In ancient and medieval India, and even till recent times, transporting light in the form of lit lamps was a regular activity performed invariably by women, a maid or a household, at a palace or a hut. Held close to the bosom and often protected from winds by a part of one’s ensemble the light centering and reflecting on the face of the courier always multiplied its glow: the sensuous beauty of the young spouse and the divine aura on the mother’s face. A local version of Rama-katha alludes to Anasuya, the wife of the known sage Atri, emerging from her hut with a lit lamp in her hands when around the evening Rama, Sita and Lakshmana reach Atri’s hermitage. The tradition contends that the light that Sita saw reflecting in the divine eyes of Mother Anasuya was Sita’s light forever and whenever she recalled it, darkness illuminated with light.

Obviously, in the Indian context light always had divine dimensions, and even when its courier was a maid possessed of sensuous beauty, she was seen as having an amount of divinity as had an enlightening goddess and commanded respect. Sculptures of a lamp-carrying maiden begin appearing quite early, however, her classification as a goddess, especially as a form of Lakshmi who was associated with Diwali, the festival of light, since long before, is datable to around the first half of the seventeenth century. These statues of lamps carrying young women were initially used as articles of gift made to relatives, superiors and friends, a tradition which emerged first in the South, perhaps at Vijayanagar. Later, it was widely followed all over the land. Deepalakshmi has been ever since a cultural icon that harbours light, keeps it up, and promotes all that light promotes. Far ahead of the Western concept of ‘torch-bearer’ – the guide or the mentor – an intellectual being, in Indian tradition the courier of the lamp was seen as a divine presence that lighted the path by its mere presence. It was for such reasons that statues of a woman carrying a lamp in her hands were often seen posted on the entrances to temples, palaces, mansions or houses. These Deepalakshmi statues, a name they subsequently acquired, presented a strange blend of spiritualism and secularism. They manifested divinity but were not linked to a sectarian line they were completely secular, and hence, adorned any door, or any sitting chamber, even an Islamic or Christian ruler’s, by their sheer aesthetic beauty and inspired by their power to spread light. Now for over three hundred years, a Deepalakshmi statue is one of the most auspicious objects in any house, and as significant an image for Diwali worship as Goddess Lakshmi herself. This brilliantly conceived brass cast is outstanding in the figural quality of the image, in its modeling, plasticity, grace, divine aura and iconographic details: round face with a sharp nose, rounded cheeks with cute lips socketed within and deep thoughtful eyes arching over, a large bead-like moulded chin and a blissful composure on the face. As absolute is the figure’s anatomy consisting of a well-defined neck, sensuously moulded breasts, subdued belly, broad shoulders, voluminous hips twisted to the right that add to the part greater volume, and a proportionate height.

Wearing a towering Vaishnava crown, ‘makara-kundalas’ – ear-ornaments designed like crocodiles, broad necklaces, elaborate waist-band and armlets conceived with two peacock motifs, strange and delightful, as a pair of the dancing bird is perching over shoulder-joints. An auspicious icon of peacocks enhances the image’s auspicious influence. The elegantly pleated and embellished ‘antariya’ – lower garment, is another exceptionally artistic element of the figure. 

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.