Why do we light a lamp?

08-13-2006, 11:07 PM

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 parabrahma

Deepa Jyotir Janaardanah

Deepo harati paapaani

Sandhyaa deepa 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.

with best wishes

Shiva Shankara