HOW TO CELEBRATE DIWALI - II
Bhaubij (Yamadvitiya)
'The second day (dvitiya)
of the bright fortnight of Kartik is also named Yamadvitiya.
This day is widely known as Bhaubij. On this day, Lord Yama
visited His sister, Yamuna for a meal. Hence the day has
acquired the name Yamadvitiya. On this day no man should eat a
meal cooked by his wife. He should visit his sister, present
her with clothes, ornaments, etc. and eat a meal at her place.
If he does not have a sister by blood relation then he can go
to a female cousin's place or consider any other woman as his
sister and dine at her place. Since on this day Yamaraj visits
His sister for a meal, the souls suffering in hell are
liberated atleast for a day.'
If a woman does not have a brother then considering any man as
her brother she should perform the act of moving lit lamps
around his face (arti). If that is not possible then she can
consider the moon as her brother and perform it for the moon.
To prevent untimely death (apamrutyu) on Dhanatrayodashi,
Narak chaturdashi and Yamadvitiya, Yama, the deity of death
should be worshipped and chanting His fourteen Names an
offering (tarpan) should be made to Him. As a result, untimely
death is averted. The offering is made with the resolve (sankalpa)
which prevents untimely death with prayer which means 'Lord
Yama, I am making this offering unto You'. One may consult the
religious almanac (panchang) for the description of this
ritual.
This ritual consists of uniting Lord Vishnu [an idol of
Balkrushna (Infant Krushna)] and the basil (tulsi) plant in
wedlock. In ancient times the practice of child marriage was
prevalent. This ritual is performed on any day between the
eleventh (ekadashi) and the full moon day (pournima) of the
bright fortnight of Kartik. On the eve of the wedding the base
of the basil plant is painted and decorated. Sugarcane and
marigold flowers are placed next to the plant and tamarind and
amla are placed at its bottom. The wedding ceremony is
performed in the evening. All the vowed religious observances
undertaken in the four months (chaturmas) after the tuLsi
vivaha on the twelfth day (dvadashi) of the bright fortnight
of Kartik, are concluded. All the food items which one has not
eaten due to forbiddance are first offered to a Brahman and
then partaken of.
DevDiwali
This is a synonym
for the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of
Margashirsha. On this day, the family deity (kuladevata) is
offered five delicacies as offering (mahanaivedya).
note : This is a part series of Articles.
