Who should perform Deepdan?
Deepdaan is a ritual that involves lighting oil lamps and floating them in water, and it has many spiritual and religious significance:
Good luck and happiness: Deepdaan is believed to bring good luck and happiness into the home.
Protection from premature death: Deepdaan is believed to help people avoid premature death. For example, on Dhanteras, people light a lamp outside their home to protect their family from untimely death.
Connection with the divine: Lighting a lamp is a way to connect with Lord Krishna and invite his presence into one's life.
Symbol of purity: The light from a lamp symbolizes purity and knowledge.
Offering gratitude: Lighting a lamp is a way to express gratitude for blessings received and to appreciate the divine presence in one's life.
Health, wealth, and prosperity: Deep daan is believed to bring health, wealth, and prosperity to one's family.
Dispelling darkness: Deep daan is performed to dispel darkness and bring forth light.
Deep daan is often performed in the month of Karthik, which is considered to be a very sacred month.
Yam Deep Daan-Why is Yamadipadan performed:
In Hindu mythological texts, Yama is described as the God of death. Yama is also called as Yamraj and Dharmaraja. The description of Yama is also found in detail in the Vedas. Yamraj rides the buffalo, known as Mahish. He is the God of death for all beings. He keeps a record of all the good and bad deeds of all beings. Yamraj is also said to be the Lord of the south direction, Dikpal.
Recite these names on Yamay Deepdan
Reciting the several names of Yama Dev at the time of Yamaya Deepdan is considered very auspicious. The main names of Yamaraja are as follows - Dharmaraja, Mrityu, Yama, Antak, Vaivasvat, Kaal, Sarvabhutakshya, Oudhubbar, Daghan, Neel, Chitragupta, Parmeshthi, Chitra and Vrokodar. He is worshiped by these names.
Yamay Deepdan Mythological Tale
There is a legend on Yama Deepdan which has been doing the rounds since ancient times. This story is related to Hansraj and Hemraj. The story goes like this - in ancient times there used to be a king. The name of that king was Hansraj. Once Raja Hansraj goes hunting with his soldiers. In search of a prey, the king ends up far ahead and gets separated from his soldiers.
While wandering in the forest, he sets out on an unknown route. He reaches the border of another state. This state was ruled by King Hemraj. Hemraj's soldiers capture Hansraj on the border and take him to their king. Hemraj does not punish Hansraj and rather offers his respects. There is a very festive mood in Hemraj’s kingdom as he was blessed with a son on that day itself. Hemraj decides to name the son Ratna. Hemraj requests Hansraj to stay until the celebration of the Chatti festival. Hansraj obeys the king and attends the Chatti.
All rituals come to an end of the Chatti of the child. An astrologer is called to predict the future of the child. As per that astrologer the child will be very bright, however, there will be a deep impact on his lifeline. The astrologer predicts the death of the child on the fourth day after marriage. This prediction saddens King Hemraj intensely.
Hansraj consoles Hemraj and tells him to not worry. He suggests making an underground palace for the prince. King Hemraj follows Hansraj’s advice. Slowly and steadily the prince grows up. One day King Hansraj's daughter reaches that place and sees the prince. The princess falls in love with the prince immediately. They go ahead and get married. When the parents are told about the marriage they inform the couple of the astrologer's prediction.
As predicted Yamdoot reaches to take away the prince on the fourth day of marriage. The Yamdoot too feels sad about separating the couple but remains helpless. The married woman mourns a lot. She begs him not to take her husband. The Yamdoot pities the wife and tells her that if she lights a lamp for Yamadev, then her husband can be protected. She follows the advice and lights a lamp in the south direction praying for her husband's survival.
As the princess performs the Yama Deepdaan the Yamdoot leaves without that prince. Yamraj questions the Yamdoot on the reason as to why he came empty handed. The Yamdoot then narrates the entire incident to Yamraj. Yamraj himself goes to visit the couple. Yamraj’s heart too melts when he sees the commitment of the princess and the Deepdaan. He blesses the newlyweds and frees the prince. From then on, donating a lamp for Yama brings an end to the fear of premature death and blesses the devotee with a long life.
In some places, the story differs a bit. The other side of the story is that the Yamdoot takes away the prince. The Yamdoot narrates the entire incident to Yamraj. The Yamraj also feels sad by the loss of the princess. He however does not give in and says that what has to be done should be done. As an alternative to prevent premature death he suggests a remedy. He says all those who, a person should observe a fast on the Teres, Chaturdashi and Yamadvatiya of Kartik Krishna Paksha and take a bath in Yamuna. One should worship Yama and perform Deepdaan. On doing so a person will be freed from the fear of premature death forever.