skies as an expression of respect to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, and prosperity. According to one belief, the sound of firecrackers indicates the joy of the people living on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible reason has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the firecrackers kill many insects and mosquitoes, which are plentiful after the rains. The Spiritual Significance of Diwali www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 2
DIWALI With that, there are a number of customs that revelers hold dear each year. Give and Forgive. It is common practice that everyone forgets and forgives the wrongs done by others during Diwali. There is an air of freedom, festivity, and friendliness everywhere. Rise and Shine. Waking up dur ing the Brahm amuhurta (at 4 a.m. or 1 1/2 hours before sunrise) is a great blessing from the standpoint of health, ethical discipline, efficiency in work, and spiritual advancement. It is on Deepawali that everyone wakes up early in the morning. The sages who instituted this custom must have cherished the hope that their descendants would realize its benefits and make it a regular habit in their lives. Unite and Unify. Diwali is a great unifying force and it can soften even the hardest of hearts. It is a time when you will find people mingling about in joy and embracing one another with love. Those with keen inner spiritual ears will clearly hear the voice of the sages, "O Children of God unite, and love all". The vibrations produced by the greetings of love, which fill the atmosphere, are powerful. When the heart has considerably hardened, only a continuous celebration of Deepavali can rekindle the urgent need of turning away from the ruinous path of hatred. Prosper and Progress. On this day, Hindu merchants in North India open their new account books and pray for success and prosperity during the coming year. Everyone buys new clothes for the family. Employers, too, purchase new clothes for their employees. Homes are cleaned and decorated by day and illuminated by night with earthen oil lamps. The best and finest illuminations can be seen in Bombay and Amritsar. The famous Golden Temple at Amritsar is lit in the evening with thousands of lamps placed all over the steps of the big tank. This festival instills charity in the hearts of people and good deeds are performed everywhere. This includes Govardhan Puja, a celebration by Vaishnavites on the fourth day of Diwali. On this day, they feed the poor on a most incredible scale. Illuminate Your Inner Self. The lights of Diwali also signify a time of inner illumination. Hindus believe that the light of lights is the one that steadily shines in the chamber of the heart. Sitting quietly and fixing the mind on this supreme light illuminates the soul. It is an opportunity to cultivate and enjoy eternal bliss. From Darkness Unto Light... In each legend, myth, and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil. It is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of firecrackers, joy, togetherness, and hope. Diwali is celebrated around the globe. Outside of India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of South-Asian identities. If you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a diya, sit quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light, and illuminate the soul. www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 3
DIWALI The Spiritual Significance of Diwali How to Illuminate Your Inner Self Deepavali or Diwali means "a row of lights". It falls on the last two days of the dark half of the Hindu month of Kartik (October-November). Mythical Origins of Diwali There are various alleged origins attributed to this festival. Some hold that they celebrate the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. In Bengal, the festival is dedicated to the worship of Kali. It also commemorates that blessed day on which the triumphant Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. On this day also Sri Krishna killed the demon Narakasura. In South India, people take an oil bath in the morning and wear new clothes. They partake of sweetmeats. They light fireworks, which are regarded as the effigies of Narakasura who was killed on this day. They greet one another, asking, "Have you had your Ganges bath?" which actually refers to the oil bath that morning as it is regarded as purifying as a bath in the holy Ganga. ray of the inner light of the Self. Merge yourself in this light of lights and enjoy the supreme Deepavali. Many Deepavali festivals have come and gone. Yet the hearts of the vast majority are as dark as the night of the new moon. The house is lit with lamps, but the heart is full of the darkness of ignorance. O man! Wake up from the slumber of ignorance. Realize the constant and eternal light of the Soul, which neither rises nor sets, through meditation and deep inquiry. May you all attain full inner illumination! May the supreme light of lights enlighten your understanding! May you all attain the inexhaustible spiritual wealth of the Self! May you all prosper gloriously on the material as well as spiritual planes! With excerpts from the writings of Swami Sivananda Illuminate Your Inner Self The light of lights, the self-luminous inner light of the Self is ever shining steadily in the chamber of your heart. Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Withdraw the senses. Fix the mind on this supreme light and enjoy the real Deepavali, by attaining illumination of the soul. He who Himself sees all but whom no one beholds, who illumines the intellect, the sun, the moon and the stars and the whole universe but whom they cannot illumine, He indeed is Brahman, He is the inner Self. Celebrate the real Deepavali by living in Brahman, and enjoy the eternal bliss of the soul. The sun does not shine there, nor do the moon and the stars, nor do lightnings shine and much less fire. All the lights of the world cannot be compared even to a www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 4
HCK MANAGING COMMITTEE HCK MANAGING COMMITTEE HCK MANAGING COMMITTEE 2017-18 HCK DIRECTORATES ACTIVITIES HCK REPRESENTED IN KWFS MEETING HELD ON 14TH SEPTEMBER HCK DIRECTORATE-VARIOUS HCK REPRESENTED WOMEN S CONSULTATATIVE FO- RUM DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. MEETING BETWEEN HCK AND SHARIA HOUSE OFFIC- ERS FOR MIN- ISTER OF FAITH AT HIN- www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 5
HCK DIRECTORATE-Activities Members from the Youth directorate participated in "Annual Interfaith Youth Forum on Environment & peace" on 29-30 September 17 at Catholic University. DIRECTORATE OF YOUTH HCK TEAM DID REPRESENT VARIOUS MEMBER INSTITUTES DURING NAVARTRI CELBERATIONS. SOME OF THE HCK MEMBERS ALSO WON PRIZES HCK DIRECTORATE- www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 6
HCK DIRECTORATE-Activities HCK Business and Professionals Directorate : HAD ORGANIZED TAX AMENSTY INTERACTIVE TALK SESSION ON 7TH SEPTEMBER AT ARYA SAMAJ HALL AND OVER 150 PLUS PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED THE PROGRAM. DIRECTORATE OF HRE DURING DIVYA DURSHAN A TEMPLE VISIT HCK DIRECTORATE- DIALOGUE REFERENCE GROUP OF IRCK MEETS WITH IEBC COMMISSIONERS AT WINDSOR HOTEL TO DISCUSS PREPARATIONS FOR FRESH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS HCK RELIGIOUS AND CULTURE DIRECTORATE CONDUCTED GARBA COMPETION AND WAS WELL ATTENDED OVER BY 1600 GUESTS www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 7
HCK DIRECTORATE Activities HINDU COUNCIL S DIRECTORATE OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMEMT TEAM HAD ORGANISED GENERAL MEDUCAL CHECK UP ON 8TH OCTOBER AT DEEP SEA SLUM. RECENTLY AT DEEP SEA SLUM FIRE HAD DESTROYED MANY HOUSES AND PEOPLE WERE INURED. THE MEDICAL CAMP HELPED QUITE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE. HONORABLE JAYENDRA MALDE ALONG WITH GURUNANAK HOPSITAL TEAM WHO SPONSORED THE MEDICAL CAMP HCK DIRECTORATE- DONATIONS WERE ORGANISED FOR DEEP SEA SLUM VICTIMS AT HCK HINDU BHAVAN www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 8
HCK DIRECTORATE Acitivites HCK NATIONAL GENERAL SECRETARY Mr KAMAL GUPTA MET SRI SRI RAVISHANKARJI. HCK WAS REPRESENTED BY HCK CHAIRMAN Mr NITIN MALDE AND NGS Mr KAMAL GUPTA DURING THE PEACE MEETING HELD AT STATE HOUSE WITH HON MR UHURU KENYATTA PRESDIENT OF KENYA AND OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS. HCK DIRECTORATE- HCK CHAIRMAN Mr NITIN MALDE AND HCK TEAM DURING THE BIRTH CENTENARY CELEBRTION OF PANDIT DEENDAYAL UPADHYAY VICE CHAIRMAN DR. LUMBA GIVING INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH ON FAMILY VALUES AT SATYA SAI CENTER www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 9
HCK DIRECTORATE WOMENS WING 11 Little Known Stories About Diwali You Need To Know Before You Light Your First Diya! As much as you love Diwalii, fact is that a lot of us don't know a terrible lot about the festival apart from the lights, the sweets, the poker parties and the mandatory leaving the door open for Lakshmi Ji. Before I started researching for this story, I didn't know that according to legend, the foundation of the Golden Temple was laid on Diwali. Here's 10 more similar stories which'll sort you out. 1. Jains celebrate Diwali to mark the attainment of moksha by Mahavira. 4. Lord Krishna had killed Narakasura, a day before Diwali. One day before Diwali, Lord Krishna killed the demon king Narakasura and rescued women from his captivity. Thus, Narak Chaturdasi is celebrated in some parts of the country. 7. Diwali is also considered as the harvest festivals in India Diwali occurs at the end of harvest season. It marks the last harvest of the year and is of extreme importance to the farmers. 8. The enlightenment of Swami Dayananda Saraswati took place on Diwali Mahavir or Vardhmana, founder of modern Jainism, attained moksha on Diwali. 2. The foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar was laid on Diwali 5. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, was incarnated on Diwali. Hindus all over the country worship the goddess on Diwali. 9. Diwali, is considered the beginning of a new year for Hindus. 10. Diwali has a historical connect as well. It s believed that Vikramaditya was crowned as the king on Diwali. 3. Lord Rama, returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana 6. Lord Vishnu, in his fifth incarnation as Vaman Avtaara, rescued Lakshmi from King Bali 11. The Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Diwas on the day of Diwali. Diwali also marked the end of Lord Rama s Vanvas in the jungle, and his victory over evil. It is assumed that people of Ayodhya welcomed the King by lighting diyas. Bandi Chhor Diwas celebrates the release of sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind. King Jahangir had imprisoned the guru along with 52 princes at Gwalior Fort www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 10
FROM THE EDITORS DESK Dear Readers The Hindu council Management and Trustees would like to wish you all a Happy and safe Diwali. In this edition we have tried to explain the significance of Diwali celebrations. Most of us do celebrate the fire works and enjoy sweets but some of us don t know the actual meaning of Diwali celebrations. We do have Hindu Religious Education Directorate and number of books on this subject. Please do visit Hck Library and enhance your knowledge. We also would like to give us suggestions to improve. The slogan for this Diwali should be.. Burn your idleness and bad times but not fire-crackers at Diwali. Hindu deep is our news letter where will mentioning the activities of various directorates conducted during the period. We do cover branches of Hindu Council of Kenya as well. Under the able leadership of our Chairman Mr Nitin Malde and General Secretary Mr Kamal Gupta backed by Trustees, Vice Chairmen and Management committee members we wish to communicate that our strength is because of member institutions and their contributions. Happy Diwali and Happy New year. With Best Regards Nagaraj Rao Director and Editor for Hindudeep TO ADVERTISE IN THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE CONTACT: Hindu Council of Kenya, Kusi Lane, Off 3rd Parklands Avenue Nairobi +254 733 809 214 +254 722 793 920 info@hck.or.ke www.hck.or.ke www.hck.or.ke/ info@hck.or.ke 11