Diwali Story

In a village, there was a merchant whose daughter used to offer water daily to a Peepal tree. The tree was home to Goddess Lakshmi. One day, Lakshmi asked the merchant's daughter, “Will you be my friend?” The girl replied, “I will ask my father first.” She shared the incident with her father, who agreed and encouraged her to make friends with the goddess. The next day, she became friends with Lakshmi. Their friendship deepened, and one day, Lakshmi took her new friend to her divine home. Lakshmi treated her warmly, served her delicious food in golden plates, and gifted her a luxurious shawl before sending her back. As the girl prepared to leave, Lakshmi asked when she would invite her to her home. The girl extended the invitation but was worried about their financial situation and whether she could host Lakshmi properly. Understanding her concern, the merchant advised his daughter, “Don’t worry. Clean the house, coat the kitchen area with clay, and light a four-wicked lamp in Lakshmi’s name.” Coincidentally, an eagle flew over their home and dropped a valuable nine-lakh necklace. The girl sold the necklace, used the money to prepare the meal, and made arrangements for Lakshmi's visit. When Goddess Lakshmi arrived with Lord Ganesha, she was pleased with the efforts and devotion of the merchant’s daughter and her family. Lakshmi showered them with her blessings, ensuring their home was always filled with prosperity. O Goddess Lakshmi, just as you blessed the merchant and his daughter, may your grace be upon us as well.

Second Story: Lord Krishna and Narakasur Naraka Chaturdashi, also known as Chhoti Diwali or Roop Chaturdashi, is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm. It is connected to the mythological tale of Lord Krishna and the demon Narakasur. According to the story, Bhudevi (Earth Goddess) nourished all living beings. However, her own son Narakasur brought terror and chaos to the world. His tyranny troubled everyone, including the gods, and led Lord Indra to seek help from Lord Krishna. Indra approached Krishna and explained the situation, saying that Narakasur had insulted their divine mother Aditi by stealing her earrings. He added that due to a boon from Lord Brahma, no god could kill Narakasur, so the gods sought Krishna’s intervention. Krishna promised to help and prepared to battle Narakasur. His wife, Satyabhama, insisted on accompanying him, saying she would assist in the fight. Krishna, mounted on his Garuda, reached Narakasur’s kingdom and began attacking his army from the sky. Narakasur’s army was destroyed, angering him. He challenged Krishna, dismissing accusations of wrongdoing and claiming that he defined righteousness. Krishna explained that Narakasur’s actions—including the theft of Aditi’s earrings, disruption of sages’ penance, persecution of gods and humans, misuse of Brahma’s boon, and abduction of royal women—were grave sins. Narakasur’s arrogance prevented him from recognizing his faults. The battle began fiercely, with both sides exchanging powerful weapons. During the fight, Krishna’s bowstring broke, giving Narakasur an opportunity to strike. Satyabhama intervened to block the attack, inspiring Krishna to use his Sudarshan Chakra to kill Narakasur, splitting him in two. The Earth cracked open, swallowing Narakasur’s remains. Bhudevi then appeared and thanked Krishna, revealing that Narakasur was her son gifted by Krishna’s Varaha form. She expressed no sorrow over his death, as his sins had become unbearable. She returned Aditi’s earrings to Krishna and disappeared. Krishna freed the gods from Narakasur’s tyranny and released the 16,100 princesses he had imprisoned, restoring their honor. Narakasur’s defeat occurred on Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi, which is now celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi.

Third Story: The Tale of the Woodcutter’s Ignorance Once upon a time, a king went hunting in a dense forest. He lost his way and was tormented by hunger and thirst. Wandering around, he saw a woodcutter cutting wood and approached him for help. The king said, “Brother, I am lost and very hungry and thirsty. Do you have anything to eat or drink?” The woodcutter offered the king a piece of bread from his bundle along with some greens. While the king ate the bread and drank water, he expressed his gratitude to the woodcutter, saying, “You have helped me in my time of need. If you ever need help, come to me, and I will assist you.” The woodcutter bowed respectfully and promised to seek the king’s help if needed. Some time later, all the trees in the forest where the woodcutter worked were cut down, leaving him with no way to earn a living. Distressed, he remembered the king's promise and went to seek his help. The king, moved by the woodcutter’s plight, assured him of help. After consulting his ministers, the king decided to gift the woodcutter a sandalwood forest near the southern part of the city. Years passed, and the king visited the forest, now owned by the woodcutter. To his surprise, most of the forest was gone, and only a few sandalwood trees remained. The woodcutter sat nearby, looking worried and lost in thought. The king asked, “Why are you so upset, and how did this lush forest become barren?” The woodcutter replied, “With your grace, I survived all these years. Now, only a few trees are left, and I worry about what I will do when they are gone.” The king questioned, “What happened to the forest?” The woodcutter explained, “I cut the wood daily, burned it into charcoal, and sold it in the market to make a living.” The king was shocked and said, “You foolish man! This was a sandalwood forest. How could you burn it into charcoal?” The woodcutter, unaware, asked, “What is sandalwood?” The king instructed him to take a piece of the remaining sandalwood to the market. Following the advice, the woodcutter sold a small piece of sandalwood for ten rupees. Realizing how valuable sandalwood was, the woodcutter lamented, crying about the wealth he had unknowingly destroyed by burning the trees into charcoal that fetched him almost nothing. This story teaches us the importance of knowledge and wisdom. Just as the woodcutter wasted the valuable sandalwood in ignorance, we should not waste the precious gift of human life on vices, hate, or sin. Instead, we should use it for good deeds, ensuring our spiritual growth and welfare in all realms. The story also emphasizes the significance of wisdom, which is why during Diwali, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswati, the deities of knowledge and wisdom, are worshipped with devotion.