Happy and blessed Maha Shivaratri! Today, especially tonight, is the most auspicious occasion for worshipping Lord Shiva. Hara Hara Mahadeva!

"Be gracious unto us, O Rudra, bring us joy. Thee, Lord of Heroes, thee with reverence do we serve. Whatever health and strength our father Manu won by yajña, may we, under thy guidance, gain."
- Rig Veda, 1.114.2

"There are two ways to meet a glorious death, and both are very rare. One is to die after performing mystic yoga, especially bhakti-yoga, by which one can control the mind and living force and die absorbed in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The second is to die on the battlefield, leading the army and never showing one’s back. These two kinds of death are recommended in the śāstra as glorious."
- Srimad Bhagavatam, 6.10.33

On Dīpāvali (Diwali) we celebrate the return of Sri Rama and Mother Sita to their royal capital Ayodhya after fourteen years in exile. During that period, Rama's brother Bharata refused to sit on the throne, instead ruling as a proxy and placing Rama's paduka (footwear) on the royal throne as a symbolic representation of the rightful king.

At the conclusion of the eventful fourteen year exile, the citizens of Ayodhya gleefully prepared to welcome back Rama and Sita. They lit millions of diyas (ghee lamps) that illuminated the entire city from the sky as Rama and Sita returned on a vimana (aerial chariot). As they touched ground, roars of "Jaya Sri Rama!" echoed throughout, as flower petals descended from the sky. The Divine order was restored, Rama was formally coronated, and the golden era of Rama-Rajya began.

All these years later, we light diyas on Dīpāvali to remember the return of the King, and the eternal light of Dharma that shall always reign victorious over whatever darkness we may encounter. We remember the trials and tribulations that Rama persevered through with great fortitude and strength, all the while retaining His composure and balance. May we imbibe such virtues and seek the guidance of Rama and Sita as we work to restore Dharma in our current world-age.

Jaya Sri Rama!

Dussehra/Vijayadashami commemorates the victory of Sri Rama over Ravana, as well as Durga's defeat of the demon Mahishasura. Effigies of Ravana are set ablaze, signifying the ultimate victory of the light of Dharma over the darkness of adharma. The burning of ritual effigies is practiced in many Dharmic/pagan traditions around the world.
Jaya Sri Rama!

Happy Krishna Janmashtami! Jaya Sri Krishna!