Hello MSS Sir. My warm appreciations for your painstaking efforts in your submissions which carry lots of meaning and substance. In our T-P group, you are amongst the selected few who spend considerable amounts of time to present articles of particular interests to the Senior Citizens. Please keep it up
Muralidhara S. Iyer --- On Wed, 10/7/09, Srinivasan MS <[email protected]> wrote: From: Srinivasan MS <[email protected]> Subject: Significance of Earthen Lamp -'Mitti Ka Diya' To: Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 3:34 AM Significance of Earthen Lamp I have recently been asked by youngsters as well as by adults the significance of the earthen lamp or "mitti ka diya'. It may be because the earthen lamp has been used frequently at festivals such as Garba, Karwa Chauth and Deepavali. Festivals are more than just a celebration of sacred beliefs, traditions and events. They strengthen the bonds of unity and fraternity, but they also reinforce our faith in all that is divine and noble in the human spirit. Every festival has a divine purpose and sages by means of symbols have unfolded their inner and deeper significance for masses. Abstract force is beyond the comprehension of the ordinary people. For example, 'Garbo' from which 'Garba' is derived is linked to 'Garbho Deep' – a lamp in inner sanctum of the temple signifying knowledge, light as opposed to darkness or ignorance. Earthen pot is compared to the human body as well to the universe, which are transitory and the light inside the pot to God, Sun, Shakti, and Energy of the Supreme signifying its imperishable nature. The Self in the human body, the aatma never dies and is housed in inner recesses of human body as a witness. It remains ever effulgent.. Similarly, light lit in the earthen pot reminds us about Truth that retains its everlasting state. There are amazing spiritual significances of all other symbols related to Garba . The earthen lamp symbolizes the ushering in of spiritual light and knowledge and removal of darkness or ignorance. Karwa Chauth is a ritual of fasting observed by married ladies. Chauth means the fourth day of the new moon in the month of Kartik. Karwa is an earthen pot with a spout which is a symbol of peace and prosperity. Married ladies at the time of performing pooja (worship) in the evening usually light a diya (earthen lamp) to make it 'sakshi' (witness) that the pooja has been performed. The lit diya becomes a personification of the Supreme Being in this case. Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali meaning cluster of lamps.. Deep meaning lamp, `Vali' meaning `line or row' of lamps. Deepavali honors the return of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the eldest son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, from his 14-year exile with Sita and Lakshman after vanquishing and killing Ravana. The people of Ayodhya illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) in celebration of the return of Rama as per the order of Bharata, Rama's brother. I may jot down here a couple of points to narrate the significance of Ramayana. Ramayana makes us understand what should be the purpose of life. It is the spiritual compass to guide us from the murky worldly affairs. For example, Sita Maa represents the individual soul and her primary desire is to meet the Higher Soul in Lord Rama as Paramatma. Ravana represents ten sense organs. If we do not control, discipline or guide these sense organs, we all know the end result. Marichi, the golden deer represents Maya, the world of illusion. If we seek this deer we will be far removed from the reality of the Self, which is the only reality. The Lord tells us in sixteen verse of second chapter of the Geeta that the unreal has no existence, and the real never ceases to be, the reality of both has thus been perceived by the seers of truth. Kumbkaran represents Tamo Guna. - A total waste of life. Vibhishan represents Sattivic Guna. He takes refuge of Lord Rama. Gunas are the modes of Nature. Surupnakha represents a bad desire. Lord Krishna in the Geeta has clearly and forcefully advocated to Arjuna that desire is the worst enemy for human kind. He urges Arjuna to kill this evil. God in Its natural form is very difficult to comprehend. Simple minds need a way through which they could worship the Boundless God in a fairly simplified manner. The purpose of sages is to utilize symbols so the Formless Supreme can be achieved by simpler forms - the symbols. The character of Lord Hanuman in the Ramayana represents that of a Guru. In Ram Charit Manas, Tulsi Baba says " Jai Jai Hanuman Gosai, Kripa karo Guru Dev Kee Nai." Glory to Lord Hanuman and He should bless us and provide us grace as a Holy Teacher. Lord Hanuman advised Ravana to take refuge of Lord Rama. But Vibhishan listened to Hanuman advice which was meant for Ravana and Vibhishan took refuge of Lord Rama. Everyone knows the final result. Vibhishan was declared a king even before the war. Ravana was vanquished and killed in the war. We need a Guru who can help and guide us to connect us with God so that we can serve the real purpose of life. Coming back to our subject of earthen lamps, in Sanatan Dharma the form of goddess associated with wealth is recognized as 'Sri' and Kamala. In the Rig Veda Sri-Sukta, she is illustrated as Hiranyavarna that is ever glowing grace and splendor with a golden luster Illuminating residences with earthen lamps, multihued lights on Deepavali is akin to lighting the lamp of self-awareness which facilitates to realize that we are eternal and divine souls, the offspring of the Supreme Soul . Light is the most subtle manifestation of energy that can be perceived with five sense organs. Everything is eventually just light. Einstein proved that all of creation is one energy manifesting in different ways. Where there is light, darkness or ignorance departs of itself. When Lord Krishna endowed Arjuna with divine eyes to observe His form, Arjuna saw Him endowed with diadems, clubs and discuses, a mass of splendor flaming all round, having the brilliance of a blazing fire and the sun, hard to gaze at and immeasurable on all sides. Light is the closest representation that humans can refer to That who is Formless Eternal Imperishable Being. Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that through His power of Yoga He has shown Arjuna, His supreme, effulgent, primal and infinite Cosmic Body. Every festival has divine and spiritual purpose. Material world explores law of gravitation and spirituality unfolds the law of grace. Just for information, different lamps are manufactured for different uses. For example, an aarti lamp is different from the one used to light the sanctum sanctorum. The aarti lamp usually has a handle attached to it for holding purposes. Devotees light a diya near a Tulsi plant. I must mention here two Diya Aratis which are spectacular before I finish this article. There is an Evening Aarati performed to the Ganges at Haridwar where diyas are floated down the river. If you happen to be there, please watch this worth while spectacle. The second one is at Allahabad . At Sarawati Ghat on the other side of the fort from the Sangam, there is an evening Arati performed to the Ganges , where earthen lamps are floated down to confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna. An enchanting display. Electricity has yet not been able to replace the long-established and touching significance of a modest lamp in our lives. It has profound spiritual significance for us all. On my part I still miss gharas (water pots), surahis (pitchers), diyas (lamps) and gamlas (flower pots) – may be because we have been created from clay too.
