The Jai Jais Blog
Days of Diwali with The Jai Jais
by Sunita ShahLight is one of the oldest and most meaningful symbols, found in cultures and religions worldwide. Deepawali, Deepavali, or Diwali is the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It is the festival of lights: deep means "light" and avali "a row" to become "a row of lights." The Festival of Lights, is the most popular Hindu festival of good overcoming evil. The triumph of light over darkness is celebrated with Divas, lamps and fireworks. Diwali is composed of five days, each with its own story.
Kali Ma A Goddess Misunderstood
by Sunita Shah
Kali Ma… Visually a scary looking goddess with her tongue protruding, large shimmering eyes, skulls around her neck, a skirt of arms, holding a severed head! Kali Ma the goddesses of time and change. Kali Ma has been misrepresented into a scary tantric goddess, but what are the truths behind the goddess? Kali comes from the Sanskrit root word ‘Kal’ which means time. Her symbols are flowers, dance, iron, swords, peacock feathers and honey. Even in destruction, she reminds us that good really can come of bad situations. If you find your hopes and dreams have been crushed, Kali can change the cycle and produce life out of nothingness. Where there is sorrow, She dances to bring joy. Where there is fear, She dances in courage.
A Brothers Bond
by Sunita Shah
The classic bond of the Rama-Lakshman ‘Jodi’. The unconditional bond between two brothers. Step but step together supporting and protecting each other. The original scriptures were written in Sanskrit by the Sage Valmiki in the epic Ramayana. Its tells the story of the majestic bond between two brothers. I have an older brother, my mum would laugh and say you are like two boys… wow did we fight? Gosh which siblings don’t? but unconditional love remains.
Who was Mahavir? What does he have to do with Diwali?
by Sunita Shah
Mahavir is the most important personality in the Jain religion, for he was the last in the line of 24 Tirthankars in the current time cycle.* Tirthankar means “Ford Maker” – so a Tirthankar is one who who has succeeded in crossing over life's stream of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow. Being the last of the 24 Tirthankars, Mahavir’s teachings are those that are followed by Jains today. However, the teachings are no different to those preached by all of the other Tirthankars that preceded Mahavir. Why do Jains celebrate Diwali?