Why do we light a lamp?

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.

we should acquire such knowledge

as to take us towards higher ideals.