Why to Light Lamp Before God
Taken from
www.HinduJagruti.org
By lighting the lamp, you are getting rid
of your sins. Let me narrate an incident from Shiradee Sai Baabaa's life:
When Shiradee Sai Baabaa first came to
Shiradee, he used to go from home to home and from shop to shop begging for oil in a
tin cup. With that oil, he would light numerous lamps in the nearby mosque. Later some
mischief-mongers created a problem concerning his religion, after which no one offered
to give him oil anymore. Then he filled his mouth with some water and went to the mosque
and emptied the water into his tin cup. With the water, he lit all the lamps. By then,
everyone had gathered to watch this miracle. Baabaa told them, "You people don't
realize why I light these lamps getting oil from you. I do it only for your sake. I am
burning your sins by lighting these lamps in the oil that you give!" So don't miss
lighting the lamps. Continue your practice.
[Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji]
Pooja Lamp with Cow's Ghee-Its significance
We worship a deity with faith and
sincerity. We build a temple room in our house to increase Saattwikataa (purity).
We also designate the images or idols of the deities we worship in our home, and
perform daily Poojaa according to our means. We are familiar with the Kalash (a water
vessel generally of metal), Shankh (conch), copper plate, copper vessel, small spoon,
lamp and other Poojaa items. Every article of Poojaa has its own significance. Let us
understand the significance of an important article of Poojaa that is the lamp (Deepak
or Diyaa).
The lamp has its own special place in
Sanaatan Vaidik Hindu Dharm. It is a form and symbol of Tej (Absolute fire principle).
The lamp leads us from darkness towards light (Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya). It burns only
to give the message of peace and light to man. Amongst the articles of Poojaa, the lamp
is an important article. Naturally something is to be burnt in the lamp, normally it is
Ghee or the oil. Agni Puraan clearly states that only Ghee (Clarified butter) or oil be
used in the lamp meant for Poojaa and no other combustible substance should be used in
it. According to the science of spirituality the ghee lamp is more Saattwik (spiritually
pure) and has more capacity to attract the Saattwik vibrations present in the surrounding
atmosphere as compared to an oil lamp. The oil lamp can attract Saattwik vibrations spread
over a maximum distance of 1 meter while the ghee lamp can attract the Saattwik vibrations
spread till Swarg Lok (Heaven). When the oil lamp stops burning the predominance of Raajas
particles in the atmosphere are enhanced and last for half an hour whereas when the Ghee
lamp stops burning the impact of Saattwikataa in the atmosphere is experienced even after
four hours.
Effect on the worshipper -
--The oil lamp generates a subtle armor of inferior quality around the worshipper while ghee
lamp generates a subtle armor of superior quality.
--The subtle vibrations emitted from the oil lamp activate the Mind-energy (Man Shakti)
of the worshipper whereas those emanating from the Ghee lamp activates the soul energy
(Aatmaa Shakti) of the worshipper. According to Kundalinee Yog there are seven principle
Chakra or energy centers in the human being which influence practically every aspect
including his physical body, mind and intellect. The oil lamp is effective in purification
of Moolaadhaar and Swaadhishthaan
Chakra only to a certain extent, but the Ghee lamp purifies Manipur and Anaahat Chakra
to a significant extent.
Just as there are seven Chakra in the human
body, there are paths for the flow of vital energy (Chetanaa). These are called as Naadee
or channels. The three principle Naadee are Chandra Naadee (Moon channel), Soorya Naadee
(Sun channel) and Sushumnaa Naade. When Chandra Naadee is active the person perceives coolness.
The activation of Soorya Naadee imparts energy to the person. The Sushumnaa Naadee is
activated when the person starts progressing spiritually. The oil lamp activates the Soorya
Naadee of the person while Ghee lamp activates only that Naadee which is essential to the
worshipper in a particular action.
Effect on the subtle sheaths of the worshipper
According to the science of spirituality the body which is visible to our eyes is called Anna-maya
Kosh or food sheath. Besides, there are four other Kosh, namely Praan-maya Kosh or vital air sheath,
Mano-maya Kosh or the mental sheath, Vigyaan-maya Kosh or sheath of intellect and Aanand-maya Kosh
or bliss sheath. The Praan-maya Kosh is a seat for the Panch Praan (five vital air elements) which
provide energy to the gross body. Mano-maya Kosh is the seat of emotions. Vigyaan-maya Kosh is the
seat of intellect and the Aanand-maya Kosh is the seat of the Soul which is of the nature of existence,
consciousness and bliss (Sachchidaanand). Even these subtle sheaths or Kosh are affected by the oil
or ghee lamps. The oil lamp imparts power to the Raajas particles in the Praan-maya Kosh which make
the individual restless. The Ghee lamp strengthens the Sattwa particles of Praan-maya Kosh and Mano-maya
Kosh and as a result of this the Jeev (individual, embodied soul) becomes peaceful, stable and
happy.
Why only Ghee prepared from cow's milk should be used?
Generally any oil lamp emits vibrations consisting of Raajas particles but the sesame oil emits
some Sattwa vibrations also. Therefore the lamp with sesame oil is comparatively more Saattwik
than any other oil lamp. The Ghee lamp however, emits maximum Saattwik vibrations compared to
any oil lamp. Only Ghee prepared from cow's milk should be lit in front of Deity. This is because
the Deities' principles are already existent in this Ghee. It is dominant in Sattwa component
and emits luminous figures in the atmosphere which are forms of Tej Tattwa or absolute fire element.
Even though Ghee is recommended because of its capacity to emit maximum Sattwa vibrations, sesame
oil lamp can be used alternatively. Points to be considered while using a lamp --
--Do not kindle an oil lamp with a ghee lamp and vice versa
--Do not kindle one lamp with another similar lamp. For example if there are two Niranjan (a type
of lamp) in an Aaratee platter then do not light one Niranjan with another Niranjan.
--Similarly do not light one pillar of lamps with another.
--Sometimes while performing Poojaa we unknowingly touch the lamp. We should immediately wash our
hands then. This is because when we worship a deity the Sattwa component of the lamp increases.
When we touch the lamp the Raajas-Taamas particles from our body enter the lamp by way of touch.
This reduces the purity of the lamp.
--Water has the property of encompassing everything. Anything which is offered to a deity through
the medium of water reaches Him/Her faster. When we wash our hands, we are in a way dissolving
our sins in the water. Electric bulbs should not be used instead of Ghee lamps. Now a days,
electric bulbs are used during the Poojaa ritual instead of Ghee lamp. Our ancestors gave priority
to the worship of lamp after profound experience and through the attitude of gratitude. The light
emitted from the electrical bulb blinds our eyes while the gentle flame of ghee lamp reminds us of
Aatm-Jyoti or flame of soul. The electrical bulb makes us extroverted and then the mind runs
towards external objects. The Ghee lamp makes us introverted.
Why should a straight wick be used instead of a puffed up wick (fulwat)?
Nowadays a puffed wick (Fulwat) is used in a ghee lamp or Niranjan and used as lamp of worship.
The wick is puffed up from below to offer it stability to stand in the center of Niranjan. This
type of wick is relatively of recent origin. The second type of wick is the straight wick wherein
two straight wicks are joined together like a thread and used in a lamp. There is a difference
between the straight and puffed wick on a gross and spiritual level.
--The lower portion of the Fulwat is puffed up while the straight wick is whole like a thread.
The puffed up wick represents Rajo-Gun thoughts in the mind while straight wick is symbolic
of detachment and represents the thread which joins Panch Praan with Aatm-jyoti.
--When a Fulwat is kindled, the inferior deities are attracted while the straight wick when kindled
attracts principles of higher deities.
--The vibrations emitted by the Fulwat are of circular form while those emitted by straight wick
are in the form of waves. The color of Chaitanya (divine consciousness) emitted by the Fulwat is
reddish yellow while that emitted by straight wick is of yellow color.
--Saattwik earth vibrations get attracted towards Fulwat while more Saattwik vibrations moving in
the upward direction are attracted towards straight wick. The atmospheric vibrations get momentum
due to Fulwat while their momentum is slowed down by the use of straight wick.
An armor of Prithvi (Absolute Earth element)
and Aap Tattwa (Absolute Water element) are generated around the worshipper by use of Fulwat
while straight wick generates an armor of Tej Tattwa (Absolute Fire element) around the worshipper.
According to the science of spirituality Tej Tattwa is more powerful than either Prithvi Tattwa
or Aap (Jal or Water) Tattwa. As a result the use of Fulwat imparts heaviness to the physical
body while the straight wick imparts cheerfulness to the mind.
Why Not Oil Lamp?
The Ghee lamp is more Saattwik (spiritually pure) and has more capacity to
attract the Saattwik vibrations present in the surrounding atmosphere as
compared to oil lamp. The oil lamp can attract Saattwik vibrations spread
over a maximum distance of 1 meter or so, while the Ghee lamp can attract
Saattwik vibrations spread till Swarg Lok (Heaven). When the oil lamp
stops burning the predominance of Raj particles in the atmosphere is
enhanced and lasts for half an hour or so, whereas when the Ghee lamp
stops burning the impact of Saattwikataa on the atmosphere is experienced
even after four hours.
Offering milk with a copper vessel?
If the milk is kept in a copper vessel, the milk goes bad, because free radicals
Ions are there in Copper vessel, so that Milk Will get broken (De-emulsification)
That is why one should use either stainless steel, glass vessel
In very old days neither copper nor stainless steel was available the only containers
used were made from clay (Maatee), the best container is to be used made from clay.
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