Why do we light a lamp?

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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