Why do we light a lamp?

Ravisanu · Mar 30, 2009

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 illuminatorof 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 saram
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.

Jpatma · Mar 30, 2009

Thanks for the lovely info and the slokas. Appreciate
Jaya

Ravisanu · Mar 30, 2009

Thanks a lot Jaya

Anu

muzna · Mar 30, 2009

Dear Ravi
It is true that the deepam gives the inner peace.. and there is a bliss in doing so.
Read earlier about the reason you have written about. But we forget after sometime all the things we should do. Reminders are always welcome.

Padmini · Mar 30, 2009

a nice post. by this you lit a deepam in our herts. shalli share one thing? if you pour ghee and lit the lamp for 40 days wishing for something to happen, you will see it is happening. we should not lit the lamp facing south when we are litting only one face. thank you for yournice and useful description.
with love
pad.

swathi14 · Mar 30, 2009

Very useful post. Elders always insist that we should lit the lamp in early morning and in the evening.

But the tradition is gone now. Thanks for bringing back the good tradition with an explanation on why.

Dear Padmini. thanks for your added info.

andal

Ravisanu · Mar 30, 2009

Thanks to Muzna, Pad and Andal for your valuable comments..It gives me immense pleasure if i see all these comments for my post.

gsaikripa · Mar 30, 2009

thanks for the post & slokas....nice one..

Friendly1 · Apr 2, 2009

This is a good post. I would also like to believe that by lighting a lamp we are creating a positive energy/ aura and this ensures that positive things happen to you!!

sandhyavarrey · Apr 7, 2009

1.Why do we light a lamp?

Dear Ravi ,
I am Sandhya new ILite. It is really a great idea to enlighten us
about litting a lamp.
I do lit a lamp every morning to get peace and confidence for rest of
day.
Sandhya