Naraka Chaturdashi is popularly celebrated as the 2nd day of Diwali. It falls between Dhanteras and Laxmi Puja. It is also called Choti Diwali, Roop Chaudas or Roop Chaturdashi in the North India. In South India it is celebrated as Tamil Deepavali. And in Maharashtra as Abhyang Snan. Kali Chaudas/ Bhoot Chaturdashi and Hanuman Puja may fall on Naraka Chaturdashi or a day prior to that… Whoa, wait! That’s a volley of festival names! All falling on almost the same day! So, let’s find out what they mean, their significance, as well as the rituals and legends around them.
Narak Chaturdashi/ Choti Diwali:
Narak Chaturdashi is celebrated on the 14th day of Kartik, Krishna Paksha. This year it falls on 24th October 2022.
Narak Chaturdashi 2022 timings
Abhyang Snan Mahurat : 5.24a.m to 06.40a.m
Duration: I hour 16 mins
Chaturdashi Tithi begins: 06.03p.m on 23rd October’22
Chaturdashi Tithi ends: 5.25p.m on 24th October’22
On this day Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama are believed to have slayed the powerful Narakasura. In eastern parts of India, it is believed that on this day, Goddess Kali slayed Narakasura.
Naraka Chaturdashi signifies the slaying of the Tamasic elements of laziness, sloth, greed, lust, pride, etc that Narakasura is symbolic of.
The tradition is to have a bath in the morning before sunrise in the Brahma Muhurat. However this special bath needs to be had only after rubbing sesame oil all over the body. In some places, water collected and preserved on Ahoi Ashtami is mixed with bathing water .
After the bath, new clothes are worn, kajal is worn (to ward off the evil eye) lamps are lit and Lord Yama prayed to.
A sumptuous meal (after offering to ancestors) is mostly another highlight of the day. A ritual of disposing off old stuff that is not used anymore happens at the Nisheeth Kaal.
Evening festivities include lighting of lamps, rangoli, burning of crackers etc.
The story of Narakachaturdashi and Narakasura
Hindu mythology never tires of reiterating the importance of goodness. Or that evil always end with self-annihilation. An Asura invariably stand for one who is out of touch with his inner Self and hence revels in Adharma. Similarly, a Deva is the most sublime expression of the true goodness within the Self, naturally inclined towards Dharma (righteousness)
Narakasura was another powerful asura with invincible powers. And on this day, Lord Krishna along with his wife Satyabhama put an end to his life and the torment he had caused on Earth.
What exactly happens in the battle
Now, the key point to be noted here is that Narakasura had a great lineage as the son of Lord Vishnu himself. Long ago, when the demon Hiranyaksha had hidden Earth at the bottom of the sea, Vishnu had reincarnated as a wild boar (Varaha), fought for a thousand years and saved Mother Earth (Bhumidevi). Their union gave birth to the child Narakasura. Amongst the many boons that Vishnu gifted his son, one was that no one but his mother could kill him.
Narakasura grew up to be strong and powerful but his association with Mura, an evil demon with deadly magical powers turned him into an asura. He became a great mischief maker and destroyer. He troubled humans and Gods and went to the extent of even stealing Goddess Aditi’s earrings once. He plundered cities and abducted about 16,000 maidens in all!
Enter, Lord Krishna and Satyabhama and Goddess Kali to save the day
This was the tipping point! Krishna, a Vishnu avatar took off on his Garuda with his wife Satyabham to kill him. In the deadly battle that ensued, Vishnu fell seemingly unconscious. Satyabhama flew into a rage and killed Narakasura with his Sudarshan Chakra.
Later she gets to know that only she could have vanquished Naraka, by virtue of being a reincarnation of Mother earth. Therefore, events had panned out the way they had.
Some legends skip the narration on Naraka’s boon and state that Krishna himself slayed Narakasura.
Nevertheless, in his final moments, Narakarasura is repentant that he had been blinded by Evil. He begs Krishna that his death and downfall be celebrated with lights and crackers. Also, that all those who do the mangal/abhyanga snan on this day, never see hell. Hence Narakachaturdashi is a Diwali day with the key tradition of the ritualistic bath; Abhyanga snana
The Significance of this story and of Naraka Chaturdashi is as follows
Having a great lineage does not mean the generation may turn out decent:
Narakasura could have become the greatest living legend, being born to such illustrious parents like Mother Earth and Lord Vishnu, plus his precious boon-perks to boot. But he chose Evil.
Bad company always leads to destruction
Apart from ingraining sound values, parents must also ensure children do not get swayed the glitter of the wrong doers in the external world. Naraka’s biggest downfall came by picking up all wrong values of Mura, his demon friend.
God supports Dharma no matter what
Naraka was Vishnu’s and Bhumidevi’s son. Yet they orchestrated his death in their new avatars to bring an end to his toxic regime. This is a key point to remember, when we wonder why some people get ahead unscathed, the wrong way. Remember, Bad karma eventually catches up.
Truth and Goodness always prevail.
The idea behind most of the mythological stories is the same. Truth and goodness shall always prevail. Satyamev Jayate. Even Naraka realized this during his death. But we don’t have to wait till the fag end of our lives to realize this eternal truth.
Choti Diwali, Roop Chaudas, Roop Chaturdashi
Choti Diwali/ Narakchaturdashi is also known as Roop Chaudas or Roop Chaturdashi in North India. Roop means beauty and Chaturdashi means 14th days of Kartik.
It is believed that on this day, women can do penance and gain Soundarya Siddhi, meaning the beauty power to attract and magnetize whosoever she wants.
Hence it is tradition to anoint oneself with aromatic oils and apply ubtan (special paste of gram flour and herbs) and aromatic oils to cleanse and beautify self.
In olden times, women barely had time to take care of themselves. So, this day was dedicated to pampering themselves and getting ready for the biggest Hindu festival of Laxmi Puja, falling the next day.
Tamil Deepavali
In Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and a few southern India places, Narak Chaturdashi is celebrated as Diwali/Deepavali.
The same rituals as Narakachaturdashi in the rest of the country are followed for Tamil deepavali i.e of the oil bath, new clothes etc
So Diwali in South is a celebration of Narakasura’s death by Krishna/ Satyabhama while the Diwali in North India is a celebration of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita’s return to Ayodhya. Diyas are lit and crackers are burst in the dawn in the South as againt dusk in the rest of the country.
Depending on the mahurat, Tamil Diwali may fall on Narak Chaturdashi or on Laxmi Puja
Kali Chaudas, Bhoot Chaturdashi and Hanuman Puja
All fall on the same day. And it is believed that on this day, the Universe moves from Chandra Nadi to the Surya Nadi, something that stimulates the Pataal Loka (the netherworld). That’s why is it believed that on this day, many elements (spirits including the negative ones) dominate the atmosphere.
Kali Chaudas is celebrated in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Most legends say that on this day Goddess Kali killed Narakasura while some point out that on this day the Goddess killed the asura RaktaBija.
Bhoot Chaturdashi is celebrated in West Bengal as a precursor to Kali Puja (happening on Laxmi Puja day)
As per Drik Panchang, the date of Kali Chaudasa is decided when the Chaturdashi prevails at midnight. Accordingly, it may fall on Narak Chaturdashi or a day before that.
Kali Chaudas has the tradition of visiting the crematorium at midnight to make offerings. Bhoot Chaturdashi stresses on lighting of lamps in every nook and corner of the households to guid the ancestral spirits and to drive away the evil ones.
Hanuman Puja
On the same day as Kali Chaudas , Hanuman Puja is also celebrated. Lord Hanuman who signifies supreme strength and ability is also worshipped for protection from evil spirits that abound on this day.
Hanuman Puja has one more legend. For all his sacrifices and dedication, Lord Rama ordained that Hanuman always be worshipped before him. Hence it is always a day before Laxmi Puja.
Hanuman Mantras
Om Shri Hanumate Namah
Hanuman Chalisa
Narakachaturdashi, Choti Diwali Rituals
Abhyang Snan (Ritualistic bath before dawn)
It is believed that Lord Krishna himself had a bath after killing Narakasura in the Brahma Mahurat.
That’s why it is a very important tradition to anoint oneself with sesame or aromatic oils (especially sesame) and bathe before sunrise in the presence of moon. This is washed off by using an ubtan (paste) made of pulses and herbs. This removes the dead cells, detoxifies it and has a renewing and moisturising effect on the skin.
This soothing tradition is symbolic of washing off all the Tamasic elements from the body, mind and soul. An uncovering of a brand new Sattvic Self.
This is followed by wearing of new clothes, kajal in the eyes and praying by lighting lamps.
Krishna Mantra: Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Lighting of lamps:
The heightened energies of Tamas and Rajas thanks to elemental presence can be rendered ineffective through the extensive burning of lamps. The many million vibrations created by the fire of lamps subdues and destroys negative forces and is therefore strongly recommended
Additionally, this day is also celebrated as Yamadeepam 2 and hence diyas are lit to ward off evil or bad luck. Offerings are also made to Lord Yama for protection
Worship of Shiva during Pradosh
Some follow the ritual of praying to Lord Shiva, 72 minutes after the sun has set, ie during Pradosh
Other interesting Narakacharurdashi rituals
- New clothes are worn right after the Abhyang Snan.
- Some break karit (a bitter fruit) with their toes to signify the defeat of Narakasura and taste a little of its juice.
- Many homes cook sumptuous and offer food to ancestors
- Some make and burn paper effigies of Narakasura.
- Generally, rice based offering especially poha (rice flakes) is offered with jaggery, coconut etc.
