This festival is also known as Minor Deewali (Choti
Deewali) or Narak Chaudas. It is celebrated one day prior to Deewali (Kartik:
Amaveseye. On this night Hanuman, the son of Anjana, the divine son of the god
of air (Pavan) was born. So it is also observed as Hanuman Jayanti. This
festival is observed since the day lord Krishna killed the demon Narkasur.
Narkasur was a very powerful demon king, who had a big army. He
over powered every other king and imprisoned them with their queens. His terror
was so much that even the gods were frightened. The earth trembled and the life
had become miserable.
To counter act this terrorism, Visnu incarnated as Krishna, so
as to end these demoniac cruelties. Krishna appeared, massacred Narkasur,
released the kings and queens, who in remembrance and reverence of lord Krishna
ordered illumination in their domains, on this day. This day is observed as
Narak Chaturdashi and Hanuman Jayanti, since then.
This festival is also the day of worship of Yama, the god of
death. So after oil massage and bath in early morning (before sunrise),
gratification should be shown to him. After that offer handful of water three
times to Bhisham Pitamesha of Mahabharata. According to Hindu scriptures,
libations to the ancestors should be offered particularly by those whose
fathers are alive. This is the only day in the whole year when a son with a
living father can offer libations and water to the ancestors, which is very
pleasing to them and the fear of death vanishes.
In the evening, burn four lights in reverence to Yama and then
other lamps are lit. The lamps lit in name of Yama make year long good deeds in
the household permanent,. failing which there may be obstacles in life. The
system of burning lights commemces with the thirteenth of Kartik K’rsna
Paksh and ends on the fifteenth (Amaveseya), these three days are said to be
the three when Visnu incarnation Vaman, in three steps covered the whole heaven
land and neatherland. After burning lights for Yama, at night worship of
Hanuman is the lord of eight supernatural powers (Siddhi) and nine treasures
(Niddhi). He is the incarnation of peril destroyer Sankara (Siva).He is the son
of Pavan (God of air) and an attendant of Rama. He is the form of Virtue, the
lord of wisdom and power. His very birth was for the protection of saints and
for the destruction of demons. By his worship, one gets his all ambitions
fulfilled. Hanuman worship can be done in any temple, in the house before his
image, on which oil and vermilion should be rubbed and invoked with the
offering of whatever little, you have. Sunder Kaand of Valmiki's Ramayana,
which contains the importance of Hanuman should be recited everyday to be
healthy and wealthy. Narak Chaturdashi is a festival of worship of Yama,
Krishna, Bhisham Pitameha and Hanuman.
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