Post by kramans on Jan 10, 2012 9:43:56 GMT 5.5
Why do we do? - Why do we light a Lamp? Indian Traditions
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 commence with the
lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the
occasion.
Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness - ignorance. The Lord is
the "Knowledge Principle" (Chaitanya) who is the source, the
enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is
worshiped 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.
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 or
negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual
knowledge, the 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.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:
Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate 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.
– Sri Swami Chinmayananda (Chinmaya Mission)
In every Hindu home a lamp or ‘diya’ is lit daily before a Hindu deity
or any symbol associated with Hinduism. Many Hindus also perform
an ‘arati’ with the traditional oil lamp. The lamp is lit in the morning
or evening or both morning and evening. In some houses the lamp is
maintained continuously and is known Akhand Deep or Akhanda
Diya.
The light in the lamp symbolizes knowledge. It removes darkness,
which symbolizes ignorance. Thus light symbolizes Brahman.
The wick in the traditional oil lamp symbolizes ego and the oil or
ghee used symbolizes our negative tendencies. When we are lit by
self knowledge, the negative tendencies (oil) melt away and finally
the ego (wick) perishes. When the ego perishes, we realize that we
are all part of Brahman and that life is a continuity.
The lighting of ‘diya’ or lamp at home is considered highly
auspiciousness as it brings prosperity and good health. The daily
evening lamp lit at home also gives us an opportunity to ponder over
one’s omissions and commissions in a day.
Hinduism is not a religion but a way of Life. Unlike other religions,
Hindu Dharma has many specialities. This is not known as a religion,
it is known as the Dharma, Sanaathana Dharma. According to
Bhagavath Geeta, Sanaathana means which cannot be destroyed by
Fire, Weapons, Water, Air, and which is present in all living and nonliving
being. Dharma means, the way of life which is the "Total of all
aachaaraas or customs and rituals."
In almost every Indian home lamp / Villakku is lit daily before the
Altar of the Lord. In some house it is maintained continuously -
Akhanda Deepam. All auspicious function commence with the
lighting of the Villakku, which is often maintained throughout the
function.
Light symbolizes Knowledge and Darkness - Ignorance. The Lord is
the "Knowledge Principle" who is the source, the enlivener (An
agent that gives or restores life ) 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 our acievement can
be accomplished.Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knwlodge
as the greatest of all forms of wealth.
The Lamp has further spirutual significance. The Oil or ghee in the
lamp symbolises our Vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick
(Thiri) symbolises ego, When lit by spirutual knowledge, the
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.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray :
Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostute
Meaning of the Slokam : 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.
The following points to be noted while Lighting lamps :
• The lamp can be lit by Ghee or oil . Sesame oil / Gingely oil
destroys all evils. lighting with castor oil brings joy to the
relatives. We should not use Groundnut Oil.
• Neem oil, Ghee, Iluppai( A tree name..In English it is called as
Mahua ) oil gives wealth. For Kula Deivam - Ghee, Castoroil,
Neemoil, Coconutoil, Iluppaioil. For Goddess Mahalakshmi--
ghee. Lord Ganesha--coconut oil. Lord Narayana--sesame oil
• The Cotton wick (Thiri) is best as it would give Prosperity. And
wick made out of New Yellow cloth gives Devi's blessings.
• The Lamp lit towards the east removes Sorrow and Evil , West
removes Debt , Enemies.
• Always use two wicks for lighting the Lamp.
• After lighting the lamp dont rub the excess oil on your hair; (it
will make you loose your wealth) general beleif. Also rubbing in
your own dress is also not good.So keep a piece of cloth in your
pooja room and rub the excess oil in it .
• Never keep any lamp directly on the kolam. Always keep it on a
plate ( can be brass, silver not steel).
• If you like keep a few grains of raw rice below the lamp - this is
necessary only when you do vilakku poojai etc & not necessary
everyday.
• As soon as you finish namaskarams, shlokas etc, it is
customary to keep a dot of milk on either side of the burning
lamp after which you can put it off. After it burns for a
minimum 30 mts, you can put it off, there is nothing wrong.
• After head bath, one should remove the head towel before even
lighting the lamp .
• Lemon (Elumichai) vilakku lighting should not be done at home
at all. It is to be lighted only in temples. There is no harm in
lighting the usual villakku at rahu kalam & chanting Durga
shlokams, particularly on tuesday & friday at home.
Source : www.indusladies.com
In every Hindu household it is customary to light the deepam (
lamp) twice, both in the morning and evening. This is usually done in
the prayer room before the deity. Our daily worship starts with the
lighting of the lamp. All auspicious functions, religious as well as
social, start with the lighting of the lamp. This custom has deep
intellectual and spiritual significance.
Primarily deepam signifies knowledge. All our activities should be
governed by the light of knowledge, especially the knowledge of
dharma. By this knowledge, ignorance or darkness is dispelled. We
bow to knowledge which is the greatest wealth in our lives.
Knowledge also backs our good as well as bad actions. So, the lamp
which is kept lit for all auspicious occasions, is a witness to our
thoughts and actions.
Chinmayananda says
"Where there is light, darkness cannot be;
Where knowledge has come, ignorance must quit."
The following shlokas, chanted while lighting a deepam, say it all.
1 - Deepajyotih param brahma deepajyotih janaardhanah
Deepo harathu me paapam sandhyaa deepo namo(a)stutae
The light of the lamp stands for the Unmanifest Truth as well as for
Lord Vishnu in His manifest form. Let that light of lamp remove my
sins, results of omissions and commissions.
2 - Shubham karoti kalyaanam aarogyam dhanasampadaha
Shatru buddhi vinaas(h)aaya deepajyotih namo(a)stutae
I salute the Supreme who is the light in the lamp that brings
auspiciousness, prosperity,
good health, abundance of wealth and the destruction of Intellect's
enemy.
3 - Suvarna vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri
Sudhaanya vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri
Kalyaana vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri
Vibhoothi vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri
I pray to Goddess Lakshmi to shower my house with abundance,
grains, auspiciousness and prosperity.
4 - Keetaa pathangaa mas(h)akaashcha vrikshaaha
Jalae sthalae ae nivasanthu jeevaaha
Dhrishtvaa pradeepam na cha janma bhaajo
Bhavanthi nithyam svachaahi vipraaha
Learned people say that by seeing the brightly lit deepam, insects,
birds, reptiles, trees and plants, all living things residing in water
and light can be permanently liberated from bondages due to that
particular janma.
The flame is fed on the oil of clear devotion and enlivened by the
breeze of intense love of contemplation on the Lord. The wick is the
intellect strengthened by impressions of strivings to cultivate the
right values. This is the spiritual significance of a deepam compared
to an electric light which can only remove darkness. Like the flame
burning upwards, our knowledge must take us towards higher
ideals.
With a single deepam, we can light many more lights. But the
original lamp does not diminish when helping to light others. This
shows that our knowledge does not decrease when we share it with
others. The clarity and conviction increase on giving and so the giver
and receiver are both benefitted. A better, more beautiful
explanation for lighting a deepam, cannot be given !
Let us not overly bother about whether we should light 2 or 5 faces,
use oil or ghee – these are all minor things and to one's liking and
convenience.
Let me close with a beautiful quote of Swami Chinmayananda:
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 ?
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 commence with the
lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the
occasion.
Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness - ignorance. The Lord is
the "Knowledge Principle" (Chaitanya) who is the source, the
enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is
worshiped 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.
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 or
negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual
knowledge, the 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.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:
Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate 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.
– Sri Swami Chinmayananda (Chinmaya Mission)
In every Hindu home a lamp or ‘diya’ is lit daily before a Hindu deity
or any symbol associated with Hinduism. Many Hindus also perform
an ‘arati’ with the traditional oil lamp. The lamp is lit in the morning
or evening or both morning and evening. In some houses the lamp is
maintained continuously and is known Akhand Deep or Akhanda
Diya.
The light in the lamp symbolizes knowledge. It removes darkness,
which symbolizes ignorance. Thus light symbolizes Brahman.
The wick in the traditional oil lamp symbolizes ego and the oil or
ghee used symbolizes our negative tendencies. When we are lit by
self knowledge, the negative tendencies (oil) melt away and finally
the ego (wick) perishes. When the ego perishes, we realize that we
are all part of Brahman and that life is a continuity.
The lighting of ‘diya’ or lamp at home is considered highly
auspiciousness as it brings prosperity and good health. The daily
evening lamp lit at home also gives us an opportunity to ponder over
one’s omissions and commissions in a day.
Hinduism is not a religion but a way of Life. Unlike other religions,
Hindu Dharma has many specialities. This is not known as a religion,
it is known as the Dharma, Sanaathana Dharma. According to
Bhagavath Geeta, Sanaathana means which cannot be destroyed by
Fire, Weapons, Water, Air, and which is present in all living and nonliving
being. Dharma means, the way of life which is the "Total of all
aachaaraas or customs and rituals."
In almost every Indian home lamp / Villakku is lit daily before the
Altar of the Lord. In some house it is maintained continuously -
Akhanda Deepam. All auspicious function commence with the
lighting of the Villakku, which is often maintained throughout the
function.
Light symbolizes Knowledge and Darkness - Ignorance. The Lord is
the "Knowledge Principle" who is the source, the enlivener (An
agent that gives or restores life ) 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 our acievement can
be accomplished.Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knwlodge
as the greatest of all forms of wealth.
The Lamp has further spirutual significance. The Oil or ghee in the
lamp symbolises our Vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick
(Thiri) symbolises ego, When lit by spirutual knowledge, the
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.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray :
Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostute
Meaning of the Slokam : 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.
The following points to be noted while Lighting lamps :
• The lamp can be lit by Ghee or oil . Sesame oil / Gingely oil
destroys all evils. lighting with castor oil brings joy to the
relatives. We should not use Groundnut Oil.
• Neem oil, Ghee, Iluppai( A tree name..In English it is called as
Mahua ) oil gives wealth. For Kula Deivam - Ghee, Castoroil,
Neemoil, Coconutoil, Iluppaioil. For Goddess Mahalakshmi--
ghee. Lord Ganesha--coconut oil. Lord Narayana--sesame oil
• The Cotton wick (Thiri) is best as it would give Prosperity. And
wick made out of New Yellow cloth gives Devi's blessings.
• The Lamp lit towards the east removes Sorrow and Evil , West
removes Debt , Enemies.
• Always use two wicks for lighting the Lamp.
• After lighting the lamp dont rub the excess oil on your hair; (it
will make you loose your wealth) general beleif. Also rubbing in
your own dress is also not good.So keep a piece of cloth in your
pooja room and rub the excess oil in it .
• Never keep any lamp directly on the kolam. Always keep it on a
plate ( can be brass, silver not steel).
• If you like keep a few grains of raw rice below the lamp - this is
necessary only when you do vilakku poojai etc & not necessary
everyday.
• As soon as you finish namaskarams, shlokas etc, it is
customary to keep a dot of milk on either side of the burning
lamp after which you can put it off. After it burns for a
minimum 30 mts, you can put it off, there is nothing wrong.
• After head bath, one should remove the head towel before even
lighting the lamp .
• Lemon (Elumichai) vilakku lighting should not be done at home
at all. It is to be lighted only in temples. There is no harm in
lighting the usual villakku at rahu kalam & chanting Durga
shlokams, particularly on tuesday & friday at home.
Source : www.indusladies.com
In every Hindu household it is customary to light the deepam (
lamp) twice, both in the morning and evening. This is usually done in
the prayer room before the deity. Our daily worship starts with the
lighting of the lamp. All auspicious functions, religious as well as
social, start with the lighting of the lamp. This custom has deep
intellectual and spiritual significance.
Primarily deepam signifies knowledge. All our activities should be
governed by the light of knowledge, especially the knowledge of
dharma. By this knowledge, ignorance or darkness is dispelled. We
bow to knowledge which is the greatest wealth in our lives.
Knowledge also backs our good as well as bad actions. So, the lamp
which is kept lit for all auspicious occasions, is a witness to our
thoughts and actions.
Chinmayananda says
"Where there is light, darkness cannot be;
Where knowledge has come, ignorance must quit."
The following shlokas, chanted while lighting a deepam, say it all.
1 - Deepajyotih param brahma deepajyotih janaardhanah
Deepo harathu me paapam sandhyaa deepo namo(a)stutae
The light of the lamp stands for the Unmanifest Truth as well as for
Lord Vishnu in His manifest form. Let that light of lamp remove my
sins, results of omissions and commissions.
2 - Shubham karoti kalyaanam aarogyam dhanasampadaha
Shatru buddhi vinaas(h)aaya deepajyotih namo(a)stutae
I salute the Supreme who is the light in the lamp that brings
auspiciousness, prosperity,
good health, abundance of wealth and the destruction of Intellect's
enemy.
3 - Suvarna vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri
Sudhaanya vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri
Kalyaana vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri
Vibhoothi vriddhim kurumae gruhae shri
I pray to Goddess Lakshmi to shower my house with abundance,
grains, auspiciousness and prosperity.
4 - Keetaa pathangaa mas(h)akaashcha vrikshaaha
Jalae sthalae ae nivasanthu jeevaaha
Dhrishtvaa pradeepam na cha janma bhaajo
Bhavanthi nithyam svachaahi vipraaha
Learned people say that by seeing the brightly lit deepam, insects,
birds, reptiles, trees and plants, all living things residing in water
and light can be permanently liberated from bondages due to that
particular janma.
The flame is fed on the oil of clear devotion and enlivened by the
breeze of intense love of contemplation on the Lord. The wick is the
intellect strengthened by impressions of strivings to cultivate the
right values. This is the spiritual significance of a deepam compared
to an electric light which can only remove darkness. Like the flame
burning upwards, our knowledge must take us towards higher
ideals.
With a single deepam, we can light many more lights. But the
original lamp does not diminish when helping to light others. This
shows that our knowledge does not decrease when we share it with
others. The clarity and conviction increase on giving and so the giver
and receiver are both benefitted. A better, more beautiful
explanation for lighting a deepam, cannot be given !
Let us not overly bother about whether we should light 2 or 5 faces,
use oil or ghee – these are all minor things and to one's liking and
convenience.
Let me close with a beautiful quote of Swami Chinmayananda:
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 ?
