20/10/2025
Special Diwali Lecture by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj
Wish You All A Happy Deepavali....!!!!!!!
Light on the Occasion of Deepavali - Part I
A few devotees have expressed a desire that I shed light on the devotional significance of Deepavali. Shedding light on
the occasion of Deepavali denotes shedding light on light, which is a rather peculiar thing.
The word 'Deepavali' means light. In the world, you all decorate many things with lights on the Deepavali day. You all try
to draw inspiration according to your own wishes and desires. Some people do this in a material way and others in a
spiritual sense. However, generally every ordinary individual knows that 'Deepavali' means to dispel darkness with light.
This means that there are two things: darkness and light, and both are so opposite to each other that darkness cannot
exist wherever there is light. However, light can exist wherever there is darkness. What does this mean? It means that
darkness cannot invade light, but light can invade darkness, and there cannot be a war between the two.
Do You Know?
The master of restraint, observation, and all disciplines of yoga, divinely graced, the propounder of the path of devotion and the crest jewel of those devoted to God, an ocean of numerous branches of knowledge, saviour of the world, expounder of the great rituals and the spiritual teacher in the true sense of the term is Shri 1008 Swami Kripalu Ji Maharaj …
With the rays of the sun of detachment drying the slime of attachment, an effulgent source of bliss to the virtuous souls of the world has appeared in the form of the spring incarnate, honourably known as Swami Kripalu Ji Maharaj. This ‘Kripalu’ or merciful spring causes the flowers to bloom on the creeper of bhakti and is universally known for spreading spiritual light everywhere.
The discourse of Shri Kripalu Ji is like the thunderous sound of the new clouds. It dispels the agony of the mind suffering from the scourge of atheism. When one listens to his discourses, divine knowledge begins to sprout from the woodland of one’s heart and mind. The words of Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj work like an elixir-like medicine to protect the people whose minds have been vitiated by sophistry and malice. Praise be to him till eternity.
All Glories To SitaRam Ki Jaiiiiiii....!!!!!!!
Roopdhyan Kijiye..!!!Bolo Bhagawan Nam...!!!!
This is because
both (darkness and light) cannot stand in front of each other. (In other words, both cannot exist simultaneously
together.) Darkness cannot exist wherever there is light; it cannot remain. For this reason, there cannot be a battle
(between the two) and both of these entities, light and darkness, are forever and will always exist forever. The surprising
fact though is that darkness cannot invade light. Then did light come into existence first or did darkness come into
existence first?
What is the science of light and darkness? Light is inert by nature; darkness is inert by nature. However, there must
definitely be a governing power over these two. Light is a power; darkness is a power. A power cannot exist without its
base. Just like the nature of fire is to give light, to burn. Now, it is not possible to separate light from fire. Light will surely
exist wherever there will be a fire. The act of burning will take place. In other words, fire is the basis of its two attributes,
burning and lighting. Light and darkness never had a beginning. They are eternal and their shaktiman (governor) is God,
Who is absolute supreme brahm known as Shree Krishn.
There is a Ved mantra that describes that our intellect is darkness, the soul is light. However, there are two categories of
light: one is vibhuchit and the other is anuchit. In other words, one (category of light) is unlimited and the other is very
limited. Whether the light is small or very large or even larger, all categories (of light) are related to that unlimited light,
and whatever is inert is also related to that unlimited light. That inert thing is maya and is known as darkness. Whatever
is conscious is of two kinds: one is the complete animator supreme brahm, Shree Krishn, and (the other) with
insignificant light, the soul.
(Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Goswami Tulsidas describe that) 'sab' refers to maya, souls. The animator of both
(maya and souls) is God. The effulgence of that God, Shree Krishn, this effulgence is the inseparable form (of Shree
Krishn). This word 'brahm' that is spoken refers to that brahm. In other words, the unlimited effulgence emanating from
the Divine personal form of God is known as brahm, and uncountable planetary systems and jeev (souls) evolve from
that brahm. 'Jeev' elaborated includes celestial gods, demons, humans, all the way up to brahm lok and all the svansh
(eternal associates of Shree Krishn) in Golok. Whether they are under the influence of maya or beyond maya (Shree
Krishn is the animator).
This material universe is functioning through His effulgence and chetan (the sun, moon and stars); all are also inspired by
His Divine light. The Vedas state that He is light and also the animator. For example, if a few light bulbs are placed in
front of you and you are asked, "What is this?" Your answer will be, "Light." However, it is also the animator. All the
things, animate and inert, are animated by God. Therefore, God is light as well as the animator.
The individual soul (being a fraction of God) is also light, although it is a small spark of light; it has the veil of the
darkness of maya over it. How did this darkness of ignorance overshadow (the soul) and how will it dissipate? Deepavali
is celebrated to eliminate this darkness (of maya).
Now, people do not understand the real depth (of Deepavali), so they gratify their mental cravings through material
lights. Similarly, people experience momentary satvic and rajas material bliss through material attainments, but it is not
the reality. The actual truth is that the darkness of maya is prevailing over the soul. The light of God has to be brought in
(to our heart). This is the real significance of Deepavali.
The influence of maya over the individual soul is eternal; it never had a beginning. However, it is not necessary that it
will remain (under the influence of maya) forever. If any object, thing or entity has a beginning, it will also naturally end
one day; no effort has to be made (to end it). However, the soul is eternally under the bo***ge of maya. Why it is
eternally (under the bo***ge of maya) cannot be a question. It is contrary to logic. The soul is eternally under the
influence of maya. For this reason, it is not like it ever began. It is just a way of explaining in local language. There is a
certain kind of language that is used to explain, to write. (For instance,) the philosophies elucidated in the Bhagwatam,
the Ramayan etc. describe that, "Since the soul became separated from God, it began to think of itself as the physical
body. Since then the soul became influenced by ignorance, maya etc." (As described in the Ramayan,) "Since it became
separated from God...." -- (it is not like that, because) the soul is an eternal fraction of God.
Jeev (soul) is an eternal entity. One is the complete animator brahm, God, and the other is the soul, afflicted by maya,
without a beginning, eternal. (This philosophy) has been described in thousands of Ved mantras, the Gita, the
Bhagwatam, and all. Thus, there was never a beginning when the darkness of ignorance had its influence (over the soul).
This influence of darkness or maya or ignorance is eternal. However, why did darkness (maya) veil light (soul)?
The Gita describes that an existing energy can never die. An existing energy cannot become non-existent. A non-existent
energy cannot become an existing energy. The soul is a form of light, but it is such an insignificant form of light that it
becomes influenced by maya; it is so minute. If all of you (sitting here in this satsang hall) closed all the doors and
windows and turned off all the lights, then what would you say? "It is dark." If this dark hall was covered with thick,
black fabric all around, what would you say? "It is dark." However, there is a difference in the limit of the darkness.
When you closed all the windows and doors, you were saying it is dark, but even then a lot of things were visible. The
limit of darkness (before covering the windows and doors with a black fabric) is less as compared with the darkness after
covering the windows and doors with the thick, black fabric. Darkness veils a small amount of light. Just like copper is
known to be a fraction of light; it is a lustrous object. Gold is a lustrous object. Brass is a lustrous object. When it turns
dark, then none of these give out any light. Twenty-five ladies wearing gold jewelry could be sitting in the dark, but
nothing is seen. Thus, gold, brass, copper -- all are a form of light, yet they are such an insignificant source of light, that
darkness veils the light.
To be continued
Light on the Occasion of Deepavali - Part II
Similarly, the soul is under the influence of maya since eternity. This is not a surprising fact because it is negligible light.
The ultimate limit of this negligible light is the sun. Can darkness come in front of the sun? No. Then maya cannot come
in front of Shree Krishn Who is equal to the brilliance of unlimited suns. It (maya) cannot stand in front of Shree Krishn.
You all refer to darkness by using different words, such as 'night'. Instead of saying it has become dark, daily you all say
night has come, and for day you all say it is daylight. You do not say that light has appeared. You all say this for the sake
of etiquette. This is not the truth. The truth is that it has turned dark, it has turned light; this is the correct way of saying
it. You all refer to night and day for the sake of etiquette because you do not have knowledge of vocabulary.
Night has various categories such as extremely dark night. Another kind of night is an extremely dense, cloudy night
without the moon. There is some light, but it is still night. But there are millions and billions of stars (in the sky) and you
are saying that it is night; it is dark. How is it dark? There is only a dim shadow of light, but not enough to be called
daylight. Now the moon has appeared in the midst of all the stars. It is a full moon night, full moon. Now darkness has
disappeared; it has not disappeared completely. (For this reason) it cannot be called daylight. Only when the sun
appears, would we call it a day. Darkness completely disappears in the presence of the sun. (Darkness) may fade a little
upon the appearance of stars, provided there are no clouds. Darkness fades to an even greater extent with the
appearance of the moon, but it still remains night.
What does this mean? (It means that one could) perform unlimited religious rituals and formalities, perform unlimited
gyan and yog, do whatever else -- austerity, fast, fire sacrifices, charity -- do whatever it may be, but this darkness will
not dissipate. If you will do austerity, the radiance of your soul will multiply, ignorance will diminish and knowledge will
increase. It will increase but will not end. This mighty darkness cannot end without the supreme light (of God). Once the
form of supreme light, Shree Krishn, appears, He never leaves, and He is residing in your heart; you do not have to go
anywhere (to find Him). Where is the powerhouse? Let us find out.
Thus, supreme power, poorntam purushottam brahm Shree Krishn, is the true, eternal, unlimited limit of light and
everything else is a form of darkness. (It does not matter) whether it is lifeless or animate or whatever it may be. We
want to liberate ourselves from darkness. We will have to make a connection to the powerhouse in order to be liberated
from darkness. The soul has to connect. Who will connect it and how will he connect it? God says, "I cannot establish
that connection. There are two reasons for this. One is that I cannot do the job of connection. How will the powerhouse
establish that connection? The mechanic will make that connection." The powerhouse is saying, "Take as much as you
like from Me. I have unlimited things." But who will be the one taking it? That (personality) is whom you call the Saint,
Guru. He will establish the connection. And with what will he connect? The heart. The heart is material. It is made of
maya and God is Divine. These two wires (material heart and Divine God) are opposites. How will they connect?
Then God said, "I will shower My Grace, will give you a concession to remember My Divine form with your material heart
and mind. Attach your heart and mind to Me; do bhakti. With My Grace, your heart and mind will gradually become
imbued with My swaroop shakti (personal power), and with the association of My swaroop shakti, when your heart and
mind will progressively become Divine, when it will become a clean slate, when your heart and mind will become totally
pure, then you can connect the wire (of your pure heart). Not an impure wire."
How will (the heart) become pure? God says, "Do not come to Me (directly). Go to your Guru and ask him (how your
heart can become pure). Think of him as My own form and personality. Do not differentiate (between Myself and your
Guru) even .1%. This is a conclusive rule."
The Vedas state that whatever is our style of bhakti, eligibility, faith, surrender and following the instructions towards
God, the same should be towards our Guru. (We should) never think that Guru is separate and God is separate. In this
way, when a soul will fix his mind on his Guru and sincerely follow the disciplines of devotion (as taught by Guru), heed
to his instructions, then his heart will become pure. Then that connection will be established. The connection that will be
established, power that will be given from the powerhouse, will not be given by the powerhouse. It will be given by
Guru. This is because Guru has all the powers, same as God.
In this way, the darkness that is prevailing over the soul -- in other words, the influence of maya -- we should liberate
ourselves (from this darkness of maya) and take the benefit of the light. Ad hoc, we must purify the pot of our heart and
mind by surrendering to God and Guru.
If electricity is running through a wire that is covered with plastic, then you can hold that wire in your hand, even if that
wire has 10,000 volts of current running through it. Even a T.B. patient can hold that wire. But if the cover is taken off,
then even the greatest wrestler would die in 10 seconds. The potency of that power will pull (anyone) toward itself. At
present, our heart has a plastic covering (in the form of maya), which is why the connection cannot be made. The
current cannot be accessed. A naked wire is required; a pure heart is required. In order to purify our heart and mind, ad
hoc we should remove the darkness of our heart and join our heart with the powerhouse, with Shree Krishn, and attain
His eternal servitude by following the devotional path as taught by our acharyas. Only then the actual purpose of
celebrating Deepavali will be successful. This should be the true significance of celebrating Deepavali.
You may call it great luck or ill luck; you all took birth in India, but I will have to say that very few in our country
understand the true meaning of Deepavali. Everyone engages themselves in mental gratification and merriment, and
remains bereft of the true benefit of Deepavali.
Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj
Translation by Diwakari devi
Prem Ras Siddhant (https://www.jkpliterature.org.in/prema-rasa-siddhanta-2
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