Deepavali – A Biblical Perspective

From  the 11th to the 15th of November 2013, millions in India and Hindus all over the world celebrate Deepavali (or Diwali) which means ‘The festival (row) of lights.’ Renowned Hindu author, Subhamoy Das in his article, “The Spiritual Significance of Diwali”,  published in Hinduism.about.com writes the following, under the section “Illuminate your inner self”.
“The light of lights, the self-luminous inner light of the Self is ever shining steadily in the chamber of your heart. … Fix the mind on this supreme light and enjoy the real Deepavali, by attaining illumination of the soul. … Celebrate the real Deepavali by living in Brahman (the inner self), and enjoy the eternal bliss of the soul. The sun does not shine there, nor do the moon and the stars, nor do lightnings shine and much less fire. All the lights of the world cannot be compared even to a ray of the inner light of the Self. Merge yourself in this light of lights and enjoy the supreme Deepavali. Many Deepavali festivals have come and gone. Yet the hearts of the vast majority are as dark as the night of the new moon. The house is lit with lamps, but the heart is full of the darkness of ignorance.
O man! Wake up from the slumber of ignorance. Realise the constant and eternal light of the Soul, which neither rises nor sets, through meditation and deep enquiry. May you all attain full inner illumination! May the supreme light of lights enlighten your understanding! …”

Closer scrutiny on the significance of Deepavali and correlating it with the Bible reveals some hidden treasures in the scriptures that reflect that the real meaning of Deepavali can be found in Jesus Christ, the Light of lights – the Light of the World (John 8:12).

The light of lights, the self-luminous inner light of the Self is ever shining steadily in the chamber of your heart
[Jesus, the Light of lights, said, ‘Behold I stand at the door (of your heart) and knock, If anyone hears my voice, let him/her open the door and I will come in and commune with him/her’ (Revelation 3:20)].

Fix the mind on this supreme light and enjoy the real Deepavali, by attaining illumination of the soul. [Let us fix the eyes (of the mind) on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross, despising its shame and is now seated at the right hand of God (Hebrews 12:2)]  

Celebrate the real Deepavali by living in Brahman (the inner self), and enjoy the eternal bliss of the soul.
[Jesus will keep in perfect peace (eternal bliss) whose minds are stayed on him (Isaiah 26:3)]

The sun does not shine there, nor do the moon and the stars, nor do lightnings shine and much less fire. All the lights of the world cannot be compared even to a ray of the inner light of the Self. Merge yourself in this light of lights and enjoy the supreme Deepavali.
[And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb (Jesus Christ) are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb (Jesus Christ) is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved (those who merge themselves with the Light of lights) shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. (Revelation 21:22-24)]

Yet the hearts of the vast majority are as dark as the night of the new moon. The house is lit with lamps, but the heart is full of the darkness of ignorance.
[In whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)]

O man! Wake up from the slumber of ignorance. Realise the constant and eternal light of the Soul, which neither rises nor sets, through meditation and deep enquiry. May you all attain full inner illumination! May the supreme light of lights enlighten your understanding! …
[Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids (Wake up) (Proverbs 6:4). Let our eyes prevent the night watches, that we might meditate in the word of God, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:148,105). May Jesus, the Light of lights, enlighten our understanding of the scripture (Luke 22:45)]

Points to ponder:
The real meaning of Deepavali is the light within one self. The Bible says, that Jesus Christ is the hidden treasure within our mere mortal bodies (jars of clay) (2 Corinthians 4:7). To all who believe in Jesus and to those who receive him, He comes into their lives, dispelling all the darkness (of sin and death). Now that you are illuminated with this knowledge, tarry no longer – the real meaning of Deepavali is Jesus Christ, the Light of this world and the one to come, within us.

Happy Deepavali or should I say, Blessed (happy) are those who have Jesus Christ within. Are you blessed/happy?

John 8:12 (KJV)
¹² Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Jeremiah 17:7 (KJV)
⁷ Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.