Holi (होलि), the festival of color, is a two day festival starting on the full moon day (पूर्णिमा) in the month of Fhaalgun (फाल्गुन) or February/March. It is noteworthy that Holi
occurs close to vernal equinox, the day when day and night are roughly
equal and the Sun appears to cross the equator, continuing its northward
journey (उत्तरायण), as seen from the Northern Hemisphere.
The festival begins with symbolic burning of demoness Holika (होलिका) inside a wood pyre (Naardeeya Puraan, Poorv Khand, chapter 124, 76-80). Holika tormented Prahlaad, the son of demon king Hriyankashipu; therefore, her funeral is celebrated. Hriyankashipu tried several times, unsuccessfully, to kill his own son Prahlaad because Prahlaad was a devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu, who was considered an enemy by Hriyankashipu (Vishnu Puraan, part 1, chapters 15-19). Ultimately, Bhagwan Vishnu incarnated in half human and half lion form or as Narsimh (नरसिंह) and killed Hriyankashipu to put an end to his atrocities.
It is a popular myth that the demoness Holika was Hriyankashipu's sister and had fire proof clothing and that she was therefore employed by Hriyankashipu to sit on a pyre with Prahalaad on her lap in order to kill Prahalaad. However, the author(s) of this blog have not been able to find any reference to this effect in the vedic literature. The blog will be updated if such a reference is found later.
As per Bhavishya Puraan (Uttar Parv or part 4, chapter 132), the fire on Phalgun Poornima serves as a means to scare away another demoness called Dhondha (ढोंढा), the daughter of a demon called Maali (माली). She used to scare kids residing in the kingdom of Raghu, who ruled during the era of truth or Satyayug (सत्ययुग). The demoness received a boon from Lord Shiv that no demigod, demon or human would be able to kill her, weapons won't slay her and she would not have to fear anyone at any time of day, in any season and neither inside nor outside. Only rowdy kids could scare her. Knowing this, Vasisth (वसिष्ठ ), the royal priest advised King Raghu that the only way to get rid of the demoness was to create a commotion by fearlessly singing, dancing, clapping, laughing and engaging in merry banter around a bonfire. Raghu asked his entire kingdom to arrange such festivities. Since that day, the festivities became popular as the festival of Holi. In essence, the festival of Holi is a day to let go of one's fears and enjoy the spring season. Bhavishya Puraan further says that the next day people should rub ashes from the previous night's fire on their bodies.
Naardeeya Puraan (Poorv Khand, chapter 124, 81) presents other interpretations of the fire associated with the festival of Holi. It is said that these fires are the symbolic burning or the end of the previous year (संवत्सर) or the burning of desires (काम).
The festival begins with symbolic burning of demoness Holika (होलिका) inside a wood pyre (Naardeeya Puraan, Poorv Khand, chapter 124, 76-80). Holika tormented Prahlaad, the son of demon king Hriyankashipu; therefore, her funeral is celebrated. Hriyankashipu tried several times, unsuccessfully, to kill his own son Prahlaad because Prahlaad was a devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu, who was considered an enemy by Hriyankashipu (Vishnu Puraan, part 1, chapters 15-19). Ultimately, Bhagwan Vishnu incarnated in half human and half lion form or as Narsimh (नरसिंह) and killed Hriyankashipu to put an end to his atrocities.
- नारदीय पुराण, पूर्व खण्ड, अध्याय १२४
Holi Fire
By 25 Cents FC (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
It is a popular myth that the demoness Holika was Hriyankashipu's sister and had fire proof clothing and that she was therefore employed by Hriyankashipu to sit on a pyre with Prahalaad on her lap in order to kill Prahalaad. However, the author(s) of this blog have not been able to find any reference to this effect in the vedic literature. The blog will be updated if such a reference is found later.
As per Bhavishya Puraan (Uttar Parv or part 4, chapter 132), the fire on Phalgun Poornima serves as a means to scare away another demoness called Dhondha (ढोंढा), the daughter of a demon called Maali (माली). She used to scare kids residing in the kingdom of Raghu, who ruled during the era of truth or Satyayug (सत्ययुग). The demoness received a boon from Lord Shiv that no demigod, demon or human would be able to kill her, weapons won't slay her and she would not have to fear anyone at any time of day, in any season and neither inside nor outside. Only rowdy kids could scare her. Knowing this, Vasisth (वसिष्ठ ), the royal priest advised King Raghu that the only way to get rid of the demoness was to create a commotion by fearlessly singing, dancing, clapping, laughing and engaging in merry banter around a bonfire. Raghu asked his entire kingdom to arrange such festivities. Since that day, the festivities became popular as the festival of Holi. In essence, the festival of Holi is a day to let go of one's fears and enjoy the spring season. Bhavishya Puraan further says that the next day people should rub ashes from the previous night's fire on their bodies.
Naardeeya Puraan (Poorv Khand, chapter 124, 81) presents other interpretations of the fire associated with the festival of Holi. It is said that these fires are the symbolic burning or the end of the previous year (संवत्सर) or the burning of desires (काम).
संवत्सरस्य दाहोऽयं कामदाहो मतांतरे ॥ इति जानीहि विप्रेंद्र लोके स्थितिरनेकधा ॥
- नारदीय पुराण, पूर्व खण्ड, 124.81
Comments
Post a Comment