Guest guest Posted April 15, 2004 Report Share Posted April 15, 2004 Thanks Sadhvi and Sanju for your inspiration and encouragement respectively. I thought I would post a question on some of the concepts that we supposedly "know" already and get everyone's input . We'll give the post a coupla days to respond and move on to the next one. I will compile all our answers into one for Swamiji and request his response , which I will post when I hear back from him. Swamiji is extremely busy now but has been kind enough to get back to us within a few days... so I request your patience and understanding . That being said, I thought I would take Sadhvi's question and start with that . Question : What is the significance of a light or deepam in a puja ? Why do we light a lamp , and why do we offer lights during Arati ? Put your introspection hats on , folks and come back and let us know. JAI MAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2004 Report Share Posted April 15, 2004 That's a good one Brian. For me, the lighting of a lamp in itself indicates the presence of the deity. It is like the deity lifting up her hands and saying "I'm here, I am present in your worship " Another way I interpret it - by lighting a lamp, I am symbolically taking a step to warding off the darkness that I am now in. There are a couple more interpretations that I have , but I want to see what others have to say before I jump in with those. JAI MAA Latha , "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> wrote: > For me the light represents truth. If Maya is a shadow play, then light is the truth that exposes the shadow and destroys it. Bri" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2004 Report Share Posted April 15, 2004 the light is: divine fire; wisdom; light; and ... highest bliss is in it. om agni jyoti ravi jyotis candra jyotis tathaiva ca ... , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > Thanks Sadhvi and Sanju for your inspiration and encouragement > respectively. > > I thought I would post a question on some of the concepts that we > supposedly "know" already and get everyone's input . We'll give the > post a coupla days to respond and move on to the next one. I will > compile all our answers into one for Swamiji and request his > response , which I will post when I hear back from him. Swamiji is > extremely busy now but has been kind enough to get back to us > within a few days... so I request your patience and understanding . > > That being said, I thought I would take Sadhvi's question and start > with that . > > > Question : > > What is the significance of a light or deepam in a puja ? Why do we > light a lamp , and why do we offer lights during Arati ? > > Put your introspection hats on , folks and come back and let us know. > > JAI MAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 In a message dated 4/15/04 8:45:27 PM Mountain Daylight Time, master4114 writes: “Just then, Shiva stepped out of the pillar of light as the sound of OM assaulted the skies. Vishnu and Brahma fell on their knees in worship.†My view is to see the Deity within the light and to feel and see Their Presence in our home shriine and in the Temple. Love to All, Om Namah Sivaya Kanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 We light the Deya to pay obedience to Lakshmee Maa I am not sure why we do aartie Latha Nanda <lathananda > wrote: Thanks Sadhvi and Sanju for your inspiration and encouragement respectively.I thought I would post a question on some of the concepts that we supposedly "know" already and get everyone's input . We'll give the post a coupla days to respond and move on to the next one. I will compile all our answers into one for Swamiji and request his response , which I will post when I hear back from him. Swamiji is extremely busy now but has been kind enough to get back to us within a few days... so I request your patience and understanding .That being said, I thought I would take Sadhvi's question and start with that .Question :What is the significance of a light or deepam in a puja ? Why do we light a lamp , and why do we offer lights during Arati ?Put your introspection hats on , folks and come back and let us know.JAI MAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Tax Center - File online by April 15th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 Dear All, I light the candles and feel that measure of heat as tapas. The flame represents to me something unwanted burning away. After this sensation I sit for a moment and enjoy the warmth of the image of the flame--I like to look at the brightest part of the flame. It's like seeing the source. On my altar I have one candle that sits in front of a picture of the Guru. I enjoy noticing how the reflection of the flame always rests right on the heart of his image. I have another small candle illuminating Chandi. The glow of her face is inspiring me to know her and love her more. Jai Maa! Namaste and much love, Lynne - Latha Nanda Thursday, April 15, 2004 5:40 PM Re: Getting back to the Basics of Puja :- Deepam That's a good one Brian. For me, the lighting of a lamp in itself indicates the presence of the deity. It is like the deity lifting up her hands and saying "I'm here, I am present in your worship " Another way I interpret it - by lighting a lamp, I am symbolically taking a step to warding off the darkness that I am now in. There are a couple more interpretations that I have , but I want to see what others have to say before I jump in with those.JAI MAALatha--- In , "Brian McKee" <brian@s...> wrote:> For me the light represents truth. If Maya is a shadow play, then light is the truth that exposes the shadow and destroys it.Bri" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 The offering of light during puja is a symbolic offering of ourselves to ourselves inorder to become our non-duel true selves. In this process we all can be united as One. On returning from that realm of unity back into our own individual duality we might then find that our former voracious wolves have become docile lap dogs that hereforeward loving wish to serve the world around us in the furtherance of our sadhana. Seva and sadhanna then can walk hand in hand. We can become the devi/deva and the devi/deva can become us. , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > > Question : > > What is the significance of a light or deepam in a puja ? Why do we > light a lamp , and why do we offer lights during Arati ? > > Put your introspection hats on , folks and come back and let us know. > > JAI MAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 Latha, I don't have anything original to add, except that in the discussion of the spiritual meanings of these physical objects I don't think we're going to find straightforward correspondences, but rather, levels of meaning and correspondence. As Swamiji said to Ardis, we have to look deeper. The light is fire, and so corresponds to agni, the element of manipura chakra, the offering of our souls, as Sadhvi also mentioned, and thus the highest bliss, as Steve mentioned. Fire is the light of divinity, and a vessel for divine consciousness, the presence of God. It is also the fire of individual shakti, that shakti which burns our impurities. Like akasha, the light is all pervasive. Lately, when I offer light, I do not offer a physical light. I go to the light within and offer that. I offer that which I have been given with gratitude and a prayer for more. Chris , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > Thanks Sadhvi and Sanju for your inspiration and encouragement > respectively. > > I thought I would post a question on some of the concepts that we > supposedly "know" already and get everyone's input . We'll give the > post a coupla days to respond and move on to the next one. I will > compile all our answers into one for Swamiji and request his > response , which I will post when I hear back from him. Swamiji is > extremely busy now but has been kind enough to get back to us > within a few days... so I request your patience and understanding . > > That being said, I thought I would take Sadhvi's question and start > with that . > > > Question : > > What is the significance of a light or deepam in a puja ? Why do we > light a lamp , and why do we offer lights during Arati ? > > Put your introspection hats on , folks and come back and let us know. > > JAI MAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2004 Report Share Posted April 16, 2004 Light I agree with what someone else said that light is one of the first elements occurring during the creation. We are offerinig that light back to GOD. There are actually FIVE ELEMENTS that we can offer back. See the Lalita Trishata for that. I always start my worship by making that offering...and SHE KNOWS! It is said that any puja, to be effective, should incorporate the 5- elements. dan , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > Thanks Sadhvi and Sanju for your inspiration and encouragement > respectively. > > I thought I would post a question on some of the concepts that we > supposedly "know" already and get everyone's input . We'll give the > post a coupla days to respond and move on to the next one. I will > compile all our answers into one for Swamiji and request his > response , which I will post when I hear back from him. Swamiji is > extremely busy now but has been kind enough to get back to us > within a few days... so I request your patience and understanding . > > That being said, I thought I would take Sadhvi's question and start > with that . > > > Question : > > What is the significance of a light or deepam in a puja ? Why do we > light a lamp , and why do we offer lights during Arati ? > > Put your introspection hats on , folks and come back and let us know. > > JAI MAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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