Roop Choudas or Kali Choudas or Narak Chaturdashi

Roop Choudas is celebrated just one day before Deepawali. Kali Chaturdashi, Chhoti Deewali, and Narak Chaturdashi are other monikers of the festival. Roop means beauty, and Chaturdashi means the fourteenth day of the Kartik month.

As per belief, lighting lamps for Yamraj, lamp donation, and puja relieve a person from all kinds of suffering, sins, and fear of premature death. Narak Chaturdashi has special significance in Sanatan Dharma.

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Roop Choudas Day and Muhurt

As per the Hindu calendar, Roop Choudas is celebrated on the Chaturdashi Tithi of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month. This year, it is falling on November 3, 2021, Wednesday. The best time for puja is from 01:33 pm to 02:17 pm (Vijay Muhurt).

Mythology about Naraka Chaturdashi

It is called Narak Chaturdashi because Lord Krishna assassinated a tyrannical demon named Narakasur and liberated sixteen thousand and one hundred girls from the prison of the demon. With the cooperation of Satyabhama, Shri Krishna tied the knot with all of these girls to restore their honor in society.

Narakasur was the ruler of Pragjyotishpur, and Satyabhama was Krishna's wife. Brahma blessed Narakasur that he can be killed by a woman only. Narakasur defeated Indra Dev and stole the earring of Aditi, heavenly mother Goddess. Satyabhama was a relative of Aditi. Satyabhama sought permission from Krishna to fight a battle with Narakasura. Narakasura targeted Krishna and hurt him. Satyabhama used all her might to kill the demon. Krishna proclaimed the killing of Narkasura with bloodstains on his forehead. Kingdom celebrated the death of Narakasura.

Story of Ranti Dev

As per the legend, an angel of death(Yamdoot) arrived to take the life of king Ranti Dev. Ranti Dev told them why was he being taken to hell instead of heaven when he had not committed any sins in his lifetime. Yamdoot attributed it to the sin of returning hungry Brahmins empty-handed from his doorsteps. The king requested one year from the angel of death(yamdoot) to atone for his sins. Rishis advised him to observe a fast and feed the Brahmins. Eventually, the king got a place in Vishnu Lok.

Association with Hanuman

Once baby Hanuman was very hungry and he mistook the sun for fruit and gulped it in his mouth. The entire universe went dark. Indra Dev asked Hanuman to release the sun. Hanuman refused Indra Dev. Indra got infuriated and unleashed his Vajra to knock down Hanuman and release the sun. Hanuman worship on this day protects us from evil. Flowers, sindoor, sandalwood, and oil are offered to the deity. Sweets of coconut, rice, and sesame seed are distributed as Prasad.

Worship System

Several rituals are followed on Narak Chaturdashi. Devotees decorate the house with rangoli, colorful lights, and earthen lamps. Firecrackers are let off in a joyous environment.

Abhyanga Snan is a ritual of taking bath before sunrise after applying unction(ubtan) of herbs, flowers oil, turmeric, and gram flour. Applying henna and beauty treatment is auspicious on the eve of Roop Choudas. Wear new apparel after taking bath. Men prefer to rub fragrant oil on the skin. The use of Kajal(lampblack) on the forehead saves you from evil eyes.

As per rituals, people pay obeisance to Vishnuji for the attainment of beauty, and Yamraj worship dispels the fear of premature death. Oil, flowers, and sandalwood are used in puja. Maa kali is worshipped during muhurt to defeat enemies. She is offered coconut, betel nuts, camphor, turmeric powder, and vermillion after lighting earthen lamps.

Put wick in a four-faced lamp and 16 small lamps on a plate and light all the lamps. Worship the deities with roli, jaggery, kheel, incense sticks, abir, gulal, etc. Keep all the lamps at different places in the home.

Importance of Roop Choudas

• The eldest of the family lights Yama Diya takes it around the whole house and keeps it far off the house. During this time, all other family members stay in the home. It drives out all the evil forces from the house.
• The worship of Yamraj protects you from premature death.
• Lord Krishna bestows beauty to a person who observes fast on Roop Choudas.
• This is a good time to learn the occult(tantra).
• Some people worship Kul Devi and offer food to deceased ancestors.

Harry Suyal is a seasoned digital journalist based out of Dehradun. He is specialized in researching and publishing Dehradun News stories, articles, local news, analysis, opinion, and special reports.