Karthika Deeparadhana
LIGHTING OF LAMPS IN TEMPLES IS A GOOD ACT!
Lighting of lamps in temples is a good act which symbolizes the victory of good over evil, the removal of ignorance (darkness), and the generation of positive energy. This essential, daily ritual is being done using brass lamps with oil or ghee which represents the soul’s inner light, invokes divine presence, and invokes spiritual energy during worship.
Generally lighting ghee lamps in the temples is common, and especially in temples like Murugan, Amman and Ayyappa. Some people would get advice from their astrologers to light lamps based on their age. Supposedly if a person’s age is 54, then he is supposed to light 54 lamps on his star birth day!
Similar to lighting lamps in the temples, lighting the lamps in our puja room is a common practice which would be adopted by most of the Hindu households. It is a must to light the lamps in the puja room, in order to welcome Mata Lakshmi Devi to our home, as well as to chase the evil spirits from our home, and also positive vibration would be there. By lighting the lamps, our life also would become brighter, and we would get all kinds of prosperities in our life.
Lamp can be burnt either using oil or ghee, but burning ghee lamps is the best choice, since it would give good fortunes in our life. Using of Lamps in the Puja room is followed by the people since Vedic periods. We can find from several Sacred Texts, that before going to a war, the soldier’s wife would burn lamp in her puja room, and pray to the deities for the well-being of her husband. The practice of lighting is widely followed throughout the world. Christians have got the habit of lighting the candles, and pray to the great Lord Jesus Christ, and Mata Mary. In Hindu temples, we can find that lot of lamps would be burnt and kept in all the shrines. Donating ghee or oil to the temples is considered as a most holy activity, and we would get relieved from our problems, and can lead a happy life.
In some temples like Ashtalakshmi Temple, Besant Nagar, and Thirunallaru Saneeswarar temple, Ghee lamp permanent endowment scheme is also available. Those who are interested can verify in the temple office, and can pay the prescribed amount of donation. There is a general saying among the Hindu people, “For lighting the lamps in our home, we are searching for a suitable bride”.
During the Karthigai Deepam festival days, Akal Villaku would be lighted inside and outside the houses, and in Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar temple grand celebration would take place during the Karthigai Deepam, and a Maha Deepam would be burnt in the top of the Tiruvannamalai Mountain.
Hence let us regularly light the lamps in our home and be blessed.
“OM MATA SUBBULAKSHMI DEVIYE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR