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The festival celebrated on the Chaturdashi date of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month is known as Roop Chaudas, Narak Chaturdashi and popularly known as ‘Chhoti Diwali’. This holy festival, which falls just a day before Diwali, has a very deep spiritual and astrological significance in Sanatan Dharma. On this day, special worship is done to the god of death Yamraj, Lord Shri Krishna, Hanuman ji and Mata Mahalakshmi. According to religious texts and Puranas, it is prescribed to light lamps at a total of 14 special places inside and outside the house on the evening of Chhoti Diwali. It is believed that the person who lights lamps at these fourteen places with proper rituals, ‘Alakshmi’ in the form of poverty is destroyed from his house and the family members are protected from the fear of untimely death. The fourteen lamps lit on this special night not only remove darkness but also bring positive energy in life and the blessing of protection of life.
According to the scriptures, there is a certain and sacred tradition of lighting fourteen lamps (Yam Chaudas Diyas) for the sake of Yama on the evening of Chhoti Diwali. Let us know which are those 14 places where ghee or mustard oil lamps must be lit in the evening. The first lamp is placed on both sides of the main entrance of the house so that negative forces do not enter. The second lamp is kept in the home temple or place of worship. The third lamp is in the kitchen, the fourth at the water pot or place of drinking water (Pitra Sthan), the fifth near the Tulsi plant of the house, the sixth under the Peepal tree, the seventh in an ancient temple near the house, the eighth near the garbage dump or dustbin, the ninth near the bathroom or bathroom, the tenth on the parapet of the roof of the house, the eleventh on the stairs of the house, the twelfth in the darkest corner of the house, the thirteenth at the crossroads (Yama Chaumukhi Diya (fourteenth lamp in the name of) and the fourteenth lamp is lit remembering one’s Ishtadev or family deity. By lighting these fourteen places, all types of Vaastu defects in the house automatically get pacified.
The time for worshiping Yamraj and donating lamps on the night of Chhoti Diwali is considered to be just after sunset. On this day in the evening, after pouring mustard oil in an old earthen lamp, adding some black sesame seeds and cowries, the lamp is lit in the name of Yamraj, facing the south direction, which is also called ‘Yam ka Diya’. It is believed that by doing this Lord Yamraj is pleased and no member of the family is in danger of untimely death. Along with this, there is also a special ritual of taking bath on the day of Roop Chaudas before sunrise in the morning by applying ubtan on the body and rotating the leaves of Apamarg (Chirchita) over the head, due to which all the diseases and sins of the body are destroyed. This holy festival of Chhoti Diwali gives us the message of cleanliness, health and positivity, hence on this day we must light these fourteen lamps with full devotion and pray for the bright future and longevity of our family.