Why do we light a lamp?

03-13-2004, 01:18 PM

An interesting article
.
Why do we light a lamp?
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
parabrahmaDeepa sarva tamopahaha...... .......Deepena saadhyate saramSandhyaa
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.
Swami Chinmayananda

03-14-2004, 02:55 PM

Sairam and thanks brother for your nice msg.

papu

----- Original Message -----
From: Ravi
To: SaiBabaNews
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 7:48 AM
Subject: [saibabanews] Why do we light a lamp?

An interesting article

Why do we light a lamp?
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.

03-15-2004, 03:47 PM

Sairam Raviji, thank you so much for that wonderful message on the lamp (deeya).
It is very informative.Most of us do light a deeya twice daily, but never stop
to thinkof its significance. Baba's blessings to you. Raynu Ft. Lauderdale
Florida.--- On Sat 03/13, Ravi < ravi_kri (AT) sify (DOT) com=""> wrote:From: Ravi
[mailto: ravi_kri (AT) sify (DOT) com]To: saibabanews (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) comDate: Sun, 14 Mar
2004 07:48:59 +0530Subject: [saibabanews] Why do we light a lamp?
An interesting article Why do we light a lamp? 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 parabrahmaDeepa sarva
tamopahaha Deepena saadhyate saramSandhyaa 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.
Swami Chinmayananda