More about ramana maharshi's views about Dipavali..
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The Conquest of Hell (Naraka)
The Puranas say that Lord Narayana has killed the demon [of misery], Naraka Asura. This demon is none other than the one who lives as “I am this body, the source of misery”. One who seeks Naraka Asura’s [i.e., the ego’s] source, and thus annihilates him, is truly Lord Narayana Himself.
The Deepavali-bath, which is taken by all people on the fourteenth moon in remembrance of the conquest of Naraka, signifies the bath of Jnana, which is taken after destroying the ego Naraka Asura, by searching for his source.
Michael James: Deepavali or Naraka Chaturdasi is an annual festival celebrated in India on the fourteenth day of the waning moon in October or November. In this verse Sri Bhagavan explains the significance of the oil bath which is customarily taken by people on the morning of that day in remembrance of the conquest of Naraka-Asura by Lord Narayana [Maha-Vishnu].
The above two verses were summarised in the following verse by Sri Bhagavan:
He who kills Narakasura (the ego) with the Wheel [i.e.weapon] of Jnana, by enquiring, “Where is the source of Narakasura who rules over Narakaloka, this wretched body, as ‘I’?”, is Lord Narayana; and that day [of the ego’s destruction] is the auspicious day of the fourteenth moon.
Deepavali signifies the great Self-Effulgence which shines after destroying the reflected light [i.e. the ego], Narakasura, who was ruling this filthy body, which is the form of hell, as ‘I’.
Michael James: Deepavali means the “Festival of Lights”. The above verse which explains the significance of the “Lights” [i.e. the firecrackers used on that day] was rewritten as follows by Sri Bhagavan with only a slight change in the meaning, but in poetry which was clearer and more beautiful because of the precision of each syllable.
Deepavali signified the shining of Self after the destruction, through enquiry, of the greatest sinner,Naraka [the ego], who took the abode of this filthy body, which is the form of hell, as ‘I’.
He is Narakasura (a demon) who feels attached in the thought that he is the body. That attachment to the body itself is a Naraka (hell). The life of a person who has that attachment, even if he be a Maharajah,is hellish. Destroying the attachment to the body, and the self shining by itself as Self is Dipavali.
He is the king of hell who says that he is the body which is hell itself. He is Narayana who ascertains who Naraka is,and destroys him with His vision of wisdom, Jnana Drishti.
That is the auspicious day of Narakachathurdasi.
The false belief that this hell-like house called body is me,is Naraka himself. To destroy that false belief and let the self shine as Self, is Dipavali.
Source: GURU VACHAKA KOVAI The Light of Supreme Truth or THE COLLECTION OF GURU’S SAYINGS translated from original Tamil By Sadhu Om and Michael James
Guru Vachaka Kovai is the biggest collection of Bhagavan’s spoken teachings that was thoroughly checked and revised by him during his lifetime. As such it has a unique place in the Ramana literature.
Source: Letters from Sri Ramanasramam VOLUMES I, II & Letters from and Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam By SURI NAGAMMA Translated by D. S. SASTRI
