Happy Diwali – the Indian Hindu festival of Lights. The Jains observe Diwali which marks the final liberation of Mahavira & the Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release of Guru Hargobind from a Mughal Empire prison along with 52 kings.
For Hindus the festival marks Diwali symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
From Sikh perspective, Guru Nanak Dev Ji encouraged Sikhs to go beyond blind faith, superstitious ritualism based on fear and ignorance towards enlightened ideology based on reason and belief in One God (Waheguru). With this quote “When the lamp is lit, darkness is dispelled” Guru Nanak dev ji guides us towards meditating (Jaap). “Where there is light of knowledge, ignorance is dispelled”
Practice Meditation with focus on Light:
- REFLECT: Find time to pause, relax and meditate. Try the technique of focusing on a lamp or light.
- RESPOND: If you loose focus or thoughts, return your focus back to Light.
- INTEGRATE: Any time in future, when you may face a situation when need to focus & be mindful, Pause. Breathe, remember this technique.
“When the lamp is lit, darkness is dispelled”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji SGGS Page 791
About the Author of Quote: Guru Nanak Dev Ji. (Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ), was the founder and first Guru of Sikhism, was born in the year 1469, in the village Talwandi which is located in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Read More
Jaap : Chant & Meditate
We invite you to learn Simran Walking meditation with WAHEGURU mantra s a way to practice meditating.
Bandi Choor Divas: Sikh celebrate release of the Sixth Guru Hargobind who on this day was freed from imprisonment in the famous fort of Gwalior by Emperor Jahangir on October, 1619.
When the Guru was to be released, he demanded to be freed only if the other Indian chiefs that were imprisoned with him were also freed. Jahangir agreed and ordained, “Let those rajahs be freed who can hold on to the Guru’s coat tails and walk out of prison”. He likely thought that few would be able to hold and be freed with the Guru.
Guru Hargobind Ji asked for a special coat to be made with 52 coat tails – same number as the Chiefs in prison with him & so with him they walked out. Guru Hargobind Ji became known as the “Bandi Chhor” (Deliverer from prison). When he arrived at Amritsar on the Diwali day and the HarMandir Sahib popularly known as the Golden Temple was lit with hundreds of lamps. From then the day for Sikhs is known as the “Bandi Chhor Divas” (the day of liberation).
Simran Walking Meditation: Sikh meditation with mantra “Waheguru” :
Simran means (Gurmukhi ਸਿਮਰਨ, Hindi: सिमरण, सिमरन) is a Punjabi word derived from the Sanskrit word स्मरण smaraṇa, “the act of remembrance, reminiscence, and recollection,” which leads to the realization. Simran is a commonly used term as a verb in Gurmukhi, which refers to ‘meditating’ of the Nām, or name, of God.
Read More: Simran Walking Meditation
Diwali: The five-day long festival originated in the Indian subcontinent and is mentioned in early Sanskrit texts. Diwali is usually celebrated twenty days after the Dashera festival, with Dhanteras, or the regional equivalent, marking the first day of the festival when celebrants prepare by cleaning their homes and making decorations on the floor, such as Rangolis.
