History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.836

v6.c81.836

In the Vedic period and for some centuries thereafter certain rites were performed in the month of Āśvina or in Śarad such as the Āśvayujī and Āgrayaṇa or Navasasyesti. The first is one of the seven pākayajñas mentioned by Gautama-dharmasūtra (VIII. 19) The first was performed on the Full Moon day of Āśvina Vide H. of Dh vol II. p 827 for a description of Āśvayujī and pp 827-29 for Āgrayaṇa But it is not possible to trace the Dīvālī festival to these rites. How the Dīvālī rites first arose cannot be stated with any approach to plausibility. In the Anuśāsana parva it is said that the donor of lamps shines in the heavens like a row of lights (dīpapradah svarga-loke dīpamāleva rājate, 98 51). Some writers regard these as a reference to the Divālī. But it is not so clear as to place the matter beyond doubt In I. A. vol. 32 pp. 237-239 Mr. B A. Gupte contributed a paper on 'Divali folklore'. He refers to the several legends and characteristics connected with the Divālī, viz. the killing of Narakāsura, depriving Bali of his empire, the crowning of Rāma and Vikrama in these days of Divālī and illuminations and says that the origin must be sought in the movement of the earth round the sun, the change of season, the end of the rice crop and the manuring of soil for the second crop. The connection he traces is rather remote and somewhat fantastic and I am afraid that his theory of origins will appeal to very few in these days.