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.
The diya is a symbol of the self. It is made of clay, which represents our body, has a cotton wick and oil. Notice the flame of the diya always burns upwards – inspiring us towards higher ideals. The wick in the diya represents our ego. Oil or ghee in lamp represents our "vasanas" or negative tendencies. As the lamp burns to produce light for all, the oil is slowly consumed and finally, the wick also burns out. When lit by spiritual knowledge (i.e. the flame), the "vasanas" get slowly exhausted and the ego, too, finally perishes. Only when we sacrifice ourselves for others like the lamp, by humbling ourselves, by ridding our ego, can we truly serve the society. The greatest lamp is the Sun, slowly but surely consuming itself so all the creatures on the Earth can live. The Sun only gives and asks for nothing. That is why it is called a Devata - the one who gives.
Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness, ignorance. 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. 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/ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vasanasor negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, thevaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly, we should acquire such knowledge so as to take us towards higher ideals.
This purifies the vastu (premises), as well as the clothes of the people residing in the house. At dusk, lighting an oil lamp in the temple at home and near the tulsi plant creates a protective sheath of sattvik waves of the Deities around the house. This protects the people in the house from distressing vibrations generated from the activation of negative energies in the atmosphere. That is why, the scriptures recommend that we return home before dusk and do not leave the house thereafter.
For the mystical Hindu it's not symbolic at all, but very real. When we chant mantras that say, 'Salutations to the devas present!" just whom are we acknowledging? It's the devas. They can see the lamp from the devaloka as well as we can see it from here. So it attracts them to come, bless us, help with prayers, etc. Unfortunately, what was once a beautiful mystical knowledge has been sadly reduced to mere symbolism. Only the atheist believes God is symbolic.
