As per our granthas, the time
calendar of humans and Devatas are different. One year corresponding to the manavas or humans is equivalent to one
day of the devatas. In other words 360 days of our time is equivalent to one
day of the Devatas.
On the Shukla Ekadashi of the
month of Ashada, the second part of the night of the Devatas begins. On this
auspicious day, known as the Shayani Ekadashi, Sri Vishnu goes to shayana or
sleep. This day marks the beginning of the Chaturmasya Vrata. The four months
of the Chaturmasas are the deepest parts of the night for the Devatas. Hence
the perceived ‘sleep’ of the Parabrahma.
Sri Narayana wakes up on the 12th
day of the Shukla Paksha of Kartika Masa. This day is known as Uttana Dwadashi,
and is celebrated grandly all over Bharata. So the duration between Shayani
Ekadashi and Uttana Dwadashi is the dark night of the Devatas.
Mahalakshmi is the devoted wife of
Narayana, and a pativrata. As per the
Shrutis and Agamas, a pativrata wife is supposed to wake up at least a muhurtha (roughly 48 minutes) before the
husband. Lakshmi, being the devoted spouse that she is, promptly wakes up one muhurtha before the Lord arises.
As humans, it is our custom to welcome anyone important by performing a “neerajana” or “arati” with diyas. Hence it is the custom of Hindus to worship Lakshmi with as many diyas/deepas as possible during Deepavali Amavasya.