Diwali katha (Lakshmi Puja katha)

The sahukar’s daughter and Lakshmi in the peepal tree

A folk tale, not found in any scripture. This telling is printed by Times Now Navbharat, India TV, News24, Republic Bharat, Bharatkosh and several devotional sites; their wording is so close that they look like one tradition printed many times.

As the folk tale is told, a sahukar, a village merchant of modest means, lived in a village. Every morning his daughter poured water at the roots of a peepal tree. Lakshmi lived in that very tree.

One day Lakshmi appeared before her and said, “Will you be my friend?” The girl answered humbly, “I will ask my father and tell you.” At home she told her father everything, and he agreed. The next day she told Lakshmi that she would be her friend.

Some days later Lakshmi invited her friend home and welcomed her grandly. She seated her on a golden chauki, served her many dishes in vessels of gold and silver, and wrapped a fine shawl around her as she left.

As the girl was leaving, Lakshmi asked, “Friend, when will you invite me to your home?” The girl’s heart sank. At home she kept thinking: she welcomed me like that, so where in my plain house will I seat her, and what will I feed her?

Her father saw she was sad and asked why, and she told him. He said, “Don’t worry, child. Clean the house well, draw a chauk in the courtyard, light a four-wick lamp and remember Lakshmi with all your heart.”

She did just that. While she was cleaning, a kite flying overhead dropped a queen’s precious necklace into her courtyard. She sold the necklace and with it got a golden chauki, a golden plate, a fine shawl and all that was needed for a meal, and made everything ready to welcome her friend.

Then Lakshmi came to her friend’s house, with Lord Ganesha. The girl welcomed them both lovingly, seated them with honour and fed them with her own hands. In some tellings Lakshmi declines the golden chauki, saying she does not sit on a royal seat, and sits on the ground instead.

Seeing the girl’s true love, Lakshmi was delighted. By her grace the sahukar’s house filled with wealth and grain, and the family never faced poverty again.

The katha closes with the belief that Lakshmi dwells in the home of whoever reads or hears this story on Diwali night.

Diwali night in the Skanda Purana: Bali’s boon and Lakshmi set free

As told in the Skanda Purana, Vaishnava Khanda, Kartik Masa Mahatmya, chapter 9, verses 49–55 and 72–100 (checked in G. V. Tagare’s English translation).

By the Skanda Purana, the Lord as Vamana had taken the earth from King Bali in three steps. Pleased with Bali’s giving, the Lord said, “Blessings on you; ask for whatever boon is in your mind.” Bali said, “What should I ask for myself? I have given everything away. I will ask for the people.”

Bali asked that, as the Lord had taken the earth in three steps, the earth be counted his kingdom for three days, Chaturdashi, Amavasya and Pratipada, and that Lakshmi dwell for ever in the homes of those who light lamps in this kingdom of his. The Lord granted it. That, the text says, is why these three days are a festival of lamps.

Of the Amavasya, the Skanda Purana says that on this day the devas were set free from Bali’s prison, and Lakshmi was released too. Free at last, the devas went with Lakshmi to the ocean of milk and slept long and peacefully. Rid of the fear of the daityas, Lakshmi slept without a care inside a lotus.

So, the text says, Lakshmi is worshipped on Amavasya night in a decorated pavilion, and a soft bed is made ready for her rest; she does not leave the house of one who makes her a bed of lotuses. Laddus made of cow’s milk with nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, camphor and sugar are offered to her. Before Lord Vishnu wakes, women wake Lakshmi, and then, by the text, she does not leave that house all year.

In the text even the daityas praise the sleeping Lakshmi: the brightness in the sun, the moon, fire and the stars is you; goddess who dwells in the flame of the lamp, we bow to you. Lamps are lit in the first part of the night, and trees of lamps are set up at temples, crossroads, riverbanks, cowsheds and houses.

When midnight has passed and people are asleep, the women of the town drive Alakshmi, poverty and misfortune, out of their courtyards with winnowing baskets (soop) and small drums (dindima). The Padma Purana (Uttara Khanda, chapter 122) also speaks of waking Lakshmi, the same hymn, and driving out Alakshmi with instruments and drums.