This Sunday is special as “होली है / Holi hai!!!”
As with many other festivals of India, Holi is also a treat for the senses... the vivid colours, the aromatic puran-polis and gujiyas, the warm holy (Holi) fire.
One important ritual of the Holi Festival is the Holika Dahan. A bonfire is lighted in the evening to mark the killing of the demoness Holika – symbolizing victory of good over evil. This theme of the righteous winning over the evil runs through most of our festivals in Hinduism.
But one uniqueness of Holi is that the अग्निः / Fire plays the central role.
Our ancestors, right from the dawn of civilization, have had a deep reverence for अग्निः / Fire.
Learning to kindle fire, and control it was probably the first step that led to emergence of Man as a dominant race. Our ancestors worshipped Fire as a God – Agni and considered it always going forward (अग्निः), Purifying (पावकः), Self-Sustaining (अनलः), Far-Reaching (वह्निः – travels with wind) and a conduit between Humans and Gods (as it carried the offerings made by Humans in the Yagna (यज्ञः) to the Gods).
The other tradition, loved by kids and adults alike, is playing with water and colours the next day or on Rang Panchami.
However, for kids in India, the fun is dampened a bit though, thanks to the exam season, isn’t it??
Well, as you witness the Holi fire today evening, ruminate on this subhashitam -
अरणीन्थने जातु यो विरन्तुं न चेष्टते । स एव लभते वह्निमेवं सिद्धेरपि प्रथा ॥
It means –
अरणीन्थने जातु - While rubbing the fire-sticks,
यः विरन्तुं न चेष्टते - the one who does not stop (doing the act),
सः एव लभते वह्निम् । - he alone obtains fire.
एवं सिद्धेः अपि प्रथा । - The same is the case with Success.
Thus, to obtain Success, one should not give up on efforts. सुभषितकाराः (Subhashitakars) use such simple examples from daily life to drive home the point. We may no longer require the tedious process of rubbing sticks/stones to make fire, but those who have hosted or attended barbeque parties or camp-fires will have experienced the effort behind getting the initial fire going 😊
Whenever you are in the midst of something that is going to require consistent effort over a longer term – studying a difficult topic, preparing for a competitive exam, working on a mission-critical project, achieving health and fitness goals – remember this subhashitam. Only when you keep rubbing the flint consistently will you get fire!
As we light the Holika fire today evening, I pray that
ॐ महाज्वालाय विद्महे अग्निमध्याय धीमहि |
तन्नो अग्निः प्रचोदयात् ||
Om! We comprehend the Great Flame (Immense Brightness).
We meditate (reflect) upon the Agni-Devata in the centre.
May the Agni-Devata enlighten us.
।। ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः।।
सुभाषित आणि त्यांचे अर्थ या दोन्हीमुळे तुझ्या लिखाणाला एक वेगळीच धार येते
Nice one Praju
Like the Amul girl you are slso making a fine art of being topical n current.
Holi is indeed most vibrant n loud of our festivals. While the Holika Dahanni always looked FW to as one got roasted coconuts to eat....the colour oart always turned me off. But then to each his own.
Thanks for the subhashitam n the characteristics if fire....I always wondered at Anal n a few others that you have helped clarify
Thanks for one more good post