Skandapurana 2.4.9

The Vālakhilyas said:

Kṛṣṇa spoke to Dharma concerning the twelfth [lunar day] named Vatsā:

The twelfth tithi joined with the twilight hour of cow-dust is [prescribed] for the worship of the calf. 1.

The worship of the calf is indeed to be performed at a banyan tree on the first day.

Having smeared with sandalwood and the like a cow with her calf, of uniform colour,

well-behaved and yielding milk, one should worship her with flower garlands. 2.

On that day, O Yudhiṣṭhira, food cooked in oil and cooked in a pot,

cow's milk and cow's ghee, as well as curds and milk, one should avoid. 3.

At the close of the day, half a ghaṭī on both sides of half the sun's orb,

the waving of lamps should then be performed, and one should observe the auspicious and the inauspicious. 4.

Having first arranged various lamps placed in golden vessels and the like,

one should wave the lamps beforehand and observe the auspicious and the inauspicious. 5.

Having lighted all the lamps, one should place them facing the north;

nine principal lamps are declared, and one may prepare others as well. 6.

If the flame rests toward the south, luminous and possessed of a crest,

and if steady, it is said to bestow happiness; but the opposite bestows sorrow. 7.

In the dark fortnight of Kārtika, on the five tithis beginning with the twelfth,

the rite of waving lamps in the first part of the night is declared for men. 8.

The first lamp indicates a fortnight, and the second a month;

the third indicates a season here, and the fourth a solstice likewise;

while the fifth lamp determines the auspicious and inauspicious for the year. 9.

'Born of a portion of the sun, destroyers of darkness,

may the lamps illuminate me at the three junctures of time and indicate the auspicious and inauspicious.' 2.4.9.10.

Having consecrated [them] with the mantra, one should then wave the lamps in order: 11.

First the deities, then the brahmins, elephants, and horses,

elders, superiors, inferiors, and women headed by mothers. 12.

Then one should place the waved lamps in their respective places;

by rough flames there would be destruction of wealth; by white ones, loss of food;

in exceedingly red ones, wars; and in black crests, death. 13.

A cowherd woman named Ekāṅgī performed this observance;

endowed with wealth and grain, she became [prosperous] within three years. 14. / Therefore, the worship of cows is to be performed on the twelfth of Kārtika.

Those men who, having heard this māhātmya of the cow observance, perform it, 15.

by the power of the cow observance they are not separated from cattle on earth;

whatever offense against cows may have been committed dissolves through the observance. 16.

The Vālakhilyas said:

On the fourteenth lunar day in the dark fortnight, in the month of Āśvina,

near the festival of lamps, one should perform this observance. 17.

Having bathed in the morning on the thirteenth and cleaned one's teeth,

undertaking a rule of three nights, intent on devotion to Govinda, 18.

at the end of this observance, the Govardhana festival is likewise to be performed.

An overlap of more than three muhūrtas is to be accepted; an overlapping with the next day incurs no fault. 19.

In the dark fortnight of Āśvina, on the thirteenth at nightfall,

one should offer the lamp and an oblation to Yama; untimely death is destroyed. 2.4.9.20.

Anciently, the young boy of Hemanaka was freed from untimely death

on the dark thirteenth of Āśvina through compassion. 21.

The messengers said:

"Tell [us] the means, O Yama, having shown mercy before us,

so that one may not fall from life during such a great festival!"

Yama said:

"In the dark fortnight of Āśvina, on the thirteenth day, at nightfall,

whoever offers a fine lamp at the door of his house every year,

with this mantra, O messengers, must not be brought by you during the festival;

even if premature death has arrived, my command must be obeyed:

'Together with Death, with the noose and the staff, and with Time and me,

may the son of the Sun be pleased by the offering of a lamp on the thirteenth day!'

Whoever presents a lamp at the doorway with this mantra

has no fear during the festival, nor of premature death."

The Vālakhilyas said:

"On the fourteenth day overlapped by the preceding tithi, in the other-than-bright [i.e., dark]

fortnight of Āśvina, one should diligently perform a ritual ablution at daybreak.

A person who bathes on this empty day at a time other than dawn,

his religious merit accumulated over a year is surely destroyed; there is no doubt.

Likewise, on the dark fourteenth in Āśvina, at sunrise, O gods,

an oil massage is distinguished in the last watch of the night.

If the fourteenth day does not occur on two days at moonrise,

or even if it occurs on both days, then the earlier one alone is taken.

If out of obstinacy, stubbornness, or even supposed refinement, one does not perform

the oil massage on the fourteenth, he goes to the Raurava hell.

Lakṣmī resides in the oil, and the Gaṅgā in the water on the fourteenth of Dīpāvalī;

whoever performs the morning bath indeed does not see the world of Yama.

Then apāmārga, and tumbī, and prapunnāḍa as well—

one should wave them during the bath indeed for the destruction of hell,

three times, having recited the excellent mantra three times:

'O apāmārga, endowed with clods of the furrow, furnished with thorny leaves,

remove sin, being waved again and again!'

One should wave the apāmārga and prapunnāḍa over one's head.

Having bathed, with wet clothes, one should offer a lamp to the two sons of Mṛtyu:

the two dogs, Śyāma and Śabala, brothers and servants of Yama;

the two sons of Mṛtyu are satisfied on the fourteenth by the gift of a lamp.

One should perform this ritual ablution together with loved ones and relatives;

having performed the water-offering belonging to the bath, one should then make a water-offering to Yama:

'To Yama, to the King of Dharma, to Death, and to the Ender;

to the son of Vivasvat, to Time, and to the Destroyer of all beings;

to Audumbara, to Dadhna, to the Dark, to the Supreme Lord;

to Vṛkodara, to Citra, to Citragupta—homage to you!'

These should be the fourteen mantras, each accompanied by 'namas';

with each one, one should offer three palmfuls of water mixed with sesame seeds.

It may be performed with the sacred thread over the left shoulder or over the right shoulder;

for Yama possesses a two-fold nature: both godhead and ancestorhood.

Even one whose father is living should perform the water-offering to Yama and Bhīṣma;

having worshipped the deities, a lamp should be offered for Naraka.
Here itself, the rule of bathing for one desirous of prosperity is told by me:

On the fourteenth and on the new moon of Iṣa, and on the first day of Kārtika,

when one bathes, one should take an oil bath at moonrise;
and on the tithi of the bright second of Ūrja, when the moon is in Svātī,

a person who takes an auspicious bath is never separated from Lakṣmī.

Because of the waving of lights with lamps here, this is called Dīpāvali.

Even on the new moon, an equinox, a Sunday, during a vyatīpāta, or on a dinakṣaya,

an oil massage in the morning here does not incur fault, for the sake of dispelling sins.

Having eaten the greens of māṣa leaves on that day,

on the fourteenth named Preta, a person is liberated from all sins.

On the dark fourteenth of Iṣa, and on the tithi of the new moon,

at the start of the new moon combined with Svātī, then Dīpāvali should take place.

One should observe this continuous three-day festival of lamps.
Thus the great king Bali was addressed by Hari, who was pleased:

Thus the great king Bali was addressed by Hari, who was pleased. .. 49 ..

'Ask a boon, good fortune to you, whatever is in your mind!'

Having heard this speech of Viṣṇu, Bali spoke [these] words:

'What is to be asked for myself? Everything has already been given by me.'

"I shall ask for the sake of the world; if you are able, grant that to me.

Today the earth was given by me to you, who assumed the disguise of the Dwarf (Vāmana).

And since it was traversed by you in three steps during three days,

therefore let there be sovereignty on the surface of the earth for three days, O Hari.

Whatever mortals make gifts of lamps on earth during my reign,

may this wife of yours [Lakṣmī] remain forever firmly established in their house.

In whosever home darkness shall fall during my reign,

let the darkness [of the loss] of Lakṣmī and offspring forever fall upon their home.

And those who offer lamps on the fourteenth [day] for [the prevention of] Naraka,

all their ancestral multitudes shall not dwell in Naraka.

Those by whom rows of lamps (dīpāvali) are not made when Bali's reign arrives—

how shall lamps blaze in their home, O Keśava?

Those people who cause sorrow and lack of joy during Bali's reign,

sorrow shall forever fall upon their home; of this there is no doubt."

One should ask, "Let there be Bali's reign during the three [days beginning with] the fourteenth."

Formerly, having begged for this earth in the form of a dwarf,

[Hari] gave [it] to Indra the son of Aditi, and [sent] Bali to dwell in Pātāla.

Thus those three days were granted by Hari to the lord of the Daityas;

therefore, indeed, one should arrange a great festival at this time by every means.

O best of sages, the Great Night (Mahārātri) arose on the fourteenth;

therefore its festival must be celebrated by those intent on the worship of Śakti.

When Bali's reign arrives, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras,

herbs, Piśācas, mantras, and jewels—

all become gladdened and dance at dusk.

And those various mantras attain perfection during Bali's reign; of this there is no doubt.

Just as people are extremely delighted when Bali's reign arrives,

so during those days people should be exceedingly joyful.

When the thousand-rayed sun is in Libra, at dusk on the fourteenth and the new moon day,

men should show the way to the ancestors, holding torches in their hands.

The deceased spirits residing in Naraka,

verily see the path by means of this observance; no doubt in this regard should be entertained by the eminent sages.

In the month of Āśvina, the three lunar days beginning with the fourteenth (bhūta) are proclaimed;

for deeds such as giving lamps, those prevailing at midday are to be accepted.

If these three lunar days occur prior to the saṃgava period,

they must be observed together with the preceding day for deeds such as giving lamps.

The ṛṣis said:

"O twice-born ones, we wish to ask about the māhātmya of Kaumodinī:

what is to be eaten on that day, and whose worship should one perform?

For what reason is it performed, and who is its deity?

What specifically should be given there, and what should not be given?

What joy is prescribed here, and what sport is declared here?

O best of ṛṣis, tell all the fruit of Dīpāvalī!"

The Vālakhilyas said:

"Then, O best of sages, at dawn on the new moon day,

having bathed and worshipped the gods and ancestors with devotion, and having bowed down,

and having performed the pārvaṇa-śrāddha with curd, milk, clarified butter, and so forth,

one should not eat by day on that occasion, except for children and the sick.

Then at the hour of dusk, one should worship auspicious Indirā [Lakṣmī].

One should make a spotless pavilion for Lakṣmī with various kinds of cloths,

and decorated with various flowers, tender sprouts, and paintings.

There one should worship Lakṣmī and also worship the gods.

The divine women too should be worshipped with many offerings,

and one should massage the feet of Lakṣmī and the others with devotion.

On this day in ancient times, all the gods were released by Viṣṇu

from the prison of Bali, and Lakṣmī too was liberated.

Then, together with Lakṣmī, the gods returned to the ocean of milk;

they slept happily for a long time. Therefore, O best of sages,

couches with cord netting and good mattresses should be prepared,

covered with cloths resembling milk foam in the respective directions.

One should install those gods and Lakṣmī, accompanied by the chanting of the Vedas.

Lakṣmī, freed from the fear of the Daityas, slept comfortably within the belly of a lotus.

Therefore, here the ceremony of happy sleep should be performed according to rule for her satisfaction.

He who on that day [makes] a lotus-bed for the increase of the happiness of Padmā,

having left his house, that Padmā would never go anywhere else.

Those men who do not thus perform the happy sleep of Lakṣmī,

how indeed do they, devoid of anxiety for wealth, sleep at night?

Therefore, with every effort, a man should worship Lakṣmī;

freed from poverty, he will be established within his own class.

Having boiled cow’s milk combined with mace, cloves, cardamom,

cinnamon, and camphor, having added sugar as appropriate,

he should make laddus from it and offer them to Lakṣmī.

He should present other fourfold foods, saying: 'May Śrī be pleased.'

Before Hari has awakened, one should first have women awaken Lakṣmī.

Whatever woman—or man—awakens Lakṣmī at the time of awakening and eats,

for an entire year Lakṣmī does not abandon them.

Having received freedom from fear from the brahmins, the enemies of the gods, terrified of Viṣṇu,

praised Śrī in the Ocean of Milk, knowing that she was asleep, reposing in a lotus:

"You are light, Śrī, the sun, moon, fire, lightning, gold, and stars;

the light of all lights, stationed in the light of lamps, reverence to you!

The Lakṣmī who, on the sacred day of Dīpāvalī upon the earth,

and in the cowshed of cattle on Kārttikā [is present], may that Lakṣmī be a granter of boons to me!"

Then at dusk he should make a gift of lamps and likewise wave a firebrand

around his own head, which wards off all misfortunes.

Likewise, lamp-trees should be set up according to one’s means in temples of the deities and elsewhere,

at crossroads, in cremation grounds, at rivers, mountains, and dwellings,

at the roots of trees, in cow-pens, in courtyards, and in houses.

The grounds of the royal highway should be adorned with cloths and flowers.

Having adorned the entire city, then at dusk,

having first fed the brahmins, and having fed the hungry,

adorned and shining in fresh garments, one should dine.

Then, in the afternoon, the king should proclaim to the city:

"Today is the reign of Bali; people, play as you wish!"

Having thus ordered, "Let children play as they wish!" the king

should give playthings to them, and then observe the good and bad.