In almost every home of a practising Hindu a lamp is lit daily morning or evening. In some houses the lamp is lit at dawn and dusk. In some houses, the lamp is lit continuously. All auspicious events in Hinduism begin with the lighting of a lamp.
Light in Hindu tradition is associated with removal of ignorance.
Darkness gives rise to confusion and fear. In darkness we think the unreal to be real. This fear and confusion can only be removed with the help of light.
The flame of the lamp burns upwards. It is asking us to move towards the higher ideal.
The lamp is also a representation of inner light. It represents the Brahman present in all animate and inanimate. Meditating on the wick of the lamp removes the ignorance. What then we see is pure light. Meditate more and then there is no difference between the light and the one meditating. Both merge and what remains is pure light. Thus the lamp makes us realise that we are the source that we are searching.
The ghee in the lamp symbolises negativities, wrong knowledge and ignorance. The wick represent, ego, which is root cause of all unhappiness and misery.
The light of spiritual knowledge – that all animate and inanimate rise, transform and merge in single source – removes all negativities, wrong knowledge and ignorance. This light alone can put out the ego.
A single lamp can light millions of other lamps. Spiritual knowledge when shared does not lessen. It shines forth. It takes the form of hope. It takes the form of achieving the impossible.
Hindu Prayer to the Light
शुभं करोति कल्याणं
Shubham Karoti Kalyanam
शुभं करोति कल्याणमारोग्यं धनसंपदा ।
शत्रुबुद्धिविनाशाय दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तुते ॥
Shubham Karoti Kalyaannam-Aarogyam Dhana-Sampadaa |
Shatru-Buddhi-Vinaashaaya Diipa-Jyotir-Namostute ||
Meaning:
1: (Salutations to the Light of the Lamp) which brings Auspiciousness, Health and Prosperity,
2: Which Destroys Inimical Feelings; Salutations to the Light of the Lamp.
दीपज्योतिः परब्रह्म दीपज्योतिर्जनार्दनः ।
दीपो हरतु मे पापं दीपज्योतिर्नमोऽस्तुते ॥
Diipa-Jyotih Para-Brahma Diipa-Jyotir-Janaardanah |
Diipo Haratu Me Paapam Diipa-Jyotir-Namostute ||
Meaning:
1: (Salutations to the Light of the Lamp) The Light of the Lamp represents the Supreme Brahman, the Light of the Lamp represents Janardhana (Sri Vishnu),
2: Let the Light of the Lamp Remove My Sins; Salutations to the Light of the Lamp.
