Holi or
Holika
:
the
origin
Holi
or Holika, also called holikotsava, is an extremely popular festival
observed throughout the country (India). It is especially marked by
unmixed gaiety and frolics and is common to all sections of the
people.
This festival is
very ancient. Known originally as ‘Holika’ it has been mentioned
in very early religious works such as Jaimini’s
Purvamimamsa-sutras and Kathaka-grhya-sutras. It must have therefore
existed several centuries before Christ. It was at first actually a
special rite performed by married women for the happiness and
well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was the deity
worshipped by them.
There are two ways
of reckoning a lunar month: purnimanta and amanta. In the former,
the first day starts after the full moon; and in the latter, after
the new moon. Though the latter reckoning is more common now, the
former was very much in vogue in the earlier days. According to this
purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima was the last day of the year
and the new year heralding the Vasanta-rtu (with spring starting
from next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually
became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the
spring season. This perhaps explains the other names of this
festival: Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.
According to the
stories in the Puranas and various local legends, this day is
important for three reasons.
-
It was on this
day that Lord Siva opened his third eye and reduced Kamadeva
(the god of love, Cupid or Eros) to ashes.
-
It was on this
day that Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakasyapu,
who tried to kill the child devotee Prahlad by taking him on her
lap and sitting on a pyre of wood which was set ablaze. Holika
was burnt to ashes while Prahlad remained unscathed!
-
It was again on
this day that an ogress called Dhundhi, who was troubling the
children in the kingdom of Prthu (or Raghu) was made to run away
for life, by the shouts and pranks of the mischievous boys.
Though she had secured several boons that made her almost
invincible, this – noise, shouts, abuses and pranks of boys
– was a chink in her armour due to a curse of Lord Siva. The
day itself came to be called ‘Adada’ or ‘Holika’ since
then.
There are
practically no religious observances for this day like fasting or
worship. Generally a log of wood will be kept in a prominent public
place on the Vasantapanchami day (Magha Sukla Panchami), almost 40
days before the Holi Festival. An image of Holika with child
Prahlada in her lap is also kept on the log. Holika’s image is
made of combustible materials whereas Prahlada’s image is made of
non-combustible ones. People go on throwing twigs of trees and any
combustible material they can spare, on to that log which gradually
grows into a sizable heap. On the night of Phalguna Purnima, it is
set alight in a simple ceremony with the Raksoghna Mantras of the
Rgveda (4.4.1-15; 10.87.1-25 and so on) being sometimes chanted to
ward off all evil spirits. (Coconuts and coins are thrown into this
bonfire).The next morning the ashes from the bonfire are collected
as prasad (consecrated material) and smeared on the limbs of the
body. Singed coconuts, if any are also collected and eaten.
In some houses the
image of Kamadeva is kept in the yard and a simple worship is
offered. A mixture of mango blossoms and sandalwood paste is
partaken as the prasad.
The day- Phalgun
krsna pratipad – is observed as a day of revelry especially by
throwing on one another gulal or coloured water or perfumed coloured
powder. Throwing of mud or earth dust was prevalent in the earlier
days also, but among the low culture groups.
Instead of the gay
and frenzied celebrations that are witnessed elsewhere in the
country, Bengal observes this festival in a quiet and dignified
manner as Dolapurnima or Dolayatra (the festival of the swing). The
festival, said to have been initiated by the king Indradyumna in
Vrndavana, is spread over 3 or 5 days, starting from the sukla
Chaturdasi of Phalguna. A celebration in honour of Agni and worship
of Govinda (Krsna) in image on a swing are the important features.
The fire kindled on the first day is to be preserved till the last
day. The swing is to be rocked 21 times at the end of the festival.
The day is also
celebrated as the birthday of Sri Krsna Chaitanya (A.D. 1486-1533),
mostly in Bengal, as also in Puri (Orissa), Mathura and Vrndavan (in
Uttar Pradesh).
By Swami
Harshananda
Ramakrishna Math, Bangalore
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