While in Bengal, this is the day Kali Puja starts. This year, Amavasya Tithi Begins at 21:23 on 10 th November 2015 and ends at 23:16 on 11 th November 2015.
For Kali Puja, the day when Amavasya starts is considered while for Lakshmi Puja/ Deepawali the day when Amavasya ends is considered. For this, on many days Kali Puja happens a day before the designated day for Deepawali.
This day is also called Bhut Chaturdashi or Kali Chaturdashi. This is the day to abolish and kill off the laziness in our lives.
Some say this is the day when Hanuman gulped down the sun.
There also a legend associated with Bali, grandson of Prahalada. King Bali became the most powerful king on earth. But he became highly arrogant. His form of charity was an occasion for pomp and show and those who went to seek Alms from the king Bali suffered insults and humiliation. His arrogance and misrule ended when the Lord appeared as beggar (vaman avtaar). King Bali asked the dwarf beggar to get anything in his kingdom. Lord replied he just want a piece of land that could be covered in his 3 steps. And with his first step Lord Vishnu covered the entire heaven, with the second step the earth and asked Bali where to keep his third step. Bali offered his head and became spiritually enlightened. The Narak chaturdashi day therefore is dedicated to lights and prayers and the elimination of greed.
Here in South India, this is supposed to be the day when Narakasura was killed.
Celebrated as the second of the auspicious Deepavali days, Narkachaturdashi originates from days of Lord Krishna. God Yama is also worshiped on this day to get over the fear of demon Narakasura. Lamps with four wicks are lighted at various places. People make an effigy of Narakasura, carry it to the outskirts, and burn it. Later, they take bath and burst crackers. This is the day of Narakasura's death and hence a celebration for all.
For Kali Puja, the day when Amavasya starts is considered while for Lakshmi Puja/ Deepawali the day when Amavasya ends is considered. For this, on many days Kali Puja happens a day before the designated day for Deepawali.
This day is also called Bhut Chaturdashi or Kali Chaturdashi. This is the day to abolish and kill off the laziness in our lives.
Some say this is the day when Hanuman gulped down the sun.
There also a legend associated with Bali, grandson of Prahalada. King Bali became the most powerful king on earth. But he became highly arrogant. His form of charity was an occasion for pomp and show and those who went to seek Alms from the king Bali suffered insults and humiliation. His arrogance and misrule ended when the Lord appeared as beggar (vaman avtaar). King Bali asked the dwarf beggar to get anything in his kingdom. Lord replied he just want a piece of land that could be covered in his 3 steps. And with his first step Lord Vishnu covered the entire heaven, with the second step the earth and asked Bali where to keep his third step. Bali offered his head and became spiritually enlightened. The Narak chaturdashi day therefore is dedicated to lights and prayers and the elimination of greed.
Here in South India, this is supposed to be the day when Narakasura was killed.
Celebrated as the second of the auspicious Deepavali days, Narkachaturdashi originates from days of Lord Krishna. God Yama is also worshiped on this day to get over the fear of demon Narakasura. Lamps with four wicks are lighted at various places. People make an effigy of Narakasura, carry it to the outskirts, and burn it. Later, they take bath and burst crackers. This is the day of Narakasura's death and hence a celebration for all.
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From the Bhagwad Puran - Krishna kills Narakasura
It is said that Narakasura was the son of the earth, by Vishnu, in his incarnation as a boar. He became a demon due to the bad association of Bana, another demon. It is mentioned in the Bhagwad Purana, Birth alone is not always the criterion of goodness; unless and until one is trained in the culture of good association, one cannot become good. Thus Narakasura became a demon even though he was born good. Narakasura was also called Bhaumasura, as he was born from Bhoomi (earth).
He was a powerful demon. He stole Varuna's umbrella, Abhoga. Abhoga, fashioned from a cobra's hood such that no water could penetrate it. He also stole the divine earrings from Aditi, the mother of Devas. He would forcibly kipnap damsels and hold them captive.
Hearing this complaint by Indra, Krishna, accompanied by His wife Satyabhama, immediately started for the abode of Narakasura. Both of them rode on the back of Garuda, who flew them to Pragjyotisa-pura, the capital city of the demon. It was not a very easy task to enter the city , as it was very well fortified. First of all, there were four formidable forts guarding the four directions of the city, and it was well-protected on all sides by great military strength. The next boundary was a water canal all around the city. The next fortification was of anila, a gaseous substance. After this, there was a network of barbed wiring constructed by a demon named Mura.
When Krishna arrived, he broke all the forts to pieces by the strokes of 'gada' (club, called Kaumodaki) and the constant onslaught of the arrows . With his Sudarshana Chakra, he destroyed the channels of water and the gaseous boundary. By the vibration of His conchshell, He not only broke the hearts of the great fighters, but also the fighting machines which were there. Similarly, the walls around the city were broken.
The demon Mura heard the vibration of the conchshell, awakened from his sleep, and came out to see what was happening. He had five heads and had long been living within the water. The Mura demon was as brilliant as the sun at the time of the dissolution of the cosmic manifestation, and his temper was like blazing fire. His body was so dazzling that it was difficult to see him with open eyes. When he came out, he first took out his trident and began to attack Krishna. First of all he attacked Garuda, by whirling his trident and he began to vibrate sounds through his five faces like the roaring of a lion. The roaring produced by the vibration of his mouths spread all. Krishna saw that the trident of the Mura demon was gradually rushing toward Garuda. Immediately, by a trick of His hand, He took two arrows and threw them toward the trident, cutting it to pieces. Simultaneously, he pierced the mouths of the demon Mura with arrows stopping the noise and shot down the trident.
Mura demon immediately began to strike Krishna with his club. But Krishna, broke the club of Mura to pieces . Mura then began to attack Krsna with his strong arms, but by the aid of his discus. Krishna killed Mura. From then on, Krishna became known as Murare.
Seeing this. Narakasura came out and immediately released a weapon called Sataghni, by which he could kill hundreds of warriors with one stroke, and simultaneously all his soldiers also threw their respective weapons at Krishna. Krishna countered all the weapons, and all soldiers fell dead.
Taking a trident in his hand , the demon hurled it towards Krishna which was cut off by Sudarshan Chakra. Krishna then killed Narakasura by cutting off his head.
From the Bhagwad Puran - Krishna kills Narakasura
It is said that Narakasura was the son of the earth, by Vishnu, in his incarnation as a boar. He became a demon due to the bad association of Bana, another demon. It is mentioned in the Bhagwad Purana, Birth alone is not always the criterion of goodness; unless and until one is trained in the culture of good association, one cannot become good. Thus Narakasura became a demon even though he was born good. Narakasura was also called Bhaumasura, as he was born from Bhoomi (earth).
He was a powerful demon. He stole Varuna's umbrella, Abhoga. Abhoga, fashioned from a cobra's hood such that no water could penetrate it. He also stole the divine earrings from Aditi, the mother of Devas. He would forcibly kipnap damsels and hold them captive.
Hearing this complaint by Indra, Krishna, accompanied by His wife Satyabhama, immediately started for the abode of Narakasura. Both of them rode on the back of Garuda, who flew them to Pragjyotisa-pura, the capital city of the demon. It was not a very easy task to enter the city , as it was very well fortified. First of all, there were four formidable forts guarding the four directions of the city, and it was well-protected on all sides by great military strength. The next boundary was a water canal all around the city. The next fortification was of anila, a gaseous substance. After this, there was a network of barbed wiring constructed by a demon named Mura.
When Krishna arrived, he broke all the forts to pieces by the strokes of 'gada' (club, called Kaumodaki) and the constant onslaught of the arrows . With his Sudarshana Chakra, he destroyed the channels of water and the gaseous boundary. By the vibration of His conchshell, He not only broke the hearts of the great fighters, but also the fighting machines which were there. Similarly, the walls around the city were broken.
The demon Mura heard the vibration of the conchshell, awakened from his sleep, and came out to see what was happening. He had five heads and had long been living within the water. The Mura demon was as brilliant as the sun at the time of the dissolution of the cosmic manifestation, and his temper was like blazing fire. His body was so dazzling that it was difficult to see him with open eyes. When he came out, he first took out his trident and began to attack Krishna. First of all he attacked Garuda, by whirling his trident and he began to vibrate sounds through his five faces like the roaring of a lion. The roaring produced by the vibration of his mouths spread all. Krishna saw that the trident of the Mura demon was gradually rushing toward Garuda. Immediately, by a trick of His hand, He took two arrows and threw them toward the trident, cutting it to pieces. Simultaneously, he pierced the mouths of the demon Mura with arrows stopping the noise and shot down the trident.
Mura demon immediately began to strike Krishna with his club. But Krishna, broke the club of Mura to pieces . Mura then began to attack Krsna with his strong arms, but by the aid of his discus. Krishna killed Mura. From then on, Krishna became known as Murare.
Seeing this. Narakasura came out and immediately released a weapon called Sataghni, by which he could kill hundreds of warriors with one stroke, and simultaneously all his soldiers also threw their respective weapons at Krishna. Krishna countered all the weapons, and all soldiers fell dead.
Taking a trident in his hand , the demon hurled it towards Krishna which was cut off by Sudarshan Chakra. Krishna then killed Narakasura by cutting off his head.
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