A Very Happy Diwali-2011

Jivananda – Bliss for your Soul With Diwali round the corner, you can already feel festivities in the air.  Families are upbeat about the ‘National Festival’ and are busy in cleaning  and decorating their houses for the big day. But, let us all, for a moment,  reflect on something very important. Do we really know what Diwali means?

The Significance of Diwali                           Ravana, the ruler of Lanka, in the epic Ramayana. In essence, the festival  signifies the victory of good over evil.  However, in Hindu philosophy, Diwali signifies "the awareness of the inner light".  It is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind  which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called theAtma or Jiva (soul). Diwali is an  occasion to realise and know this inner light, which outshines all darkness,  removes all obstacles, and dispels all ignorance.  The realization of Atma gives us Life, Light and Love (Jiva, Jyoti, Prem). And,  when we learn to love and serve our loved ones unconditionally, without  expecting anything in return, we bring ananda (joy) in our lives.According  to Hindu mythology, Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom  of Ayodhya after defeating                          What does Ayurveda say?  The core philosophy of Ayurveda is to clean the body, mind and senses and realise that ‘I am soul’. All ancient Ayurvedic texts ultimately aim at cleansing not only the physical, but also the subtle, that is, the sub-conscious mind (chitta).  In this festive season, we urge you to utilise the knowledge engrained in  ancient Ayurvedic texts and purify yourself of all evils. In our fast paced lives, we often forget to clean our body and senses.  Our minds too are perpetually over-stimulated with stress, worries and  negative thoughts. With the body, mind and senses unclean, it is impossible  to realise the soul. That’s why, even though many of us are trying to find  peace by meditating or chanting mantras, we still do not feel that joy in  our lives.   Courtesy- Jiva Ayurveda