LET US LIGHT A LAMP.

            In every Indian home a lamp is the altar of lord. In some houses ,it is lit at drawn, in some twice a day- at a dawn and dusk –and in few it is maintained continuously (Akhanda Deepa). All auspicious functions and moments like daily worship, rituals and festivals and even many social occasions like inauguration commence with a lighting of lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.

Light symbolize knowledge, and darkness, ignorance. The lord is the “Knowledge Principle”(Chaitanya) who is the source of enlivener and  the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshipped as lord himself.

Knowledge remover’s ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievements 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 action weather good or bad. We , therefore , keep a lamp lit during all auspicious occasion as witness to our thoughts and actions.

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 vaasanaas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, vaasanaas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flames of a lamp always push upwards. Similarly, we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideas. 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 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 lightning the lamp, we thus pray:

                                            Deepajyothi Para Brahma                                                                                           Deepa Sarvatamopahaha

                                                          Deepen sadhyate sarvam

                                                                   Sandyaa Deepa namostute.

I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose   

 Light is the knowledge principle (the supreme Lard).

This removes the darkness of ignorance,

  And by which all cam be achieved in life.

Thus , this custom contain a wealth of intellectual and spiritual meaning .