Why is the vrat of Govatsa Dwadashi perfomed before Dipavali?

1. Meaning of Divali i.e. Dipavali

The word Dipavali is derived from the confluence of ‘dip’ and ‘avali’. ‘Dip’ means a lamp. ‘Avali’ means a row. Thus, the meaning of Dipavali is ‘a row of lamps’. Among all the festivals, Dipavali holds utmost importance from both the social and religious viewpoints. ‘Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya’, i.e. ‘Go from darkness to light’ is the directive of Upanishads. When Sriram completed the 14-year exile in the forest and returned to Ayodhya, the subjects celebrated Dipotsav. Dipavali commenced since then.

2. Preparation for Dipavali

Long before the arrival of Dipavali, people start cleaning their houses. They get the houses painted. This not only increases the life of the premise but its attraction also. Along with cleanliness, all the family members buy new clothes. Various types of sweets are prepared. Sri Lakshmi is pleased when Dipavali is celebrated after the house is cleaned, purified and decorated in all respects and She then lives there on a permanent basis.

2.1 Rangolis drawn during Dipavali

There are two objectives of rangolis – expression of beauty and acquisition of auspiciousness. Every day such rangolis should be drawn as would attract the Principles of Deities and through them we should acquire the benefit of the Deities Principles.

2.2 Lighting oil lamps

During Dipavali oil lamps are lit every evening in front of Deities, the Tulasi plant and other places like the main door and courtyard. Nowadays candles or electric lamps are lit; but according to Scriptures it is appropriate and beneficial to light oil lamps. The oil lamp attracts sattvik frequencies from up to one meter. As against this, a candle emits raja-tama particles, whereas the electric lamp makes our attitude extrovert.

2.3 Lantern (Akashadip or Akashakandil)

Various artistic objects are prepared with coloured craft paper, thermocol etc. and an electric lamp is hanged in it. It is called akashadip or akashakandil.

2.4 Dwellings and castles made by children during Dipavali

During Dipavali in some places in North Bharat, children make a dwelling of mud in the courtyard which is called ‘Hatari’ at some places and ‘Gharkunda’ at other places. In Maharashtra children make castles and place the idols of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his soldiers. Thus an attitude of resurrection of the nation and Dharma is nurtured among the children.

2.5 Dipavali greeting cards

On the auspicious occasion of Dipavali, people send greeting cards and also present gifts. The more sattvik these items, the higher is the benefit to the giver and the receiver. If the message of the greeting cards and gifts is associated with religious education, awakening of Dharma or religious conduct, the person receiving them gets inspiration to take some action in that direction. Such greeting cards are being made by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha.

2.6 Firecrackers

Bursting firecrackers is an effort to enhance the splendour of the festival through the medium of gun powder! Compared to this, the harm it causes is much more.
The most important aspect is that there is no spiritual importance of firecrackers. Hence, do not burst firecrackers. Nowadays there are pictures of Deities and national heroes on the firecrackers, for example, Lakshmi brand bomb, Krushna brand bomb, Netaji brand firecracker etc. By bursting such firecrackers we tear the pictures of Deities and trample upon our own faith. This causes our spiritual loss also.
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is spearheading a movement along with other like-minded organisations like Sanatan Sanstha in this regard. You too participate in it.

3. Govatsa Dwadashi or Vasubaras

Govatsa Dwadashi is the day to worship the cow along with her calf.

3.1 Importance of cow

A. Cow is a very useful animal: The cow, who is sattva-predominant, nourishes the society with her milk and lends fertility to the soil with the manure of her dung, is worthy of worship everywhere. The Hindus call the cow as Mother with gratitude. Where there is protection and nurture of cow, the person, society and nation do not lack in prosperity.
B. Principles of all Deities are attracted in the cow: Bhagwan Srikrushna is fond of cows. Dattatreya is also accompanied by a cow. The feature of the cow is that it attracts the Principles of all the Deities. Hence, it is said that all Deities dwell in the cow. The components obtained from the cow namely, milk, ghee, cow-dung or cow’s urine have the Principle of Deities accumulated in them.
C. The premise is purified by cow urine: Most of the Ayurvedic medicines contain cow urine. By sprinkling the cow urine in the premise, the destroyer frequencies of Deities’ Principles are emitted in the environment because of which the negative energies in the premise are driven away and the environment there becomes pure. The Panchagavya, that is, a mixture of five substances including cow urine, is important for internal and external purification during the ritual of worship.

3.2 Vrat associated with the cow

According to Shaka Samvat the day of Ashwin Krushna Dwadashi and according to Vikram Samvat, Kartik Krushna Dwadashi is called Govatsa Dwadashi.
Spiritual importance of Govatsa Dwadashi:

3.3 Fasting under Govatsa Dwadashi

This vrat is done by consuming one meal. However, in the meal cow milk and the dishes made from it and fried foods like bhujiya, pakaudi etc. are not consumed.

3.4 Science underlying the worship of cow in the morning or evening on Govatsa Dwadashi

In the morning or evening the frequencies of Sri Vishnu in manifest form are attracted in the cow in higher proportion. These frequencies accelerate the unmanifest frequencies of Sri Vishnu in 10 % more proportion.

3.5 Worship of cow

After the worship, the cow should again be paid obeisance with spiritual emotion. If for any reason the worship of cow with sixteen substances is not possible, we can worship with five substances also. The worship of cow teaches us to view Divine Principle in every animate and inanimate object. The person observing a vrat acquires all the pleasures of life.

Why is it necessary to change the diet as per the season?

1. Research conducted on the diet on the basis of electrosomatographic science

With the help of modern scientific technology, Sanatan Sanstha conducts research to verify the spiritual inferences. Electrosomatographic scanning is a technique in which with help of computerised systems, we obtain readings about bioelectric regulatory zones associated with the seven Kundalini chakras of Muladhar, Swadhisthan, Manipur, Anahat, Vishuddha, Adnya and Sahasrar. These readings are available in the form of bar graph diagrams and unit statistics. These will be henceforth referred to as ‘readings related to seven chakras’.
In the experiment, basic readings were taken about the seeker’s seven chakras. In the first experiment the seeker consumed a non-vegetarian diet and in the second experiment he consumed a vegetarian diet after the basic readings were taken. After consuming both types of diets, readings were noted after every 1-4 hours till the original state was reached.
In both the experiments, attention was paid to the proportion and direction of the changes in the statistical readings associated with the seven chakras, after the diet was consumed when compared to the original readings taken before the consumption of specific diets. If the statistical difference is more than ten, then the inference is considered significant.
When the change in the reading is in a negative direction as compared to the original, it  implies that the specific chakra is becoming more inactive. When the change in the reading is in a positive direction as compared to the original reading, it implies that  the inactiveness of the specific chakra is reducing.

1.1 An experiment after consumption of a non-vegetarian diet

The bar diagram given below demonstrates the seeker’s original reading before he consumed a non-vegetarian diet.


In this, the readings related to all the seven chakras are presented collectively in the form of bars. From the left the bar diagram is about Muladhar, Swadhisthan, Manipur, Anahat, Vishuddha, Adnya and Sahasrar chakras respectively. Readings associated with the chakras are mentioned in the table. Muladhar minus thirteen, Swadhisthan minus seventeen, Manipur minus fifteen, Anahat minus thirty, Vishuddha minus thirty-two, Adnya minus thirty-seven and Sahasrar minus thirty-five.
Below is the bar diagram 21 hours and 16 minutes after the seeker consumed a non-vegetarian diet. In this too the names of chakras are presented as in the earlier diagram.

In this example, the change that has occurred in the seven chakras on consumption of non-vegetarian diet is significant. The readings show that after the seeker consumed a non-vegetarian diet, the inactiveness of all his chakras increased. A non-vegetarian diet is Tama-dominant. Its consumption generates black energy in the body. Thus, the inactiveness of the chakras increases. As a result, the person may experience various physical, mental and intellectual distress. The inference is that consuming a non-vegetarian diet is harmful.

1.2 An experiment after consumption of a vegetarian diet

The bar diagram given below demonstrates the seeker’s original reading before he consumed a vegetarian diet.

The bar diagram below has been taken 3 hours and 57 minutes after the seeker consumed a vegetarian diet. In this also the names of chakras have been shown as in the earlier graph.

In this example, the change taken place in the seven chakras on consumption of vegetarian diet is significant. After consumption of vegetarian diet, the inactiveness of all the chakras of the seeker is decreased. The vegetarian diet being Sattva-dominant, due to the increased proportion of Sattva attribute caused by vegetarian diet the inactiveness of the chakras is reduced because of which the person experiences lightness, enthusiasm and pleasantness. The inference is that consuming a vegetarian diet is beneficial.

2. Rules about diet

In Hindu Dharma every action has been determined taking into consideration man’s physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual development. Rules about diet have also been formulated keeping in mind these objectives. Following is the information regarding the same as given in Hindu Scriptures.

2.1 Reason for formulating rules about a vegetarian diet and its association with Vowed religious observances, ethics and penance

If one wants to inculcate certain qualities, one should consume food accordingly for twelve years. This will facilitate the inculcation of specific qualities. Keeping in mind this tenet, authors of the Scriptures have formulated some rules about diet. Following these rules in daily life for three years is considered as ‘Vowed religious observance’. If followed for seven years it is a ‘rule’ and if for twelve years, then it is ‘penance’.

2.2 Some rules of diet according to the seasons

In day-to-day life, fresh and hot food should be consumed. Climactic changes in each season influence man’s physique, mind, intellect and his entire lifestyle. Hence it is beneficial to make changes in our diet according to seasonal changes. In a vast country like Bharat, the climate and seasons vary in North Bharat and South Bharat. This difference needs to be kept in mind while observing dietary rules pertaining to the seasons.
Appropriate diet for the spring season (Vasant): During the spring season there is an increase in the Kapha-dosh. So items which are easy to digest, dry, bitter, astringent and pungent such as green gram, fenugreek, bitter gourd, radish, raw turmeric,  pepper and dried ginger should be consumed. In spring season, it is beneficial to avoid a diet which contains sweet, sour and salty items or if at all, to consume them in small quantity. During this season, it is very healthy to adhere to the rule of not consuming salt.
Diet fit for summer season (Grishma): Digestive energy decreases during the summer season. So a diet which is easy to digest, mild, sweet, sour and juicy, and contains items such as milk, butter, ghee, coriander, cumin seed, cardamom is beneficial. Drinking more water is also beneficial.
Diet fit for rainy season (Varsha): There is possibility of increase in Kapha-dosh during the rainy season. Hence it is beneficial to consume food items such as millet, rice, lady  fingers, lemon, ginger, garlic, turmeric, coconut, sesame oil, milk and milk products.
Diet fit for autumn season (Sharad): Due to heat during autumn season the bile (Pitta-dosh) defect increases. Hence one should consume sweet, bitter and juicy diet, old grains, green gram, pulse of gram, fenugreek, cucumber, cabbage, spinach and light diet such as vermicelli / apple, banana, jamun etc.
Diet fit for winter season (Hemant): Digestive energy increases during the winter season. So it is beneficial to consume new grains, green gram, sesame, black gram, carrot, custard apple, dry fruits, ghee, all kinds of spices and food which is tasty and oily.
Diet fit for cold season (Shishir): In the cold season too digestive energy is optimum. During this season, it is beneficial to consume sweet, sour and salty diet such as sesame, green peas, brinjal, beat, fenugreek, spinach, pomegranate, dry fruits, milk and milk products, butter milk along with new grains.

2.3 Some common rules about diet

About consumption of diet, Maharshi Charakacharya says in the Charaksanhita :
So long as man eats because of desire, his subtle body is nurtured, but then he can fall ill if he eats in spite of lack of desire. Eating food in a quantity sufficient for the body’s needs prevents illness. This is a spiritual practice in itself.