All about deepardhana
In every Indian home, whether it is a small hut or a big bungalow, you will find one thing common: the Deepam or Diya. For us, it is not just a decoration. For some of us it is respecting god, for some It is God.
Most households strictly follow the tradition of lighting the lamp during the Sandhya Kala both at dawn and dusk. Many of us do this mechanically, but have you ever wondered why?
In our Sanatana Dharma, Agni (Fire) is very special. In the Vedas, Agni is called the "Messenger of Gods" (Duta). When we do a Homa or Yagna, we put offerings into the fire because we believe Agni carries our prayers to the Gods in heaven.
But we cannot do a big Yagna every day in our city flats. So, the Deepam is our miniature Agni. The Deepam retains the full sanctity of the Vedic Homa Kunda. The oil or ghee in the lamp represents the Havis (offering), the wick represents the conduit, and the base of the lamp represents the altar. Thus, every household lamp is a miniature Agnihotra fire. By lighting a lamp in your puja room, you are bringing the Vedic fire altar into your home. It connects your house to the cosmic divine.
Before going into the process and ritual we do lets understand what is the philosophy.
The Philosophy
Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya > (Lead me from Darkness to Light)
Here, Darkness is not just lack of light; it is Avidya (ignorance). Light is Jnana (knowledge).
So by lighting deepa we are driving away Ignorance and inviting Knowledge. Lets double click even further
The Deepam actually tells the story of our life:
The Bowl: Represents our Body (Deha).
The Oil: Represents our Karma and Desires (Vasanas). It is sticky, just like our attachments.
The Wick: Represents our Ego (Ahamkara).
The Flame: Represents our Soul or Knowledge (Atman).
When you light the lamp, the wick (Ego) burns using the oil (Karma). Slowly, the oil gets finished, and the wick burns away. Finally, what remains? Only the light. This means: "Oh Lord, let my Karma be consumed, let my Ego burn away, so only the light of my Soul remains."
Deeparadhana - How to Light the Lamp?
This is most usual practice at home especially in most South Indian homes, especially in Andhra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. When we perform the Deepaaradhana, it is not just a routine act. In the context of the Shodashopachara Puja (the 16-step worship ritual), Deepaaradhana is classified under Rajopachara, which means "Royal Services."
We are treating the Deity not just as an idol, but as the King of the Universe. Just as a King is honored with lights, music, and fans, we honor the Lord with the lamp. It is the highest mark of respect we can offer. While we do that, we follow strict rules regarding time, direction, and materials.
Time
When to light? The Philosophy of Sandhya Kala The best time is Sandhya Kaala (Dusk and Dawn). But why?
This is the time for nitya pooja. But why pooja during this time of the day?
Ideally, Sandhya means a "meeting point." It is the delicate time where day meets night. In our culture, any transition (like a doorframe or twilight) is considered vulnerable. Nature is changing gears. During this twilight zone, the mind naturally becomes calm. It is neither fully active (Day/Rajas) nor fully asleep (Night/Tamas). It is a brief window of Sattva (purity).
Practically: As the sun sets, darkness (negativity) tries to enter. By lighting the lamp before total darkness falls, we create a protective shield of divine fire. It is said that Goddess Mahalakshmi enters the house at this time on the vehicle of light; if the house is dark, she turns away.
Which Direction?
East: For good health and peace (most preferred).
North: For wealth and success.
West: Usually avoided, but allowed in some temples.
South: Never face the lamp South for daily pooja. South is for Lord Yama (Death).
Material Used
Oil
Choosing the Right Oil Not all oils are same. Each oil attracts different energy. Here is a simple table to help you choose:
Oil Type | Deity Associated | Purpose & Benefit |
|---|---|---|
Cow Ghee (Pure Desi) | Mahalakshmi / Vishnu | Best of all. Brings health, prosperity, and positive vibes (Sattva). |
Sesame Oil (Gingelly/Til) | Saturn (Shani) / Ancestors | Very common. Removes Doshas and obstacles. Good for daily use. |
Coconut Oil | Ganesha / Devi | Popular in Kerala. brings mental peace and pleases Ganesha. |
Castor Oil | Guru / Devi | Gives fame and happy family life. Burns for a long time. |
Pancha Deepam Oil | Durga / Parashakti | A mix of 5 oils. Very powerful to remove negative energy and evil eye. |
Groundnut Oil | None | Avoid. It is considered negative for pooja. |
Wick
The Secret of the Wicks In our tradition, even the number and type of wicks matter.
1 Wick (Eka Mukha): Normal benefit. Okay for simple daily prayer.
2 Wicks (Dvi Mukha): Standard for Family. It brings harmony between husband and wife.
3 Wicks: For children (Progeny).
5 Wicks (Pancha Mukha): For Wealth (Aishwaryam) and Vitality.
Cotton vs. Others: Usually, we use Cotton. But if you have specific problems, texts suggest other materials like Lotus Stem fiber (to remove poverty) or Banana Stem fiber (to clear ancestral mistakes).
Twisting the Wick (Andhra Tradition): In many Telugu households, you will see a unique practice where grandmothers manually twist three separate cotton threads into a single wick. This is not random; it is deeply symbolic.
The Three Gunas: The threads represent the three qualities of nature: Sattva (Purity), Rajas (Passion), and Tamas (Lethargy).
The Three Bodies: They symbolize the Gross body (Sthula), Subtle body (Sukshma), and Causal body (Karana).
The Cosmic Powers: They also represent the Trinity (Trimurthi—Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) and the three Goddess powers (Ichha Shakti—Will, Kriya Shakti—Action, Jnana Shakti—Knowledge).
When we twist these three into one and light it, it symbolizes the unification of our Mind, Speech, and Body (Trikarana Shuddhi) in the service of the One Supreme Truth.
Mantra/Chant
While lighting the lamp, we chant the famous Shubham Karoti prayer. But have you really understood the second line? It contains a profound secret about Indian culture.
Shubham Karoti Kalyanam, Arogyam Dhana Sampadah | Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya, Deepa Jyotir Namostute ||
The Meaning of "Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya" Many people think this line means "Oh God, destroy my enemies." But it does not say Shatru Vinashaya (Destroy the enemy). It says Shatru Buddhi Vinashaya (Destroy the mind/intellect of the enemy).
This teaches us two powerful things:
Don't Destroy the Person, Destroy the Hate: We do not pray for our enemies to die or get hurt. We pray that their bad intention (Buddhi) gets destroyed. If their anger or jealousy is gone, they cease to be our enemies. We wish for their transformation, not their destruction.
The Enemy Within: In Yoga, the real enemies are inside us—Kama (Lust), Krodha (Anger), and Lobha (Greed). These act like enemies that ruin our life. We are asking the light to destroy this negative mindset within ourselves.
Special Traditions
Starting New Ventures (Deepa Prajwalana)
Have you noticed that in India, any public function—whether it is a school annual day, a business conference, or a music concert—always starts with lighting a lamp (Deepa Prajwalana)? This is not just a formality.
The Witness (Sakshi): Before we begin any work, we light the lamp to act as a Sakshi (Witness) to our actions. We are essentially saying, "Let this event happen in the presence of the Divine Light, and let all our actions be truthful."
Dispelling Ignorance: Just as light removes darkness instantly, we pray that knowledge removes ignorance so that the event or venture proceeds without obstacles.
Kerala: Durga Deepa Namaskara
In Kerala, the lamp is not just an item; it is the Goddess herself. They use the Nilavilakku (a floor lamp). There is a powerful ritual called Durga Deepa Namaskara (or Bhadra Deepam).
In this pooja, a large lamp is placed in the center of a decorated pattern (Mandala).
The lamp acts as the Goddess Durga (Bhadrakali).
Devotees chant mantras and do Namaskar (bow down) to the lamp 108 or even 1008 times.
It is believed that the heat of the flame burns away bad luck and protects the family from black magic or illness.
Death Rituals (Antyeshti)
You might have noticed that when someone dies, the practices are completely reversed. This shows how symbols change meaning.
Direction: The lamp is placed near the head of the body facing South. This is to light the path for the soul towards Yama (Lord of Death).
Wick: We use only One wick (Single). It symbolizes that the soul is now alone—it has cut ties with family.
Thread: We use a single thread, not twisted. This shows untying the knot of life.
Temples with Continuous Fire (Akhanda Deepam)
Some temples have lamps that have been burning for hundreds of years!
Tiruvannamalai: Here, God is worshipped as Fire (Agni Lingam). The massive lamp lit on the hill (Karthigai Deepam) represents the pillar of fire.
Kollur Mookambika: In Karnataka, there is a lamp believed to be lit by Adi Shankaracharya himself 1000 years ago. It has never gone out.
Conclusion
So, the next time you light a lamp, remember—you are not just striking a match. You are inviting the Divine Fire into your home. You are telling the universe that you are ready to burn your ego and spread the light of knowledge. You are visualising God in Deepam
Deepam Jyothi Parabrahma, Deepam Jyothi Janardhana.
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