Neerajanam or waving of light

[Guest guest]

In every Puja it is a common act to conclude the puja by waving of light lit

with either Camphor or lamp lit with Ghee, before the deity, as an act of

adoration.

 

The philosophy behind this act is to understand and appreciate that there is

only one light Ambaal as " Swayam Prakasha" behind all Chith--Shakthi and there

is no other light other than HER. The Vedic Manthra chanted on this accasion

also means " that nothing shines on its own, But they shine by the Light of

supreme Being. "

 

After Arti it is a common practice for the devotees to touch the flame seeming

or apparently and take it over the eyes.

 

Can any of the member explain the why this is taken over the eyes only.

 

ganapathy

 

 

 

Ganapathy --- Vijaya

 

" Jai Bhavani " - - - - " Jai Sri Lalitha Maha Maha Tripura Sundari "

 

" Sarvam Shakti Mayam Jagath "

 

 

 

 

The New with improved product search

 

 

[Guest guest]

thank you , sri vijaya ganapathy!

 

you write...

> In every Puja it is a common act to conclude the puja by waving of

light lit with either Camphor or lamp lit with Ghee, before the

deity, as an act of adoration.

 

here is one explanation from http://www.mohyals.com/hindurituals/#1

 

<begin quote>

 

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

 

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.

 

<end quote>

 

you also write

> After Arti it is a common practice for the devotees to touch the

flame seeming or apparently and take it over the eyes.

>

> Can any of the member explain the why this is taken over the eyes

only.

 

well, the only explanation i can think of is we see and 'visualize"

everything with our worldly eyes .... by rubbing the 'flame of

knowledge ' over our eyes, we are asking Ambaal to bless us

with "divya-chakshu" (divine eyes) or jnana chakshu ( see everything

through the eyes of the scriptures... ) ! also, we are praying the

goddess to open our "ajna- chakra" - the space between the

eyebrows ...

 

my one and half cents !

 

hari aum!

 

[Message edited by the moderator to make the Quote from WWW page clear]