Post by subi24 on Nov 18, 2013 21:11:21 GMT 5.5
Yesterday was Karthigai - a special day when we had special earthen lamps in our homes.
Why do we light lamps on Karthigai? Maha Periva explains beautifully the idea behind lighting of Kaartigai Deepam.
We light up a series of earthen lamps on the day of the star of Kruttika in the month of Kaartigai. At that time we have to sing this slokam as given in the saasthraas:-
मसगास्च वृक्चा:जले स्थले ये निवसन्ति जीवाः I
दृष्ट्वा प्रदीपं न च जन्म भवन्ति नित्यं सस्वबावसा हि विप्रः II
keedaa: patangaa: masagaascha vrukchaa: jale stale ye nivasanti jeevaa: I
drushtvaa pradeepam na cha janma baajaa bavanti nityam svabasaa hi vipraa: II
Meaning:
"We pray that, whosoever sees this lamp that we are lighting, they be worms, birds or mosquitoes or trees and such plants; all life forms which live in water or on earth; or may be human beings of whatever caste or creed; seeing this light may have the effect on them that all their sins are washed away and they may transcend the cycle of life and death and reach ever lasting happiness"!
Not only life forms in land and water. By saying 'patangaa:' (birds) and 'masakaa:' (mosquitoes) all flying birds and insects have been included. Though they fly in the air, the mosquitoes lay the eggs in water only. Birds similarly have to come down to a nest to rest and lay eggs. There are fishes which can live only in water while some animals like frogs and crocodiles which are equally adept in land and water. Having identified each such variety, the prayer is for cancellation of all their sins and crossing over the ocean of life.
This Kaartigai Deepam seen by any of these life forms may give them ever lasting merit, it is prayed! The word 'drushtvaa' in the slokam means, 'having been seen'. 'Vruksham' the tree is also mentioned. The tree cannot see. As per science, the plants do have some senses. But, we do not know if they have any capacity to see. They do differentiate between sunlight and shadow and grow towards the sunlight! I feel that the interpretation is that, it does not matter even if they cannot see or do not see this light. The prayer is that, still the effect of cancellation of all sins should be there!
As light does not differentiate between people; between all castes, creeds and sects; between birds, animals, plants and insects; between mobile (jangama) and static (staavara) life forms; the Love from our hearts should be universally applicable and effective! With such inner intention, the outer earthen lamp should be lighted, with the prayer as quoted above to make the Kaartigai Deepam effective.
Extracts from Deivathin Kural (Tamizh)
Why do we light lamps on Karthigai? Maha Periva explains beautifully the idea behind lighting of Kaartigai Deepam.
We light up a series of earthen lamps on the day of the star of Kruttika in the month of Kaartigai. At that time we have to sing this slokam as given in the saasthraas:-
मसगास्च वृक्चा:जले स्थले ये निवसन्ति जीवाः I
दृष्ट्वा प्रदीपं न च जन्म भवन्ति नित्यं सस्वबावसा हि विप्रः II
keedaa: patangaa: masagaascha vrukchaa: jale stale ye nivasanti jeevaa: I
drushtvaa pradeepam na cha janma baajaa bavanti nityam svabasaa hi vipraa: II
Meaning:
"We pray that, whosoever sees this lamp that we are lighting, they be worms, birds or mosquitoes or trees and such plants; all life forms which live in water or on earth; or may be human beings of whatever caste or creed; seeing this light may have the effect on them that all their sins are washed away and they may transcend the cycle of life and death and reach ever lasting happiness"!
Not only life forms in land and water. By saying 'patangaa:' (birds) and 'masakaa:' (mosquitoes) all flying birds and insects have been included. Though they fly in the air, the mosquitoes lay the eggs in water only. Birds similarly have to come down to a nest to rest and lay eggs. There are fishes which can live only in water while some animals like frogs and crocodiles which are equally adept in land and water. Having identified each such variety, the prayer is for cancellation of all their sins and crossing over the ocean of life.
This Kaartigai Deepam seen by any of these life forms may give them ever lasting merit, it is prayed! The word 'drushtvaa' in the slokam means, 'having been seen'. 'Vruksham' the tree is also mentioned. The tree cannot see. As per science, the plants do have some senses. But, we do not know if they have any capacity to see. They do differentiate between sunlight and shadow and grow towards the sunlight! I feel that the interpretation is that, it does not matter even if they cannot see or do not see this light. The prayer is that, still the effect of cancellation of all sins should be there!
As light does not differentiate between people; between all castes, creeds and sects; between birds, animals, plants and insects; between mobile (jangama) and static (staavara) life forms; the Love from our hearts should be universally applicable and effective! With such inner intention, the outer earthen lamp should be lighted, with the prayer as quoted above to make the Kaartigai Deepam effective.
Extracts from Deivathin Kural (Tamizh)