Hindu Rituals and Routines… Why do we follow them?

September 3, 2006

1. Why do we light a lamp?

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

a few it is maintained continuously - Akhanda Deepa.

All 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

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.

2. Why do we have a prayer room?

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