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20" Decorative Peacock Diya

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Item Code:	HLB752
Specifications:	Brass
Dimensions	20.00 inch Height X 6.50 inch Width X 5.00 inch Depth
Weight:	2.56 kg

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The Power of Light: Understanding the Role of Oil Lamps in Hinduism

Hinduism is a boon to human society for it guides everyone to follow their Dharma and rise above the material concept of life. Hinduism is also known as “Sanatan Dharma”. These are Sanskrit terms in which Sanatan means “eternal” and Dharma means “Intrinsic nature or occupation”. Thus it deals with the intrinsic nature or the real identity of the living entities; that which can never be taken away from them. The principles of Hinduism are given in the Vedic literature or scriptures that are considered “Apaurusheya”; they have not been written by any ordinary person but have been compiled by Vyasadev, the literary incarnation of the Supreme Lord Krishna. The word “Veda” means complete knowledge, both material and spiritual. The knowledge in Vedic literature is so vast and precise that if one looks carefully, he will notice that nothing is sentimental or imaginary but is based on facts and truth. There is a clear description and information about the identity of all living beings, the nature of the Absolute Truth, the reason for the existence of this world, the information about the world beyond this universe, and the relationship between us and God, the Absolute Truth.

Why do we light a lamp?

There are many rituals recommended in the Vedas for engaging our body and mind in the service of God. One of them is the lighting of ghee or oil lamps before the deity. According to the Vedic injunctions, all auspicious functions begin with lighting a lamp. It has a great spiritual significance. It is believed that the light of the lamp symbolizes “knowledge”, the wick symbolizes the false ego of the living entity, and ghee (clarified butter) or oil symbolizes all the negative tendencies (Anarthas) accumulated in the heart such as greed, lust, anger, and envy. When the lamp is lit by spiritual knowledge, all the Anarthas are exhausted, and the false ego, which is the root cause of conditional life, is also burnt. Therefore, the lamp is lit before the Lord as a sacrifice of our false ego in His service. Just as the light of the lamp dissipates all darkness, similarly, the light of knowledge dissipates ignorance of the Jivas and enables us to realize our real identity and purpose of life.

Why only an oil or ghee lamp?

One may question why only an oil lamp is lit before the Lord and why not an artificial light source. This may sound logical but lighting a lamp has a further spiritual significance. The flame of the light in a lamp always burns upwards indicating that by cultivating spiritual knowledge, one achieves the highest perfection of life and is always victorious. Also, a traditional lamp is the purest form of offering.

In almost every house of a follower of Sanatan Dharma, an oil or ghee lamp is lit before the altar of the Lord or before the Tulsi plant. Some people light it at dawn, some at dusk, and some people prefer to light it at dawn and dusk. Either ghee or sesame oil can be used to burn the wick. Vaishnavas (devotees of Lord Vishnu or Krishna) especially light a ghee lamp every day in the month of Kartik to offer their love and devotion to the Lord.

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