Significance of Diwali in Jainism

Diwali Swastika

A major significance of Diwali in Jainism is: Lord Mahavira, the last of the Jain Tirthankaras, attained Nirvana on the day of Diwali at Pavapuri.According to Jain tradition and beliefs, the chief disciple of Lord Mahavira, Ganadhar Gautam Swami, also attained complete knowledge or Kevalgyana on this very auspicious day of Diwali.

Thus, it calls for a great Jainism Diwali celebration to mark the enlightenment of the two great Jain teachers. This is one of the prime Diwali significance in Jainism.

The other significance in Jainism regarding Diwali is that the word "Diwali" is first mentioned in Jain books. The day is stated as the date of the attainment of Nirvana by Lord Mahavira. The oldest usage of the word "Diwali" or "Deepavali" occurs in Harivamsha-Purana written by Acharya Jinasena. The book is composed in Shaka Samvat 705.

There is Jainism significance of the Diwali lamps also. According to the Kalpasutra by Acharya Bhadrabahu, 3rd century BC, the significance of lights are explained: "with light of knowledge gone, we make light of ordinary matter".

The Jainism celebration of Diwali is different in several ways as the Jains are always ascetic in whatever they do. The Jains celebrate Diwali for three days in the month of Kartik. During this three-day period, the Swetambaras or the devoted Jains observe fasting and go on chanting the Uttaradhyayan Sutra. This Sutra comprises the final pravachans of Lord Mahavira and thus meditates on him. The Jain New Year starts with Pratipada following Diwali, and so, the Jain businessmen traditionally started their accounting year from the day of Diwali.

Significance of Diwali in Hinduism

Lord Shri Ram

Diwali is the day when King Rama`s coronation was celebrated in Ayodhya after his epic war with Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Lord Rama was a great warrior King who was exiled by his father Dashratha, the King of Ayodhya, along with his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshman, on his wife's insistence. Lord Rama returned to his Kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, in which he put an end to the demon Ravana of Lanka, who was a great Pundit, highly learned but still evil dominated his mind. After this victory of Good over Evil, Rama returned to Ayodhya. In Ayodhya, the people welcomed them by lighting rows of clay lamps. So, it is an occasion in honor of Rama's victory over Ravana; of Truth's victory over Evil. 

On this day Mother Lakshmi emerged from the ocean of milk called the Ksheer Sagar. She brought with Her wealth and prosperity for mankind. On that day, Lakshmi Pooja was performed to honour Her and as such, every year on Diwali day, Hindus perform Her prayer and worship. The making and distribution of various sweets and total vegetarian foods are the order of the day. This practice is alive and well to this very day. Many people believe that Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and good fortune, visit the homes of devotees on this day. Worship of Lakshmi is performed in the evening.

Another legend talks about the Demon named Narakasur who had managed to acquire such awesome powers that he began to terrorize the three worlds. He was killed and defeated by Lord Krishna. As a symbol of that victory Lord Krishna smeared his forehead with the demon king's blood. Krishna returned home early morning on the day of Narakachaturdashi. The womenfolk massaged scented oil on his body and gave him a bath to wash away the demon’s blood. Since then the custom of taking an oil bath before sunrise on this day has become a traditional practice especially in Maharashtra and in the South. 

Significance of Diwali in Sikhism

Diwali at Golden Temple

Bandi Chhorh Divas

Sikhs celebrate Diwali after celebration of Bandi Chhorh Divas.


Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhorh Divas to mark the return of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, who was freed from imprisonment and also managed to release 52 Hindu Kings (political prisoners) at the same time from the famous fort of Gwalior by making clever use of Emperor Jahangir's orders to allow any who could hold on to the Gurus coat tails to leave the fort with the Guru (October, 1619).And so the Kings/rajahs were freed and the Guru became known popularly as the "Bandi Chhor" (Deliverer from prison). He arrived at Amritsar on the Diwali day and the HarMandar (also known as the "Golden Temple") was lit with hundreds of lamps to celebrate his return and hence the day came to be known as the "Bandi Chhor Divas" (the day of freedom).

Martyrdom of Bhai Mani Singh Ji

An important Sikh event associated with Diwali is the martyrdom of the elderly Sikh scholar and strategist Bhai Mani Singh in 1737. Bhai Mani Singh was the Granthi (keeper/reader of Sikh scripture) of Harmandir Sahib (popularly known as the Golden Temple). He transcribed the final version of Guru Granth Sahib dictated to him by Guru Gobind Singh in 1704.Bhai Mani Singh assumed charge of Harmandir Sahib's management in 1708. In 1737, he received permission from Zakariya Khan, the then Mughal governor of Punjab, to hold a religious gathering of the Khalsa for celebrating Bandi Chhorh Diwas on the auspicious day of Diwali for a large tax of 5000 Rupees. He expected to put together the required sum from contribution made by the Sikhs who would assemble that day. But on discovered Zakariya Khan's plot to kill the Sikhs during the gathering, he sent out messages warning them not to turn up for the meeting. As a result the tax could not be paid and Zakariya Khan ordered Bhai Mani Singh's execution at Lahore.

Uprising against the Mughal Empire

The festival of Diwali became the second most important day after the Baisakhi, when Khalsa was formally established by the Tenth Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.The Sikh struggle against Mughal Empire's atrocities on non-Muslims, especially on Sikhs, which intensified in the 18th century, came to be centered around this day. After the execution of Banda Bahadur in 1716, who had led the agrarian uprising in Punjab, the Sikhs started the tradition of deciding matters concerning the community at the biennial meetings which took place at Amritsar on the first of Baisakh and at Diwali. These assemblies were known as the Sarbat Khalsa and a resolution passed by it became a gurmata (decree of the Guru).