Bhaktisandesam

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Why do we light a lamp?

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In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of

the Lord. In some houses it is lit at drawn, in some, twice a day –

at dawn and dusk and in a few it is maintained continuously (akhanda

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 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

actions whether good or bad. We therefore keep a lamp lit during all

auspicious occasions as a 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 vaasanas or negative

tendencies and the wicked, 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 :

 

" Deepajyotihi parabrahma Deepa sarva tamopababa Deepena sadhyate

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.

 

Thus this custom contains a wealth of intellectual and spiritual

meaning.

 

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Swami Chinmayananda.