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In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is maintained continuously (akhanda deepa). All auspicious functions and moments like daily worship, rituals and festivals and even many social occasions like inaugurations commence with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.
? Why do we light a lamp?
Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness ignorance. The Lord is the “Knowledge Principle” (cbaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshipped as the Lord Himself
Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.
Knowledge backs all our actions whether good or bad. We therefore keep a lamp lit during all auspicious occasions as a witness to our thoughts and actions.
Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.
A single lamp can light hundreds more just as a man of knowledge can give it to many more. The brilliance of the lights does not diminish despite its repeated use to light many more lamps. So too knowledge does not lessen when shared with or imparted to others. On the contrary it increases in clarity and conviction on giving. It benefits both the receiver and the giver.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:
Deepjyotibi parabrabma
Deep sarva tamopababa
Deepena saadbyate sarvam
Sandhyaa deepo namostute
I prostrate to the dawn/dusk’lamp,whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord),which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life.
Which else shall beautify a home
But the flame of a lovely lamp?
Which else shall adorn the mind
But the light of wisdom deep?
- Swami Chinmayananda
Thus this custom contains a wealth of intellectual and spiritual meaning
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| Author: SajithkumarS 13 Feb 2008 | Member Level: Diamond Points : 3 |
shubhaM karoti kalyaaNaM
aarogyaM dhanasaMpadaa .
shatrubudhdivinaashaaya
diipajyoti namo.astute ..
I salute the One who is the lamplight,
that brings auspiciousness, prosperity, good health,
abundance of wealth, and the destruction of the intellect's enemy
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