Have you ever heard a story so pure and powerful it sticks with you forever. That's exactly what the tale of Poli Swargam is like. It’s a beautiful tradition that caps off the holy month of Karthika Masam, where women release tiny lamps on banana stems into rivers and ponds. This simple act is tied to an incredible story of a young woman named Poli, whose unwavering faith shone brighter than any obstacle thrown her way.
Key Highlights
- ✓ The story of Poli, a young daughter-in-law whose pure devotion was tested by her jealous mother-in-law.
- ✓ Poli Padyami is celebrated on the first day of Margasira Masam, right after Karthika Amavasya.
- ✓ The tradition involves releasing lamps (deepams) on banana stems, known as arati dappalu, into water bodies.
- ✓ Poli was rewarded with a celestial vehicle, the Pushpaka Vimanam, to take her to heaven (Swargam) due to her sincere faith.
- ✓ Lighting 30 wicks on this day is believed to grant the same merit as observing rituals for the entire Karthika Masam.
The Dawn of Poli Padyami
The day is known as Poli Padyami, and it falls on the first day of the Margasira month, right after the Karthika Amavasya (new moon night). It’s a sight to behold. In the quiet, pre-dawn hours, women head to nearby rivers, ponds, or even wells. They carry with them slight lamps carefully placed on pieces of banana stems, or arati dappalu.
As they gently release these lamps onto the water, the flickering flames dance on the surface, slowly drifting away. It looks like a constellation of stars has descended from the heavens. This beautiful ritual is more than just a tradition; it’s a re-enactment of a story that teaches us about the power of pure, untainted devotion—what is known as nishkalmashamaina bhakti. It's worth noting that The act itself is called 'sending Poli to heaven'.
A Story of Faith and Family
So, who was this Poli. The story goes that long ago, there lived a family with a mother-in-law, her sons, and their wives. One version tells of a washerwoman family (chakali stree) with four daughters-in-law, while another mentions a large joint family with five. In both tales, the youngest daughter-in-law was a gentle and deeply devout soul named Poli.
Poli’s sincere love for God, however, became a source of intense jealousy for her mother-in-law. The older woman couldn't stand the thought of anyone in the house being more pious than herself. So, she made it her mission to prevent Poli from performing any pujas, vratas, or rituals. She would burden Poli with all the household chores, ensuring she had no time for prayer.
When the auspicious Karthika Masam arrived, the mother-in-law would wake up her other daughters-in-law and head to the river for the holy dip and to light lamps. But she always, without fail, left Poli behind. Day after day, Poli longed to participate, her heart aching to light just one deepam for the gods, but she was never given the chance.
A Secret Lamp in the Dark
But Poli’s spirit was not so easily broken. She was determined to offer her prayers. One day, after her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law had left for the river, she came up with a plan. She quietly went to the backyard, where she found a cotton plant. She carefully plucked a bit of cotton and rolled it into a wick (vatti).
For oil, she couldn't take from the house storage, so she scraped a little bit of butter (venna) from a churning pot. With her makeshift wick and butter, she went to the slight well in the backyard, took a quick bath, and lit her humble lamp. But she knew her mother-in-law would be furious if she saw it. So, to hide the flame, she covered the lamp with a large basket or a vessel (gampa).
Every single day for the entire month of Karthikam, she performed this secret ritual. While her family performed grand rites at the river, Poli offered her simple, heartfelt prayer in the solitude of her backyard, her devotion hidden but burning brightly under a basket. This act, born of pure intent and resourcefulness, did not go unnoticed by the heavens.
The Divine Reward for a Pure Soul
The month culminated on the day after Karthika Amavasya. As usual, Poli finished her chores and lit her secret lamp. But this time, something extraordinary happened. The gods, moved by her unwavering and pure devotion that overcame so many hurdles, sent a divine celestial vehicle, a Pushpaka Vimanam, down from the heavens to her home.
Just as the mother-in-law and the other women were returning from the river, they saw the gleaming Vimanam descending. Their hearts swelled with pride, assuming it had come for them as a reward for their month-long rituals. You can imagine their shock when the celestial beings announced they were there for Poli.
As Poli was invited aboard, her stunned family members, realizing their mistake, rushed forward. In a desperate attempt to go to heaven with her, they tried to grab onto her feet. But it was no use. The deities gently explained that heaven isn't earned by ritual alone. It was Poli's sincere, selfless, and untainted devotion—her nishkalmashamaina bhakti—that had earned her this divine honor.
Poli's Legacy: A Light for All Time
And that's why, to this day, the first day of Margasira is celebrated as Poli Padyami. The act of releasing lamps on the water symbolizes sending Poli to heaven and honoring her memory. It serves as a beautiful reminder that God accepts any offering made with a pure heart, no matter how slight or simple.
What’s more, the Karthika Puranam states that for those who couldn't perform the lamp-lighting ritual every day during the month, there's still a chance. It is believed that lighting at least 30 wicks together on Poli Padyami grants a person the same amount of merit (punyam) as if they had done it for the entire month. It's a wonderful message of hope and inclusion, echoing the very spirit of Poli herself.
Conclusion
The story of Poli is so much more than a simple folktale. It’s a profound lesson on what truly matters in faith. It’s not about grand gestures or being seen by others; it’s about the sincerity and purity of your heart. Poli’s simple, hidden lamp, lit with devotion against all odds, outshone all the other lamps at the river. Her story continues to inspire countless people, reminding us that a pure soul will always find its light, and that divine grace recognizes truth above all else.
