In India, the entire household lights the lamp in front of the GOD (He may be in the shape of photograph, statue, painting, etc. The timings may differ – Somewhere at Dawn, Somewhere at Dusk, somewhere both the times. Somewhere continuously (You may notice these in the popular temples and popular persons memorial). And also during any occasion, the ritual is that the function starts with lighting a lamp by the chief guest. And the lamp is giving light throughout the function.
Why lamp? How it helps?
First of all, in ancient days when there were no electricity and it was jungle everywhere, the people started this as an essential requirement to see each other and to establish that there is a meeting taking place.
If you consider it in the philosophical terms:
The lamp symbolizes: The knowledge. The knowledge removes/replaces the ignorance – light replaces the darkness.
Why the tube lights and modern day bulbs are not used in worshipping. I do not know.
But the lamp with oil or ghee as a medium gives us the aroma and they are not warming the globe. Our forefathers would have thought well in advance about our ill treatment to the mother earth.
wow-wat-a-marvelous-idea
ReplyDeleteBut-do-you-think-you-can-replace-the-lights-in-ur-home-or-this-keyboard-without-spacebar-not-working!
But-I-think-so!
haai....
ReplyDeleteSadakopan sir, Iam balaji.
ReplyDeleteToday I have promised myself to leave my comment with your blog because i have tried to last three days to leave my comment, but it is not possible. That day I have learned it how it is possible.
I will co-operate for you at all time. Hope that you may understand my situation.
I think your blog have some difficult to leave a comment. Is it true?
//In India, the entire household lights the lamp in front of the GOD (He may be in the shape of photograph, statue, painting, etc//
ReplyDeleteMy mother also having this habit. Its give some confident to entire family. Its give nice feeling also. I feel this. O.K.
Thank you very much Balaji. It was very nice of you to post a comment(s). You may see there are comments from T.M.P., Rajeev, and more friends. However, let me look in to, if at all there us a problem.
ReplyDeleteசார் கொஞ்சம் புரியலிங்க. நான் கொஞ்சம்(?) ஆங்கிலிஸ்சில் வீக்.
ReplyDeleteI told that "I shall check if there is a problem in the blog. So that you need not suffer for commenting."
ReplyDeletein earlier days their were insects used to disturb the proceedings that's why where the podium is there they light lamp so that it can act as insect repellent.
ReplyDeleteAll 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 sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostute
Dear Rajesh,
ReplyDeleteGood day! You are trying to annoy me. I will never get annoyed as you know very well. Every individual has his own following. People follow Books, Epics, Etiquettes, Persons,.. However very nice detailed long comment.