Legend has it...The stories behind Diwali!

Sumit Rajwade and Abhishek Mande discover little-known Diwali stories.

Vasu Baras

Maharashtrians typically begin their Diwali a day before Dhanteras by worshipping the cow and calf. The story associated with this practice is that of Prithu. According to one version, Prithu was the son of Vena, an evil king who ignored Vedic rituals. Due to his excesses, a famine befell his kingdom. The sages killed the king and churned his body out of which appeared a dwarf hunter (who symbolised his sins) and then emerged Prithu.

To end the famine, Prithu chased earth, which began to flee from him in the form of a cow. On being cornered, she pointed out that killing her would also mean the end of his subjects. Prithu then reasoned with her and the cow agreed to yield her milk. Since he gave earth her life, she took his name -- Prithvi.

Another version of the story credits Prithu with the invention of agriculture and flattening the earth's rocky surface. The worshipping of the cow and the calf is symbolic of the prosperity that Prithu brought to earth.

Illustrations: Uttam Ghosh

Along with goddess Laxmi's birthday, this day is also celebrated as Dhanvantari Trayodashi.

Lord Vishnu, incarnated as Lord Dhanvantari, reestablished the tradition of Ayurveda in the world. It is believed that the knowledge of Ayurveda was created by Brahma, the creator, who gave it to Prajapati, who passed it to the Ashwini Kumars (the celestial twin physicians), who in turn passed it down to Lord Indra, and so on. But what many don't know is that along with Lord Dhanvantari, even the Ashwini Kumars are worshipped on this day.

Lighting lamps at your doorstep on the first day of Diwali is said to bless your family with good health.

It's known that when Vishnu took the Vamana avatar (his fifth incarnation in the form of a dwarf), he asked King Bali to give him three steps of land. Unaware that it was Vishnu and not a short Brahmin, Bali agreed, and the lord covered the heaven and earth in two steps. When Vamana did not have any place left to put the third step, the king offered his head and Vamana placed his foot over the king and sent him into the netherworld.

What is not so well known is that water used to be poured into the seeker's hands to grant a wish. Shukracharya, Bali's guru, knew that Vishnu had taken the Vamana avatar to send Bali to the netherworld. He took a form of an insect and jammed the spout, so that the water could not be poured. Vishnu, who knew this, gave Bali a wooden stick to clean the spout. When Bali jammed the stick into the spout, it damaged Shukracharya's eye and he flew out. Bali pratipada (below the opponent's foot) is celebrated as the victory of good over evil on the second day of Diwali.

On this day, usually celebrated on the second day after Diwali, Lord Yama, the Hindu god of death, visits his sister Yami and eats at her home. It is auspicious to place a lit lamp near the south direction of the house.