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 few
it is maintained continuously (ahanda deepa). All auspicious
functions and moments like daily worship, rituals and
festivals and even many social occasions like inaugurations
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
worshipped 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. Knowledge backs all our actions whether good
or bad. We therefore keep a lamp during all auspicious
occasions as a witness to our thoughts and actions.
Why not light a bulb or a 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.
A single lamp can light hundreds more just as a
man of knowledge can give it to many more. The brilliance of
the light does not diminish despite its repeated use to light
many more lamps. So too knowledge does not lessen when shared
with or imparted to others. On the contrary it increases in
clarity and conviction on giving. It benefits both the
receiver and the giver.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus
pray:
Deepajyothihi parabrahma
Deepa
sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate sarvam
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.
Which else shall beautify a home
But the flame of a lovely lamp?
Which else shall adorn
the mind
But the light of wisdom deep?
Thus this custom contains a wealth of intellectual and
spiritual
meaning.
