Light with a lighter

Hi Sriniketan

When you mean lighting the lamp, I take it as you are lighting diya before swami. you could have seen a match box always kept seperate in front of swami almirah, exclusive for lighting diya and other pooja stuff. The idea of using match box for lighting diya is to tell mankind that " See this match stick, it gets destroyed on slight friction, becoz of its "head weight"(Scientifically,it is becoz the sulphur mixture). So inspite of ur acheivements in life, don't let things get in your head and gain head weight, which will destroy your self. Atleast during lighting diya, shed your headweight by cin this matchstick and concentrate on god". I don't think this thaathpariyam can be explained by a lighter.

 

Hello Ridgemma,
Thanks very much for the wonderful explanation,that was really nice.
Revathy.

 

dear srini,
we have come a long way from the stone age and now we use candle to light the diyas in many function you may notice how it is done, not from one lamp to the other, but yes avasarathukku thappillai, dont feel guilty if that had to be done as u never found the matches which i presume is the reason for you to ask here,other wise what others say go....sunkan

 

Hello Ridgemma,
Thanks very much for the wonderful explanation,that was really nice.I have never heard of it before so very happy to read it Thanks

 

Hi Sriniketan,

as long as the lighter is not used to light a cigarette, it is alright to use a lighter to light the lamp. Ridgemma has given a good explanation why a matchstick is used. But let me attempt to clarify further as per the significance of lighting a lamp:

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[/FONT] it dispels darkness and is asymbol of the effulgence of wisdom. Everywhere it is lit it dispels darkness​

If you want to light a lamp, you need four things. First: a container, second: oil, third: a wick, fourth: fire (this can be a match stick or the modern gas lighter). If any one of these is lacking, you cannot light the lamp.The source of fire used to light the lamp represents our inner light (knowledge) which we use the to light the outer world (the lamp) which stays for a longer time benefitting the world long after we have passed on (the extiguishing of the source of light that is used to light the lamp)

As long as the source of fire (here lighter) is kept pure and not used for other purposes ( like lighting a cigarette (a vice)) You can rest assured ....

I am contemplating since matches were not available few hundred years ago and our Indian tradition of lighting lamps can be traced much way back than the matches, what did they use to light the fire ?? fire stones ?? what could be the vedanta behind that and why we are not sticking to the same method and switched to using matches?? It is all evolution and adaptation my dear... As long as the essence is kept pure...